Afforestation and Reforestation of Walnut Forests in Southern Kyrgyzstan: An Economic Perspective

Kyrgyzstan is home to oneof the largest areas ofnatural walnut forest in theworld. These forestssupport significant geneticdiversity of many importantancestral strains of fruitand nut tree species. Thewalnuts from those forestsare a major source of cash income for many households in thatregion. Most of the walnut forests are overgrazed, whicheffectively hinders natural rejuvenation. This has resulted inoveraged and degraded forests. Currently, tree cutting fortimber is forbidden under a moratorium. In some instances,walnut trees grow in agroforestry systems together with potatoand corn as annual crops or apples and berries, alongside hay.Reforestation and afforestation in the walnut forest region isimperative to secure walnut harvests and associated incomesonce the existing trees start bearing fewer nuts. The objective ofthis study was to analyze the economic performance of a rangeof representative combinations of annual crops, berries, andfast-bearing fruit trees in reforestation and afforestation plots.This included hypothetical timber utilization in order to be ableto bridge the income gap until newly planted walnut trees bearnuts. Data were based on semistructured household and expertinterviews. In all plots there was grassy vegetation, which washarvested for hay. In some of the plots, corn and potatoes weregrown as annual crops. Additionally, in part of the plots appleand berries were grown next to walnuts. The net present valueof the farming systems for a 20-year period was highest for the2 systems that included hypothetical timber utilization. Walnutand haymaking performed worst, with a negative net presentvalue. All non-timber systems yielded an income gap untilaround year 10, when walnut trees begin to fruit

Kara A. Hardy, Niels Thevs, Kumar Aliev, Martin Welp, 'Afforestation and Reforestation of Walnut Forests in Southern Kyrgyzstan: An Economic Perspective', Mountain Research and Development, vol. 38(4), p.332, International Mountain Society (IMS) and United Nations University, 2018