Program of forestry development in the Republic of Tajikistan for the period of 2006-2015.

Program of forestry development in the Republic of Tajikistan for the period of 2006-2015 is a sectoral policy document, which addresses critical issues of forest sector and sets forth the main directions of forest sector development in order to increase the level of economy and environmental improvement. Forests of the Republic of Tajikistan primarily perform protective, sanitary-hygienic, recreational and water protection functions. On the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, all forests belong to the first group. Forest, like other natural resources of our country, pertains to public ownership, used for the benefit of all citizens. The Program is intended for planning and growing forests, establishment of plantations of walnuts, pistachios and rose hips, reforestation, ensuring their protection for fruitful use of natural resources of forests.
The necessity of the adoption of the Program is determined by the development of the forestry sector, as one of the important sectors of the national economy, enforcement of legislation, methods and new development directions, improving the forestry sector along with developing countries and in line with international standards in the field of science and technology. The establishment of plantations of fast-growing trees has as its purpose partial provision of the population with fuelwood and building material.
The objectives of the Program shall be as follows: (a) environmental improvements and ecology; (b) provision of citizens with additional jobs and reduction of poverty level, especially in mountainous areas; (c) compliance of the Forest Code with international standards; (d) reforestation to protect land from erosion and in turn, to improve pasture productivity; (e) restoration and creation of protective forest belts along the roads and agricultural land; (f) creation of pistachio plantations, walnut, almond, rose hip, sea buckthorn, poplar and pine; (g) care for rare species of evergreens and their adaptation to the conditions of the Republic of Tajikistan; (h) performance of forest inventory once every ten years; (i) development of effective forest pest management plans and perform biological measures against pests in forests; (j) training abroad of forest officers; (k) processing of forest products such as rose hips, medicinal plants, pistachios, walnuts and others; (l) strengthening the protection of forests from crime; (m) prevention of illegal hunting in the territory of state forest fund; (n) design and development of best practices of forest management; (o) leasing of forest lands containing pistachio and walnut trees and medicinal plants; (p) provision of forestry with equipment; and (q) construction of forest protection stations and reconstruction of main facilities of forestry sector.
Expected results: improved protection, restoration and renewal of forests, reasonable and fruitful use of forest resources, double production of new forest products such as pistachio, walnut, almond nuts, rose hips, sea buckthorn, mountain onions (anzur), medicinal plants, honey, non-timber forest products with a view of increasing their trade on internal and external markets.