The Jogorku Kenesh Committee on Agrarian Policy, Water Resources, Subsoil Use, Ecology and Environmental Protection approved a bill aimed at protecting green zones in its first reading during a meeting on November 9. The document provides for a ban on reducing the area of parks and squares, as well as measures to combat illegal logging.
Compensation and developer responsibility
One of the key innovations will be the requirement to plant five large-sized trees in exchange for each destroyed plant. Furthermore, the new plantings must be maintained for three years. The initiative also affects the construction sector: developers are planned to be obligated to care for green spaces on the territory of their projects.
"The mayor's office says they plant trees, but their saplings are small and practically do not grow. They must be brought and planted from a nursery. It is also proposed to oblige construction companies to maintain green spaces at the site for three years."
MP and one of the project initiators Dastan Bekeshev noted that current developer practices are often limited to planting a few trees when a facility is commissioned, which quickly die due to a lack of watering. To solve this problem, it is proposed to implement digital tree inventory and create an open electronic registry.
Digitalization and control
In addition to compensatory planting, the bill provides for ensuring the preservation of irrigation networks. Changes are also planned for the Code of Offenses to tighten liability for the damage or destruction of trees and shrubs in settlements.
Deforestation compensation terms
