Human resources for forestry in Kazakhstan: Current status, potential and problems

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assess the current status, potential and problems of human resources for forestry in municipal state forest management institutions (MSFMIs) of Kazakhstan. A total of 120 MSFMIs are functional in Kazakhstan, with almost 5.5 thousand employees, of which 6.1% are women. Overall 63% are foresters, 13% are masters of the wood, 13% are engineers of forestry of all categories, 7% are forest wardens and 4% are directors. The quality of education of forest workers also varies and a minority of forest workers has a higher education. The scenario also suggested that almost 3000 specialists had taken up the advanced training courses from 2003 to 2019. According to a survey of employees of the MSFMIs of two pilot oblasts (Almaty and East Kazakhstan), the average age of an employee is 44.7 years and 79.2% of employees have a work experience of up to 15 years. The main issues and difficulties observed in the work of MSFMIs staff were low wages, lack of modern technique and equipment for forest service, lack of systematic continuing education of employees, poor quality of education, as well as staff turnover, especially foresters, which consequently affects their professional level.

Factors Limiting Radial Growth of Conifers on Their Semiarid Borders across Kazakhstan

“…According to state statistics data ( , accessed on 10 February 2023), the total area covered by shrubs and forests was 15.7 million ha at the end of 2021 (5.8% of the country’s territory); however, semi-desert saxaul forests account for almost half of this. The remaining forest stands are located in several areas: Altai and Tien Shan mountains, the northern forest steppe, tugai forests along large rivers, and agricultural forest belts [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Small fragmented areas and rigid confinement to landscape make the forest ecosystems of this region vulnerable to climate change and, at the same time, crucially important for biodiversity conservation.…”