Integrative Forest Management, Tadjikistan

Tajikistan is among the Central Asian countries most severely affected by climate change. This is evident from the growing incidence of natural disasters, such as landslides, floods and droughts, and a general decline in the availability and quality of water. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, large areas were deforested to meet the need for fuelwood, especially during the severe civil war from 1992 to 1997. This now makes the country more vulnerable to climate change and exacerbates its negative impacts. Land use conflicts further contribute to the overuse and degradation of forest areas. Forest land is increasingly in competition with insufficient pasture land, which has resulted in many forest areas being grazed. A weak financial system and a steady inflow of remittances have stimulated the investment in cattle which has resulted in much pasture land and forests being overgrazed. Forest landscape restoration, consequently, requires an integrative and multi-level solution.Integrative forest management addresses not only environmental but also social and economic challenges by applying a landscape perspective.Reforestation of forest land is especially important where climate change impacts are severe. Forests perform an essential function in regulating the water balance and decreased vulnerability to natural hazards while forest biodiversity improves soil structure and fertility, reduces the risk of pests, and increases the number of pollinators. However, a growing number of cattle has not only resulted in degraded pastures but also in forest grazing. Forest grazing impedes forest regeneration and harms the root system, which further increases the risk of soil erosion.The integrative forest management approach is based on the Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach, where individuals take an active role in sustainable forest management and in return receive a fair share of the harvest, based on clear and transparent land use rights for 20 years. These land use rights allow for long-term thinking, and consequently, enable forest tenants to make sustainable management decisions.From an economic perspective, forests play a key role. Firewood, fodder, medicinal plants, fruit and nuts represent an important source of income. Consequently, through JFM the forest tenants gain economic benefit from their forest plot.