An off-site meeting of the Committee on Ecology and Nature Management of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Kostanay region. The event was attended by the Chairman of the Committee Edil Terekbaiuly Zhanbyrshin, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiyev, Vice Minister of Emergency Situations Ramil Kamalov, as well as representatives of scientific institutes, environmental organizations and central government agencies.

The main topic of discussion was the development of a system for the protection, conservation and restoration of the region's forest fund, as well as the improvement of the regulatory framework in this area.

In his speech, Akim of Kostanay region Kumar Aksakalov emphasized that the forest fire in Auliekol district in 2022, which covered about 40 thousand hectares, became a serious challenge and showed the need for systemic solutions.

On the instructions of the Head of State, large-scale work is being carried out in the region to strengthen forestry:
•the number of workers in the forestry industry has increased by 1.5 times (up to 1,230 people - according to forest management standards);
•annual funding for the industry has increased from 1.5 to 7 billion tenge;
•4.4 billion tenge (43% of all costs in the country) have been allocated to strengthen the material and technical base over two years;
•the fleet of forest fire-fighting equipment has been replenished with 27 fire trucks, 59 tractors and 39 patrol cars;
•in 2025, it is planned to purchase another 26 fire trucks, 28 tractors and 36 small forest fire complexes for 3.5 billion tenge.

In addition, the region has revised the work schedule of forest fire stations - they have been transferred to a year-round mode, interaction with emergency services has been established, work continues on growing planting material, clearing burnt areas, and planting new forest crops.

During the meeting, legislative proposals were also announced. In particular:
• amend the Forest and Land Codes of the Republic of Kazakhstan to establish a mandatory 20-meter protection zone between the forest fund and agricultural land;
• increase liability for burning residues in fields, leading to steppe and forest fires;
• study the possibility of converting private houses in remote villages into forest fire stations - as a cost-effective alternative to new construction;
• update forest management data after the 2022 fire, especially in the Semiozerny and Basamansky forestries.

The Akim of the region noted that the participation of central government bodies is necessary to resolve the issues identified. Following the results of the off-site meeting, a number of proposals were developed aimed at improving fire-fighting infrastructure and sustainable development of the forestry industry.

"We are open to dialogue and ready to work together. The forest is not only a natural resource, it is our common heritage, which we are obliged to preserve for future generations," Kumar Aksakalov emphasized.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1004296?lang=kk