Ecological and economic basis for the effective use of forest resources in Kazakhstan (using the example of Semey Orman)
نویسندگان
1 Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
2 NJSC Zhangir khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University” Uralsk, Almaty, Kazakhstan
3 Satbayev University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
4 NCJSC
5 Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
6 Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
7 NJSC Zhangir khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University” Uralsk, Almaty, Kazakhstan
8 D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
doi
10.22124/cjes.2025.9208چکیده
The study aims to construct an ecological-economic model for sustainable development of the forest resources in the Semirechye region of Kazakhstan. Under a scenario where economic strain and environmental deterioration threaten the very sustenance of these invaluable regions, the present investigation presents a scientific analysis of the scenario and points towards operational solutions to balance conservation and development goals. The satellite imagery interpretation, field studies, and semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders were employed to collect data for the research. The results show that excessive dependence on the revenue from wood (176.7 million tenge a year) together with alarming forest health indicators (35% of pines damaged) and regeneration rates (85 stems/hectare of pines) have made the current model unsustainable. On the other hand, examination of the potential alternatives shows that the production of non-timber forest products (potential income 20.6 million tenge), ecotourism (12.5 million tenge), and ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration (45 million tenge) have the potential to increase the overall annual income of the area to 236.1 million tenge. This transformation in the economy would not only improve the ecological resilience of the forest, but also lay the foundation for a more diversified and resilient economic base. The study concludes that sustainable management in Semey-Orman can be achieved by moving beyond the traditional single-product system towards an integrated and multi-purpose one that ensures smart timber production in addition to the development of conservation-oriented economic capabilities.
