In Kyrgyzstan there are more than 20,000 tenants holding 15% of the state’s forests, managed by the State Forest Fund. The rural population’s increasing demands for forest resources, combined with adverse effects of climate change and poverty require a transition to new principles of forest management which stimulates sustainable and rational use of available resources. Furthermore, it is necessary to clearly determine and distinguish roles, rights and obligations related to the use and management of forest resources. The aim of the project is biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction through community based management of walnut forests and pasture lands. UNIQUE was commissioned to conduct a zoning in pilot Forest Enterprise Units (Leskhozes) and to develop adapted management plans.

• Drafting of maps depicting land management units (LMU) with zones.
• Formulation of management options for each LMU.
• Development of a template of an adapted management plan.
• Development of a monitoring framework.