Translated with AI
In May 2026, a comprehensive assessment of pasture conditions was conducted in the Shahritus, Qubodiyon, and Nosiri Khusrav districts of Khatlon region as part of the "Restoring Sustainable Landscapes in Tajikistan" project. The monitoring mission included specialists from the Institute of Livestock and Pastures of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan, technical project experts from the target districts, and pasture management specialists.
The main objective of the study was to assess the state of pasture ecosystems, the effectiveness of fenced restoration sites, the productivity of forage lands, and the impact of the measures implemented on the restoration of natural resources.
The pastures of Shahritus, Qubodiyon, and Nosiri Khusrav are winter pastures used for livestock breeding and maintenance during the cold season. Their productivity depends largely on precipitation. Favorable spring rains can increase the yield of natural forage by two to three times, while dry conditions significantly reduce the livestock's forage supply.
Based on the monitoring results, experts concluded that the introduction of sustainable pasture management methods, rotational grazing systems, and the creation of Pasture User Unions significantly contributed to improving the condition of the land and increasing its productivity.
The Kubodiyon district has over 89,000 hectares of pastures. With the project's support, seven Pasture User Unions were established, managing over 10,000 hectares of land. All the unions developed pasture maps, implemented grazing calendars, and received training in sustainable natural resource management. By 2026, the rotational grazing system was implemented on an area of 8,145 hectares.
Particular attention was given to demonstration plots in the region, where degraded pastures were fenced off to allow natural restoration. On the Chirik plot, managed by the Takhti Sangin Pasture Users' Union, the average dry forage yield on a three-hectare plot was 2.5 quintals per hectare. Additional studies of saltwort communities showed a dry biomass yield of approximately 4.5 quintals per hectare.
Monitoring confirmed that temporarily excluding livestock grazing promotes vegetation restoration, improves the botanical composition of pastures, and promotes the natural spread of valuable forage plants.
Another important site was the Kurdzhalolkum site, where protective saxaul plantations were established over an area of 200 hectares. Research has shown that vegetation productivity near young saxaul plantings was two to three times higher than in adjacent open areas. Experts note that saxaul helps retain soil moisture, reduces wind erosion, and creates favorable conditions for the restoration of desert ecosystems.
Pasture productivity in this area reached 8–9 centners of dry forage mass per hectare, which was one of the highest figures recorded during monitoring.
The Shahritus district has over 107,000 hectares of pastures. The project supported the creation of seven Pasture User Unions, covering over 8,000 hectares of land. A rotational grazing system was implemented on 6,585 hectares, resulting in a 15-25 percent increase in pasture productivity compared to previous years.
At the Sayod demonstration site, a fenced area of two hectares yielded 9.5 quintals of dry forage per hectare. Compared to the previous year, productivity increased by 30–40 percent. Vegetation height reached 25–30 centimeters, and the vegetation cover covered more than 70 percent of the soil surface.
On the land plot of the Obshoron Pasture Users' Union, the yield was 5.2 centners of dry forage per hectare. Experts noted the good condition of the vegetation and the successful restoration of the natural forage base.
In addition to pasture restoration activities, the project provided Pasture User Unions with office space, computer equipment, agricultural machinery, tractors, and other technical resources. According to experts, these investments strengthened local management capacity and created additional income opportunities for rural communities.
The Nosiri Khusrav district contains over 55,000 hectares of winter pastures. As part of the project, six Pasture User Unions were established here, managing over 2,100 hectares of land.
The rotational grazing system was implemented on an area of 1,727 hectares, which increased pasture productivity by approximately 15 percent compared to the previous year.
Specialists paid special attention to the Istiklol Pasture Users' Union, where three hectares of degraded land were fenced off for restoration. Thanks to responsible management and regular monitoring by local pasture users, natural vegetation has successfully restored even on sandy and gravelly soils.
Another example of a successful local initiative was the establishment of pistachio plantations within the restoration site. A local landowner planted over 500 pistachio saplings to improve microclimate conditions, retain soil moisture, and create a future source of income.
Research has shown that the productivity of natural forage vegetation in this area ranged from 6.5 to 7.8 centners of dry forage mass per hectare, which is 15–20 percent higher than the figures for previous years.
The monitoring results indicate that the implementation of the "Restoration of Sustainable Landscapes of Tajikistan" project has a positive environmental and socio-economic impact in the Khatlon region.
The establishment of Pasture User Unions, the introduction of rotational grazing systems, the provision of technical equipment and the restoration of degraded lands have contributed to more sustainable pasture management and increased productivity.
One of the most effective measures has been fencing individual pasture areas. Temporary protection from grazing allows vegetation to naturally regenerate, improves species diversity, increases forage availability, reduces soil degradation, and enhances ecosystem resilience.
The successful establishment of saxaul plantations further confirms the importance of an integrated approach to landscape restoration. In addition to increasing pasture productivity, saxaul helps combat desertification, retain soil moisture, reduce wind erosion, and restore ecological balance in arid areas.
Overall, the project creates favorable conditions for sustainable pasture use, increased livestock productivity, improved rural livelihoods, and strengthened food security in Tajikistan, while simultaneously promoting the long-term restoration of degraded landscapes and ecosystems.
