For Immediate Release
Press Release
January 23, 2023, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – On January 20, USAID in partnership with the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, hosted a roundtable for specialists from government agencies, forestry experts, and representatives of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs to discuss and develop a practical guide for orchards and man-made forest plantations in support of the National Forest Program in Turkmenistan in 2021-2025.
The National Forest Program and its action plan provide a solid legal framework necessary to plan and implement activities that mitigate and reduce impacts of climate change and increase the resilience of ecosystems.
USAID Country Representative to Turkmenistan Nino Nadiradze noted: “Partnership between the USAID Governance Support Program and the Institute of Deserts, USAID’s national partner, increases the capacity of civil servants to manage natural resources and helps incorporate the best local and international planting and irrigation practices in afforestation campaigns.”
USAID and the Institute of Deserts presented a newly-developed Practical Guide on Afforestation and Fruit Tree Planting methods in Turkmenistan. The guide provides information on climate change risks to tree planting in Turkmenistan, bio-ecological features of plants recommended for cultivation in the country, as well as comprehensive recommendations on the preparation of seeds, irrigation techniques, norms and timing for fertilizer application, and control measures for plant pests and diseases.
Representatives of seven forestry units and municipality and environmental protection specialists provided critical feedback and edits for the guide. Once completed, all organizations involved in the Forest Program will receive the final version of the guide.
The development of these guidelines is aligned with the Government of Turkmenistan’s and USAID’s objectives for stronger cooperation, effective mitigation of environmental risks and better management over natural resources.
The USAID-funded Governance Support Program, implemented by the QED Group LLC, in partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan, aims to strengthen accountability, effectiveness, and transparency of governance in the country.
