The objective of the Forest Protection and Reforestation Project for Kazakhstan is to develop cost effective and sustainable environmental rehabilitation and management of forest landsandas sociated rangelands, with a focus on the Irtysh pine forest, the dry Aral Seabed, and saxaul rangelands. A significant increase in the allocation for infrastructure construction is due to higher construction costs of the seed complex and containerized nursery in Irtysh pine forest (part A of the project). This is largely due to price inflation and a revised list of modern equipment to be installed in the nursery. Construction of the scientific center and bare root nursery in Kazalinsk (part B of the project) also turned out to be more expensive than originally calculated. To compensate for this, it was agreed to reduce the purchase of the equipment as Borrower financing for hardware purchase and planting programs has significantly improved. The project still plans to purchase the very essential equipment for planting and fire fighting needs (11 mln USD). However original design envisaged full equipment of all forestry units in the project area (including patrol cars, tractors etc.) which is now not necessary as Government has been improving and will continue to improve material resources of the forestry units barring any unexpected severe financial and budgetary crisis. Reduction in forestry related civil works in the part A of the project is possible due to less expensive project support of planting activities performed with Borrower's own funds. The project will do more site preparation and experimental planting. Planting targets are still achievable due to Borrower's budgetary financing.
