Kyrgyzstan’s Arslanbob: World’s Largest Wild Walnut Forest Is Shrinking — Threat to Harvests and Livelihoods

Kyrgyzstan’s Arslanbob: the world’s largest wild walnut forest is thinning

Under a carpet of fallen golden leaves, residents of a forest near Arslanbob in the Kyrgyz mountains still gather walnuts — a centuries-old habit and a crucial source of income for the area. But the grove, recognised as the world’s largest natural walnut forest, has been steadily losing density for years, weakened by expanding livestock grazing, illegal tree-cutting and rising temperatures.

A changing forest and worried foragers

"The forest used to be so dense but it has thinned out," said 70-year-old pensioner Asel Alisheva of the village also known as Arslanbap, who has foraged there for decades. She recalled that she once feared going far into the woods. "It used to be impossible to walk through. Now there are so many people," she said as she cracked walnuts in a roadside tent.

"Nowhere else in the world is there such a large concentration of natural walnut forests," said regional forestry expert Zakir Sarymsakov, noting the area's wide variety of walnut species.

Livelihoods under pressure

For many residents the nuts are essential. "This is how we make a living. There are no other ways, only walnuts. This is how we feed our children," said 53-year-old picker Arno Narynbaeva, who has collected walnuts since childhood. At the busy village bazaar men pile sacks of walnuts while women sell them, but traders say yields have declined sharply.

"In the 2000s, we used to receive large quantities, up to 15 tonnes per day. These days, we get three to four, and it decreases year by year," said seller Zhazgul Omurzakova. Pickers and sellers blame hotter, drier weather for falling quality: nuts can discolour internally — turning red or black — which reduces their value because pastry-makers and other buyers prefer whiter kernels for appearance.

Climate and other pressures

"Hot weather harms the walnuts. They fall, burn, and turn black," Narynbaeva said. "We have never seen this happen before." The World Meteorological Organization reports that average temperatures in Central Asia have risen by about 1.5°C since 1991 — roughly twice the global average — and more frequent droughts linked to warming have affected the groves.

Locals are attempting remedies, including sowing millions of trees in the Arslanbob forest nursery, but chronic water shortages across Central Asia are undermining those efforts. "Over the past two to three years, there has been no rain, and it has become hot," said nursery worker Temir Emirov. "The ground has dried out, and the grass has withered. The seedlings haven't received water for a month and are using their own moisture to survive."

Human pressures add to the stress. "Since we don't have pastures, livestock is a problem," said chief forest ranger Ibragim Turgunbekov. Enlarging cattle herds trample soil and eat young shoots, while illegal logging — often driven by the local preference for cheaper firewood over coal — has thinned the trees.

Local responses and ideas for sustainable value

Ranger Turgunbekov imposes fines and urges farmers to shrink herd sizes. Local imams have appealed to worshippers to protect the walnut trees, and some residents call for tougher steps, such as taxes on surplus livestock or banning grazing close to settlements.

Turgunbekov argues that increasing the walnuts' economic value could help conservation. "If we make perfumes or oils out of walnuts and ship them to Europe, their value will increase. By selling at higher prices, locals will be more motivated and will take better care of the forest," he said.

Sixteen-year-old Abdulaziz Khalmuradov represents a new generation trying to add value locally. After school he uses a traditional press to make walnut oil and hopes to expand production — not only of walnut oil but also of other oils, such as apricot, by adding more machines. He also wants to encourage sustainable tourism around Arslanbob, saying the area is underdeveloped for visitors. "If the number of tourists increases, volumes will increase," he said. "When I grow up, I have big plans."

Outlook

The Arslanbob walnut forest sits at the intersection of climate vulnerability, economic dependence and traditional practices. Reversing the decline will likely require a mix of water-management improvements, stronger enforcement against illegal logging, sustainable grazing policies, and local economic initiatives that increase income while incentivising protection of trees. The future of this unique natural and cultural landscape depends on coordinated local and regional action.