Forestry Workers Day in Kazakhstan Date in the current year: October 20, 2024

Most of Kazakhstan’s landscape is made up of desert, semi-desert and treeless prairie (steppe). Forests, including saxaul and shrubbery, account for less than six percent of the country’s land, and therefore the protection and expansion of forest resources are very important to the country’s economy and environment. Most forests are concentrated in northern Kazakhstan and in the mountains. In addition, there is a relic forest of ash tress in Charyn National Park.

The Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, founded in 2019, is responsible for the development and implementation of state policy in the field of forestry. The subdivision of the Ministry directly responsible for this task is the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife, which has executive, control and supervisory functions in the fields of forestry and the protection of wildlife and specially protected natural areas.

The regional departments of natural resources and environmental management are directly responsible for the protection of forests, protected areas and water bodies. They monitor waste disposal and air quality, carry out environmental protection measures, conduct state environmental assessments of construction projects, and issue permits for emissions into the environment.

One of the top priorities of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife and its subordinate departments of natural resources is increasing the forest area in Kazakhstan in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is planned to increase the forest area in the country by 300,000 hectares by 2030 in order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 15%.

Forestry Workers Day in Kazakhstan was established in order to express gratitude for the invaluable work of highly qualified forestry specialists, who are devoted to their job and fulfil their professional duty to people and nature. These specialists include forest rangers, forestry officers, gamekeepers, engineers, and other forestry workers. Industry veterans also receive congratulations on their professional holiday.

Celebratory events dedicated to Forestry Workers Day are held in the departments of natural resources and national parks of Kazakhstan. Forestry workers are congratulated by their superiors and government officials, and those of them who’ve distinguished themselves receive certificates, letters of gratitude, and other rewards.

Kazakhstan is not the only former Soviet republic where forestry workers have their own professional holiday. For example, Forestry and Timber Industry Worker’s Day in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of September. It was established back in the USSR, and these countries chose to retain it after the collapse of the Soviet Union.