On June 17, 2022, the Aarhus Center in Bishkek, together with the Association of Land and Forest Users of Kyrgyzstan, with the support of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, organized a round table on the topic “Progressive technologies for efficient land use in the Kyrgyz Republic in the context of climate change and desertification in the UN International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development and The Year of Protection of Mountain Ecosystems and Climate Resilience in the Kyrgyz Republic”. This event was held on the day of the establishment in 1974 by the UN General Assembly of the Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing severe drought and/or desertification. The round table was attended by deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Kamila Taliyeva, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic Murat Baidyldaev, representatives of departments and departments of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic, scientific institutions, international, public and youth organizations, universities, the media, independent experts.

The purpose of the event is to disseminate and exchange experience in the field of management and use of natural resources in the context of climate change and desertification using innovative approaches and advanced technologies for the sustainable development of agriculture and forestry, ensuring food security, improving the environment and developing partnerships.

At the beginning of the event, Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic K. Taliyeva and Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic M. Baydyldaev made welcoming speeches, who focused their attention on the relevance of the topic under discussion and assured of assistance in promoting cooperation. A presentation on the draft “Convention for the Development of Agroforestry in the Kyrgyz Republic 2022-2050/75” and information on the draft Law “On Forest Management of the Kyrgyz Republic” was made by the Director General of the KAFLU A. Burkhanov, who presented the current state of affairs in the field of agroforestry and the need to adopt a Government programs to improve it. In this regard, he turned to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, represented by the guests present, with the initiative to adopt the proposed project documents.

Then employees of the Ministry of Agriculture spoke about problematic issues in the field of pasture management and shared their experience in creating artificial mini-glaciers.

Representatives of KAFLU provided information on the development of walnut plantations, opportunities for the sale of forest products and the development of organic production in forestry.

At the end of the round table, the head of the Aarhus Center in Bishkek A. Nurbekov spoke, who presented brief information about the work of the Aarhus Center and the prospects for cooperation with partner organizations.