Public awareness was raised on use of an electronic system for preventing pasture degradation at discussions held on 11 and 13 August in Batken and Osh oblasts in Kyrgyzstan.

The events were an opportunity to review use of the 'Electronic Zhayyt Committee' information system as a best practice for the sustainable management of pastures.

The system allows pasture managers to define the boundaries and dimensions of pilot areas and determine the composition of plant communities, the types and seasons of pastures and their productivity, yield and gross forage supply, ruderal and toxic vegetation and the presence of plants yet to have been grazed on.

The ‘Demonstrating Sustainable Mountain Pasture Management in the Suusamyr Valley, Kyrgyzstan’ project is implemented by UNDP and funded by the Global Environment Facility. Replicating the project is one of the primary objectives of the UNDP-UNEP Poverty–Environment Initiative, which is implemented through the support of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

An ‘Electronic Jaiyt Committee’ will now also be applied in the Kara-Kulzha and Dara rural areas. “Everything is simple, open and accessible, while importantly also helping the easy collection of rent payments for pastures,” said Kokoyev Musa, head of the District Office of Agricultural Development of Kara-Gulja district, one of those where the electronic system is being introduced.

Ideas from local pasture users are also being considered under the Initiative, such as the use of solar ovens for cooking, which will reduce forest loss and soil erosion and thus reduce the risk of natural disasters.

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or contact Aida Umanova, +996.312.694.380 (+177), email: aida.umanova@undp.org