Government Decree No. 245 validating the Program for growing kiri (Paulownia imperialis) for the period of 2024-2028.

Program for growing kiri (Paulownia imperialis) for the period of 2024-2028 was developed with the aim of creating industrial plantations of paulownia to provide commercial timber, harvest fodder, increase the production of commercial honey, protect agricultural land from erosion, and in this context contribute to improving environmental conditions of the national territory. The forests of Tajikistan are mainly composed of shrubs and it is impossible to obtain industrial timber from them that meets the needs of the population. Therefore, more than 90-95 percent of industrial wood used as building material is imported from other countries. Creating plantations of fast-growing paulownia trees using innovative technologies for its cultivation can become an important part of the policy of saving resources and solving problems related to energy consumption, without affecting the environment. The creation of industrial plantations of paulownia, as well as its use in the organization of green areas and parks, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, prevent climate warming and adapt to its change, as well as create new jobs.
The main goals of the Program are: (a) increasing the awareness and level of knowledge of entrepreneurs, dehkan farms, forestry and housing and communal services’ workers about the importance of using paulownia when creating plantations, in agroforestry and landscaping work; (b) organization of work on growing paulownia seedlings in forest nurseries; (c) increasing the area of plantations and commercial timber production; (d) reducing the level of anthropogenic pressure on natural forests; (e) increasing the production of commercial honey; (f) increasing the economics of forestry and their profitability; (g) promoting economic development by attracting entrepreneurs to the forestry sector; (h) improving the well-being of the local population by involving them in forestry management and providing timber forest products; and (i) increasing the role of forests of the Republic of Tajikistan in the implementation of international obligations and global programs for mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Indicators for achieving these goals are: (a) growing paulownia seedlings in quantities of up to 100 thousand or more per year; (b) creation of industrial paulownia plantations on an area of more than 200 hectares on the land of the state forest fund and on the lands of other land users; (c) increasing the profitability of forestry by providing the population with seedlings and industrial wood; (d) involving the local population and the private sector in forestry activities using the approach of joint forest management when creating a paulownia plantation, in this context, creating new jobs and improving the well-being of the local population; and (e) carrying out research work on the study of paulownia.