The Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) Pilot Project has been officially launched in the Kyrgyz Republic with an inception workshop held in Bishkek on 30 January 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience and social cohesion through nature-based solutions, addressing the interconnected challenges of land degradation, climate change, and community vulnerability.
Implemented under the UNCCD Peace Forests Initiative, the pilot project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, with financial backing from the Government of the Republic of Korea. The launch workshop brought together government representatives, international organisations, environmental NGOs, and experts to explore how restoring degraded landscapes can also foster trust, cooperation, and shared responsibility among communities.
The pilot will be carried out in the Pamir-Alai region, an area of significant environmental and social importance. Project activities will focus on restoring degraded land, improving ecosystem resilience, and promoting sustainable natural resource use. By supporting green income opportunities and cooperative approaches to land and forest management, the initiative seeks to enhance both livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
National authorities highlighted the project’s alignment with Kyrgyzstan’s priorities for climate resilience and balanced territorial development, as well as its contribution to international environmental commitments. UNDP representatives emphasised that the Peace Forest Initiative demonstrates how inclusive and participatory land and forest management can strengthen social cohesion and provide a scalable model for the wider region.
The outcomes of the pilot project are expected to contribute to preparations for the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, to be held in Mongolia. The project may also serve as a good practice example for Central Asia, showcasing how nature-based solutions can simultaneously address environmental degradation and social resilience.
