Tajikistan : Tajikistan Forests Report 2011

About 5 % of Tajikistan is wooded, mainly at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters. No forest region is classified as commercially usable; most are under state protection. Wood production is negligible, but local inhabitants harvest non-wood forest products

Total area of the State Forest Reserves in Tajikistan is 1,8 million hectares, including lands of local forest authorities - 1,79 million hectares, lands of local agricultural authorities - 90,1 thousand hectares, lands of other authorities - 9,9 thousand hectares. From this area, arboreal-scrub vegetation covers 380-400 thousand hectares, which is 23% of the State Forest Reserves. Outside of area of the State Forest Reserves, there are fragmentary forested lands within the pastures and remote regions totally up to 100 thousand hectares. Consequently, forests cover just 3-3,5% of Tajikistan’s area. Total volume of timber in all forests is estimated as much as 5,7 millions m³, while annual increment makes 12-16 thousand m³. Area of forests with tree density 0,6 and higher is just 15-20 % from total forested area.

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Forest resources of Tajikistan consist of 200 species of trees and bushes, including rare, relict and endangered species. Tugai forests, broad-leaved forests, birch and poplar mixed forests, xerophytic pistachio light forests, haloxylon forests and juniper forests are the mayor types of national forests.

Tugai forests grow in the hot flooded lowlands of Tajikistan, alongside riverbanks and islands on the average elevation from 300 to 600 meters above sea level. Tugai forests consist of poplar Populus pruinosa, oleaster Elaeagnus oxycarpa, tamarisk Tamarix laxa in combination with reed grass, liana, bulrush and other plant species. Tugai forests are well preserved in the lower reaches of Vahsh river within “Tigrovaya balka” nature reserve as well as in Panji, Kafirnigan and Zeravshan rivers. Tugai forests are characterized with high level of groundwater position, periodically flooded areas during spring season, humid microclimate with high annual surface air temperatures. Tugai forests play big water security and coast protection functions and serve as habitats for many species of animals and plants. Tugai forests fall to the forests of 1-th category and subject to the strict protection.

Broad-leaved forests in Tajikistan are situated at the altitudes from 1200 to 2500 meters above sea level and consist of temperate and moisture-loving broad-leaved trees with predominance of walnut Juglans regia, maple Acer turkestanicum and apple-tree Malus sieversii. Broad-leaved forests in Tajikistan are usually mixed with roses and bushes. They mainly occur on the southern slopes of Gissar mountain ridge as well as on Darvaz ridge and Peter Primus ridge, in upper reaches of Yahsu and Kizilsu rivers. Average timber volume of Tajikistan’s broad-leaved forests is 90 m³/ha; natural increment about 0,9 m³/ha while average tree density is 0,5. Mountain brown humidified soils, abundant precipitation 1000-1500 mm/year, mean air temperature +11° C +13° C are vital conditions for sustainable growth of Tajikistan’s broad-leaved forests. These forests restrain avalanches, stop erosion and flooding, prevent landslides, regulate runoff and form local climate. They are sources of timber and raw resources. Broad-leaved forests are extremely rich in biodiversity. More than 40 species of mammals (brown bear, wild boar, badger, fox, wolf, ermine, jackrabbit, Siberian ibex and etc), 200 species of birds and 10 species of reptiles inhabit this area. Broad-leaved forests fall to the forests of 1-th category and subject to the strict protection. Just sanitary cuttings are authorized here.

Small-leaved forests grow within Tajikistan’s mountain rivers at the altitude from 2300 to 3500 meters above sea level and consist of trees with predominance of white willow Salix alba, Tian-Shan birch Betula tianschanica, Tajik poplar Populus tadschikistanica and Pamirs poplar Populus pamirica, tamarisk Tamarix laxa, black currant, etc. Herbal cover consists of various plant species such as sedge, clover, alfalfa, astragal, blue grass, etc. Small-leaved forests cover Badahshan, Zeravshan, Gissar-Darvaz, and partially East Pamirs i.e. all Tajikistan’s areas. Small-leaved forests spread within valleys of Panji, Vanch, Yazgulem, Bartang, Gunt, Muksu, Obihingou, Zeravshan, Fandaria, and Iskanderdaria rivers. Average timber volume of Tajikistan’s small-leaved forests is 60-150 m³/ha; natural increment about 3-8 m³/ha while average tree density is 0,5-0,7. The area of small-leaved forests is 10-12 thousand hectares. Small-leaved forests have important coast protection, water security, mudflow preventing and ecological value. Small-leaved forests fall to the forests of 1-th category and subject to the strict protection. Just sanitary cuttings are authorized here.

