Kazakhstan plans 100,000 hectares of new forests under carbon deal
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Kazakhstan's Ecology Ministry and First Carbon Group Ltd. signed a memorandum on forest climate projects, envisaging artificial forests on about 100,000 hectares. The project may attract international climate and investment financing through carbon units. The initiative is part of the broader Green Shield of Central Asia plan targeting over 1 million hectares by 2035.
Key Facts
- The memorandum envisages creating artificial forests on approximately 100,000 hectares, with possible further expansion.
- The project includes restoration of degraded lands, increased greenhouse gas absorption, and generation of carbon units.
- Kazakhstan's broader Green Shield of Central Asia initiative plans forest plantations on over 1 million hectares during 2026–2035.
- The memorandum provides a framework for attracting international climate and investment financing.
Memorandum Scope
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and Private Company First Carbon Group Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in forest climate projects. The document sets a framework for creating forest plantations, restoring degraded lands and ecosystems, increasing greenhouse gas absorption, generating carbon units, and attracting international climate and investment financing. Under the memorandum, artificial forests are planned on about 100,000 hectares, with the possibility of further scaling.
Carbon Market Mechanism
The project links forest restoration to carbon units, allowing verified greenhouse gas absorption to be used in carbon projects and to attract climate capital. Kazakhstan's Ecology Ministry previously presented new rules for carbon project development, requiring accounting, monitoring, and independent verification. Legislative changes create a basis for international transfer of emission reduction results.
Green Shield of Central Asia
The First Carbon Group project is considered against the backdrop of the broader Green Shield of Central Asia initiative. Kazakhstan proposed forming a regional system of protective forest belts and green barriers for 2026–2035, aimed at combating land degradation and dust storms. The initiative plans forest plantations on more than 1 million hectares across the country.
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Kazakhstan plans 100,000 hectares of new forests under carbon deal
