Status, distribution and use of threatened tree species in the walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Information is lacking on the status of threatened tree species in Central Asia. This paper aims to provide preliminary information for 10 fruit and nut tree species of Kyrgyzstan. A field survey was conducted throughout the range of walnut-fruit forests in this country, supported by a socio-economic survey. Results indicated that species differed markedly in abundance. Whereas Malus sieversii was found in all locations, four species (Crataegus pontica, Pistacia vera, Pyrus korshinskyi and Sorbus persica) were only found in a minority (#30%) of sites. Four species showed evidence of a bimodal distribution of stem diameters, which could be attributed to fuelwood harvesting, as indicated by the socio-economic survey. A majority of respondents reported a decline in the available grazing resource, a decline in the availability of harvested fruits and an increase in time required to collect fuelwood over the past decade. These results suggest that unsustainable land-use practices may be impacting negatively on populations of threatened fruit tree species. These results highlight the need to regulate local forest use to ensure that threatened fruit and nut tree species are effectively conserved, and the need for targeted actions to conserve the most threatened species, such as P. korshinskyi.

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“…The threat analysis and the observations of livestock presence in protected areas during field work support the view that walnut populations located within protected areas are not sufficiently protected. Orozumbekov et al (2014) observed frequent signs of livestock browsing on seedlings and saplings in sample plots in the Sary-Chelek Reserve and confirmed the common assumption that scarce natural regeneration of fruit trees in walnut forests is attributable to overgrazing. Although grazing and logging are illegal in the majority of the state-owned forests in the region, they are common practice (Eastwood et al, 2009).…”

“…The most important threats in the region and in each country are overgrazing and overexploitation. This is a serious and growing problem for walnut, highlighted in previous studies (Beer et al, 2008;Eastwood et al, 2009;Cantarello et al, 2014;Orozumbekov et al, 2014).…”

“…Official data strongly vary and the real extent of walnut forests remains unclear, but as a consequence of the socio-economic difficulties of the transition period after the independence of Kyrgyzstan in 1991, the pressure on these forests has increased, and the area of the forest has diminished (Beer et al, 2008). Orozumbekov et al (2014) studied the status of walnut in Kyrgyzstan, supporting the perception that poor regeneration in walnut forests can be attributed to overgrazing. Cantarello et al (2014) used a modeling approach employing LANDIS-II, combined with empirical data, to predict the impact of wood cutting and grazing on the long-term status of the walnut fruit forest in the Sary-Chelek State Nature Reserve and UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve in the western Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan.…”

“…The Red Book assessment assigned Near Threatened status to walnut in Central Asia (Eastwood et al, 2009). The area of walnut fruit forest in Kyrgyzstan is estimated to have declined by as much as 90% since the mid-1960s (Orozumbekov et al, 2014). Official data strongly vary and the real extent of walnut forests remains unclear, but as a consequence of the socio-economic difficulties of the transition period after the independence of Kyrgyzstan in 1991, the pressure on these forests has increased, and the area of the forest has diminished (Beer et al, 2008).…”

“…Within the Sary-Chelek Reserve, the extent of human-caused disturbance in the forest, such as harvesting of nuts and fuelwood, has legislated limits (Orozumbekov et al, 2014) that are not necessarily experienced in other walnut fruit forest areas in the region. Where overgrazing occurs, walnut regeneration is lacking, and forest loss associated with landslides and less extreme forms of erosion are likely accelerated.…”