USAID Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea Activity begins transplantation of saxaul seedlings on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea. Following the request of the Government of Kazakhstan, USAID supports the environmental restoration measures to improve the resilience of landscapes in the Northern Aral Sea zone. In October 2021, USAID initiated the Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea Activity, and in April 2022, it began its first black saxaul transplantation. The Activity transplanted 62,500 seedlings covering more than 50 ha of territory. In the next two years, a total of 150 ha will be covered with saxaul, forming a forest oasis for 500ha near the village of Karateren. The creation of the oasis system will improve the soil condition and vegetation in a portion of the dry seabed which will support the improvement of the resilience of landscapes. Moreover, the afforestation will help diminish the impact of destructive sandstorms on human health and the environment and increase plant carbon sequestration to mitigate the effects of climate change.
