The unique array of fruit-and-nut forests concentrated in Osh and Jalal-Abad Oblasts saves communities from poverty and is the main source of income. At the same time, an excessively consumerist attitude towards the forest by the local population is characterized by the illegal felling of healthy trees, grazing of cattle in the forest, and improper harvesting. This anthropogenic factor leads to degradation and a reduction in the productivity of forests and pastures. Pressure on resources is constantly increasing due to the difficult economic situation in the region (principally the limited income opportunities for the local population), as well as due to socio-demographic processes (population growth, uncontrolled increase in livestock numbers).
The project attempted to improve the situation and together with responsible local institutions and users to develop and implement sustainable resource management models. As a result, the project objective of improving pastures and forests was achieved by developing an effective pasture management plan and applying it in practice. This tool aims to develop joint work between the leskhozes, pasture committees and population for the conservation of forest ecosystems, and rational use of lands of the State Forest Fund.
The collected information is promptly transferred to the server, facilitating the work of employees, freeing them from paperwork and repeated data entry into the computer. More than 70 staff members of the leskhozes have been trained on how to monitor and assess the condition of pastures through the mobile application. In addition, 13 tablets and laptops with installed software were provided to the leskhozes in the project area. The use of the mobile application in self-assessment of pastures, which is conducted annually, will allow specialists to develop plans for resource management in pasture seasons, assess the degree of degradation and prevent further decline, and develop measures to prevent overgrazing and natural disasters.
