Kyrgyzstani environmentalist plants 14,000 trees in memory of his father
Israzhidin Zaripov, has turned personal loss into a green legacy by organizing Zhashyl Dem, a large-scale tree-planting festival
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (MNTV) – In the mountains of Kegeti Gorge, a young Kyrgyz environmentalist, Israzhidin Zaripov, has turned personal loss into a green legacy by organizing Zhashyl Dem, a large-scale tree-planting festival dedicated to his late father.
The initiative brought together more than 300 volunteers who helped plant 14,000 saplings across 10 hectares of land, creating what Zaripov hopes will become a thriving forest that both beautifies the landscape and combats Bishkek’s persistent smog.
“After my father’s death, I set a goal to fulfill my childhood dream — to plant a huge forest,” Zaripov told the 24.kg news agency.
“Like many city residents, I am also deeply concerned about the smog in the capital.”
The first Zhashyl Dem event, held earlier this spring, drew around 100 participants who planted 1,000 pine saplings. Encouraged by that success, Zaripov expanded the initiative — this time planting 8,500 larch trees, 4,000 white birches, and 1,500 Tien Shan spruces, all species well suited to the gorge’s cool, moist climate.
“The Kegeti Gorge has excellent soil and weather conditions — irrigation isn’t even required,” Zaripov said. “I hope the new forest will not only beautify the gorge but also help the city with its smog. The more trees we plant around Bishkek, the cleaner the air will be.”
Volunteers included bloggers, students, influencers, bank employees, and families who came to contribute to the environmental cause. Bishkek resident Begimai Nusipaeva, who joined with her husband and son, said, “We want to add a piece of our soul to this common cause so that our homeland can prosper. The city desperately needs more trees, and I hope similar events will take place there soon.”
Local forestry experts, including Taalay Maatkulov from the Kegeti forestry enterprise, supervised the planting. “The soil here is rich in minerals and holds moisture well,” Maatkulov explained. “Around 70 percent of these saplings are expected to take root successfully.”
Zaripov and his team plan to continue monitoring the trees, replacing any that fail to grow, and eventually expanding the project to include urban greening efforts in Bishkek.
“Perhaps, standing here, we are breathing oxygen produced in the Amazon,” Zaripov reflected. “I want future generations to stand in these mountains and say the same — that our trees are helping the world breathe.”
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