Preservation of the Sivers apple - pride of Kazakhstan

On October 16, 2024, the third project meeting was held in Almaty within the framework of the ALMA-KIKA initiative, funded by DBU (Germany). The event was held at the Kazakh-German Institute for the Protection of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (KAGEB).

At the seminar on the topic "Conservation through use: Which fruits of wild fruit trees can be integrated into complex value chains in order to preserve them", the guests were welcomed by Rafis Abazov, Vice-Rector for International Relations of KazNAIU, Timur Tuigunovich Turdiev, Manager of KAGEB, Matthias Kramer, Project Manager of ALMA-KIKA, al-Farabi Kazakh National University presented by the Director of the Department of International Cooperation and E.T. Omirzhanov, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences A.S. Aktymbaeva and the head of the UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development T.A. Bazarbayeva.

The participants discussed a number of key issues, including: - which wild fruits that do not have a limited conservation status, but are threatened with extinction, can be used in regional value chains to protect biodiversity and preserve ecosystem services — using the example of Malus sieversii.

The meeting became an important platform for discussing strategies for the conservation of old apple varieties and the development of sustainable regional management in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The seminar participants agreed on the further implementation of the project "ALMA Sustainable Regional Management and value creation for the preservation of old apple varieties in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan" with the involvement of students, youth and silver age. The Sievers apple tree, being the ancestor of all apples, is of great interest in the world. Our task is to contribute to the preservation of its gene pool and to increase awareness of its valuable qualities. Undoubtedly, apple orchards can become one of the objects of ecological tourism, which can contribute to the improvement of eco-culture.