In Almaty, innovative approaches to forest monitoring and sustainable forest management in watershed areas were discussed at the seminar “Innovative Approaches to Monitoring and Sustainable Management of Forests in Watersheds”.
The event was organized on August 12, 2025, by the International Water Management Institute – Central Asia (IWMI-CA) as part of the project “Enhancing Forest Fire Risk Management and Watershed Resilience in Central Asia and Pakistan”.
Director of the Country Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Zhumabayev, emphasized the high relevance of the event.
“Innovative approaches to forest monitoring provide more accurate and timely data on ecosystem conditions, which helps identify threats in time and make effective management decisions. Forest monitoring itself is extremely important, as it forms the foundation for biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of natural resources, and adaptation to climate change,” noted Yerlan Zhumabayev.
The seminar brought together representatives of government bodies, the scientific community, international organizations, and environmental NGOs to exchange experiences and discuss modern solutions for reducing forest fire risks and enhancing watershed resilience under climate change.
In his welcoming remarks, Azamat Kauazov, CAREC Program Manager for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in forest and water resource conservation
Yerlan Zhumabayev presented practical examples of using remote sensing, GIS technologies, drones, and LiDAR for forest monitoring, as well as nature-based solutions for restoring degraded lands, in his presentation “Innovative Approaches to Monitoring Forest Conditions in Kazakhstan”.
In addition, CAREC representatives shared their experience in implementing integrated projects for conserving forest ecosystems and improving water regimes, emphasizing the importance of engaging local communities, developing economic incentives, and strengthening transboundary cooperation.
During the seminar, participants discussed practical steps for integrating new technologies into the monitoring system, tested a forest fire risk assessment dashboard, and developed proposals for its improvement.
The event served as an important platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, bringing together experts from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to address common challenges in forest conservation and water security.
Additional information:
Yerlan Zhumabayev – CAREC Country Director in Kazakhstan, kazakhstan@carececo.org