Chinese partners from the city of Qingdao are working with the Bishkek municipality to establish a major nursery for tree and shrub saplings, aimed at greening the Kyrgyz capital. The initiative is part of a broader environmental restoration effort and represents a significant step toward improving the city’s ecological conditions.
Over the weekend, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliyev visited the site of the future nursery, where more than 12,300 tree saplings and 9,000 shrubs have already been experimentally planted across five hectares. According to city officials, the total area of the nursery is expected to eventually span approximately 100 hectares.
Initial cultivation efforts have focused on tall deciduous tree species, including Norway maple, Chinese acacia, linden, poplar, and beech. Once mature, these saplings will be planted throughout Bishkek to help restore its long-lost greenery.
Historically one of the greenest cities in the former Soviet Union, Bishkek has lost much of its tree cover over the past three decades, largely due to rapid construction in and around the city center. Environmental experts have advised local authorities to shift away from the prevalent use of coniferous trees and instead prioritize tall, shade-giving deciduous trees that also offer better noise absorption.
The new nursery is expected to play a crucial role in reversing urban deforestation and improving air quality in Bishkek. It also supports Kyrgyzstan’s nationwide “Jashyl Muras” (Green Heritage) campaign, launched in March 2022 by President Sadyr Japarov. The initiative aims to plant 5-6 million saplings annually across the country.
In 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision reported that more than 8.1 million saplings were planted nationwide under the program.