Vice Speaker Bakirov takes part in Land and Poverty Conference in Washington

Bishkek, Apr. 1, 2019. /Kabar/. At the invitation of the World Bank, Vice Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic Mirlan Bakirov paid a working visit to Washington (USA) from 25 to 29 March 2019 to participate in the 20th annual conference "Land and Poverty", as well as a number of events on land management issues and exploring ways to increase the effectiveness of international support in this area, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported.

In addition, on March 28, 2019, with the assistance of the Kyrgyz Embassy in the United States and Canada, Bakirov and A. Egemberdiyev, Director General of the Kyrgyz Jaiyty National Association of Pasture Users of Kyrgyzstan, met Director for Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice at the World Bank Benoît Bosquet.

During the meeting, possible ways of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the World Bank on protection and development of forestry in Kyrgyzstan, as well as exchange of experience in pasture management were discussed.

In particular, Bakirov informed the representatives of the World Bank that at present the Kyrgyz Republic attaches great importance to the development of green economy, and therefore pays special attention to preservation of forestry and pastures in the country. In this regard, he expressed interest in the projects of the World Bank in the field of forest ecosystem management and called on the representatives of this organization to consider the possibility of implementing such projects in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, the ViceSpeaker noted as one of the priorities the need to preserve endemic walnut forests in Kyrgyzstan, whose areas are being reduced due to an increase in acreage, as well as other anthropogenic factors. Bosquet, in turn, stressed that preservation of forestry and restoration of productive lands are priority areas for the World Bank and informed about the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly, according to which the years 2021-2030 were declared the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the World Bank, expressing interest in Kyrgyzstan’s efforts in preserving forests and pastures in the country, recommended to formally appeal to the World Bank’s Permanent Representative in Bishkek for further interaction and resolution of existing issues.