Central Asian countries to address climate change impacts through afforestation and protective forest belts

The Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will hold a high-level session within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026, which will take place in Astana on 22–24 April, focusing on the development of a regional system of protective forest belts and green barriers for 2026–2035.

The session entitled “Green Shield of Central Asia: Regional System of Protective Forest Belts and Green Barriers (2026–2035)” will be held on 23 April. The event will bring together representatives of Central Asian countries and China, as well as FAO, UNDP, GIZ, AFoCO, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and other international partners.

The discussion will address joint responses of Central Asian countries to challenges related to climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss through afforestation and forest reclamation measures.

The first part of the session will focus on national reforestation strategies and the contributions of countries to the initiative, while the second part will address implementation experience and issues related to mobilizing financial resources.

The event will serve as an important practical platform for strengthening regional cooperation in the field of forest restoration and for attracting international financial and expert support.

Following the session, it is planned to adopt the “Green Shield of Central Asia” Resolution.