LocationsPeace Forest Initiative Pilot Project Launched in the Kyrgyz Republic
January 30, 2026
Bishkek, 30 January 2026 – An Inception Workshop marking the launch of the Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) Pilot Project in the Kyrgyz Republic was held today in Bishkek. PFI is an international initiative that strengthens climate resilience and social cohesion through nature-based solutions.
The pilot project is implemented under the UNCCD Peace Forests Initiative, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and with financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea.
The workshop brought together representatives of government institutions, international organizations, environmental NGOs, and the expert community. Participants discussed the linkages between land degradation, climate change, and community vulnerability, noting that nature-based solutions can restore landscapes while also strengthening social ties, trust, and shared responsibility in vulnerable areas.
The PFI pilot project in the Kyrgyz Republic will be implemented in the Pamir-Alai region, an area of high environmental and social importance.
“Kyrgyzstan is interested in practical solutions that strengthen climate resilience while supporting balanced territorial development. PFI contributes to these objectives and to the fulfilment of our international commitments,” said Kumar Mambetaliev, Head of the Department of Bioresources and Specially Protected Natural Areas.
Kumar Mambetaliev, Head of the Department of Bioresources and Specially Protected Natural Areas
The project focuses on restoring degraded land and improving ecosystem resilience; supporting local communities through sustainable natural resource use and the development of green income opportunities; promoting cooperative approaches to natural resource management; and supporting climate adaptation through inclusive and participatory approaches.
“PFI demonstrates how sustainable land and forest management can support social cohesion, trust, and equal participation. We see this pilot as a foundation for scaling up across the region,” said Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic
The results of the pilot project will contribute to preparations for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), to be held in Mongolia, and may be presented as a good practice for the Central Asian region.
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