Globally unique forests of walnut and fruit tree species, occurring within an altitudinal band of 800-2400 m above sea level, play a major role among locally available natural resources. These forests are unique due to their particular species composition and their high economic value.

As such, the forests represent an extremely valuable reserve of rich genetic diversity, which is of international significance, as walnut-trees and a wide range of other fruits of world-wide economic importance originate in the mountains of central Asia and their forests.

New visions and approaches to the forest pest management planning with a participation of local population, providing the conservation of biodiversity of the walnut- fruit forest are urgently needed. The project will be coordinated by Kyrgyz Agrarian University, who will be provide overall technical direction and contribute to training provision on Insect-Plant Interactions. This project was discussed during the DJIS project on the fruit and nut forests in September, 2006 where were work together with FFI and Community Business Forum, Bashat.

Results of the research and education assistance will be used to inform plans for sustainable use of fruit and nut trees and identifying pest control monitoring as sustainable biodiversity issues that can be implemented by communities.

Dissemination through a community outreach programme to be developed in the study area on forest protection issues and sustainable use forests.