Kazhastan > Impacts By Sectors > Forestry
COUNTRY PROFILE
Kazakhstan
Explore the overview for a general context of how vulnerable and resilient Kazakhstan is to climate change. Explore climate impact and vulnerability by sector. View the results of the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Kazakhstan. Explore the various options for climate adaptation in key sectors.
Forestry
Large parts of Kazakhstan are covered by forests. The increase in heat will cause a shift in the ecological zones of the Country and the likelihood that pest / diseases attacking large swath of forest areas. Like for the agriculture sector, an increase in temperature will cause stress in the growth of the forests. Furthermore, although the expected increase in precipitation over Kazakhstan might provide a positive impact, the increase in the frequency of extreme precipitation events will equally negatively impact these parts of the country as risk of erosion due to flooding will also increase.
Some of the most direct inpats that climate change might have on the forestry sector are listed below:
Increased heat patterns will result in additional incidence of pests and disease. Heat also contributes to a shift in ecological zones and causes more stress on the ecology. The margins of forest growth are expected to be reduced, with an increase in wildfire incidence.
The increase in precipitation that is expected over Kazakhstan will positively affect the forest areas.
Heavier precipitation events will result in increased runoff and the associated risk of soil erosion. Less water is expected to infiltrate to the aquifer, increasing the risk of waterlogging.
Over the long-term, the increase in the frequency and severity of droughts will cause a reduction in the forest growth, with increased incidence of wildfires.
Sector Vulnerability
Forestry in the Almaty and Zhambyl areas will experience, as result of the heat and drought, a shift in the eco-zoning to colder areas (especially in the mountains) and an increase of pests and diseases.