Juniper forests are evergreen low productive forests and light forests consisting of various juniper-tree species and they occupy biggest area among all other types of forests in Tajikistan. Main tree species in those forests are Juniperus semiglobosa, Juniperus turkestanica and Juniperus seravschanica. In high-mountain areas on the altitude 3500-3700 meters above sea level there are rare grounded subspecies of Juniperus turkestanica. Juniper forests accommodate honeysuckle, dogrose and other bushes. Herbal cover consists of various plant species such as fescue, sagebrush and other flora. Main juniper areas in Tajikistan are located on Turkestan, Zeravshan and Gissar mountain ridges, mainly on their northern slopes. Total area of juniper forests in Central Asia is about 600-650 thousand hectares, including 140-150 thousand hectares in Tajikistan. Average timber volume of Tajikistan’s juniper forests is from 10 to 120 m³/ha. Bio-geographic isolation is certain feature of Tajikistan’s juniper forests. On Turkestan mountain ridge the Juniperus turkestanica (2300-3100 meters a.s.l.) is dominate. On Zeravshan and Gissar mountain ridges the Juniperus seravschanica (800-2000 meters a.s.l.) and Juniperus semiglobosa (1400-2500 meters a.s.l.) are dominate. The highest productivity is observed in juniper forests with tree density 0,4-0,6. At downturn, renewal process is rapidly reduced. In view of specific biological features of junipers (slow growth, longevity) and sever environmental conditions they are exist, changing of junipers by other tree species practically does not happen. Immense juniper rootlets reliably defend soil against washing out. In high dense juniper plantations the steady grass cover is formed and it prevents any erosive processes. As junipers cover abrupt and potentially mudflow risk slopes, they play important water regulation, water security, soil protection and flooding preventing roles. Their destruction results in landslides, mudflows and active erosive processes. Juniper forests fall to the forests of 1-th category and subject to the strict protection. Just sanitary cuttings are authorized here.

Xerophytic light forests mainly consists of dry resistant leaf-fall tree formations with predominance of pistachio Pistacia vera, almond Amygdalus bucharica, Punica granatum and other species of Tajikistan’s flora. Main xerophytic light forests in Tajikistan are distributed on the country’s south at elevation from 600 to 1700 meters above sea level. Xerophytic light forests in Tajikistan cover an area 80 thousand hectares, while

pistachio plantations contribute as much as 75% of all xerophytic forests. Average tree density of stand pistachio forests in Tajikistan is 0,3-0,5. Natural pistachio plantations have stage of life from 70 to 120 years old, artificial plantations from 30 to 60 years old. Average timber volume of Tajikistan’s xerophytic light forests is 3-12 m³/ha and natural increment about 0,3-1,2 m³/ha. Characteristic of pistachio forests is rare tree position in contrast with entire rootlet combination. Herbal cover consists of various ephemeral plant species. Pistachio forests are the source of valuable fruits and timber. Average pistachio productivity in Tajikistan makes 70-80 kg/ha, and in some areas exceed 300 kg/ha. Xerophytic light forests, in particular pistachio forests, have enormous ecological, soil protecting and mudflow preventing importance. Pistachio, almond and other fruits are used for food and medicinal purposes. For these reasons forest cutting and using of those trees for commercial purposes is forbidden. Just sanitary cuttings are authorized here.

Saxaul trees mainly grow on the country’s south. Tree plantations basically consist of white saxaul Haloxylon persicum and black saxaul Haloxylon aphyllum. Largest saxaul forests in Central Asia are in southern Kazakhstan (15 million hectares) and Turkmenistan (6 million hectares). The area of saxaul forests in Tajikistan is about 10-12 thousand hectares. Height of saxaul trees can reach 12 meters and age 100 years old. Average tree density of saxaul forests in Tajikistan is 0,3-0,5, while natural increment is about 0,3-1 m³/ha, depending on the local environmental conditions. Saxaul forests play significant role in soil protection, sand firmness and serve as local spring and autumn pastures. Clamping the huge masses of sand and clay, saxaul trees protect oases, channels, roads and communications from sand filling and raise pasture productivity.

Natural features of Tajikistan’s territory encourage pasturing development, but at once it is one of the most essential pressures on the state of forest resources. More than 70% of total area of the State Forest Reserves are in long-term use of agricultural enterprises. Accordingly, forest authorities refused to provide effective protection and reproduction of forest resources because of intensive pasturing in many forested lands.
Forests in Tajikistan play important water-security, erosion prevention, coast protection, sanitary-hygienic functions as well as serve as habitats for many animals and plants. Rational use of forest resources is a basis for sustainable development of the country

However, as a result of intensive pressures, Tajikistan’s forests have undergone to the essential changes for the last 70 years. In past time, before industrialization and agricultural development, the area of former forests exceeded today's area 2-3 times. According to the Tajik research expedition held in 1932, the area of pistachio light forests was about 170 thousand hectares, whereas now it does not exceed 80 thousand hectares. The reduction of both forested area and tree density promoted to the development of natural disasters in 1992-1999. Since 1970-s, Tajikistan’s forested area did not vary significantly, though the average store of timber has been reducing and now it is no more 70% compare to 1965. Artificial plantations contribute about 8% of all forests;