249 illegal logging facts registered in Kyrgyzstan in 2017

«In 2017, Kyrgyzstan recorded 249 facts of illegal logging. To counter this, we conduct raids. A moratorium on felling of trees in the nut forests of Arslanbob was introduced for 10 years. Also, 1,000 hectares of new green plantations are planted annually in the republic,» Director of the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry Abdykalyk Rustamov said at a press conference.

According to him, «hard time came after the collapse of the Soviet Union, people were looking for money, and forests were cut down.» «Now there is a reform of the Forest Code. We have to preserve the forests that are the property of the country,» he said.

Deputy Director of the agency, Nurlan Zhumayev, told that"project aimed at reforming the industry and increasing forest volumes" have been implemented in the country since 2017 together with the World Bank for $ 16 million.

Forest industry of the country celebrates its 70^th anniversary on September 17.