Memorial tree planting at Main Botanical Garden
Almaty, Kazakhstan
WSU is Implementing Sustainable Agriculture Program for Kazakhstan with support of JTI-Kazakhstan.
One of the program goals is to contribute in improving quality of the environment of Almaty, which is the biggest city in the country. WSU intends to achieve this goal through showcase of a garden with several design elements, promotion of educational programs on landscape design, gardening and horticultural science and involvement of broad-based community in the environmental development of the city.
Although Almaty Botanical Garden had always been strongly focused on research and had very little experience of working with wide public, WSU selected it as the main local partner for the city environment improvement activities. To strengthen its community mobilization capacity, WSU facilitated establishment of Group of Friends of Almaty Botanical Garden and organized a study tour for the members of the Group to learn about educational and fund-raising activities of US gardens.
Group of Friends has become very instrumental in mobilizing community and its publicity has grown through numerous publications in local mass media and regular meetings, where many important issues have been discussed openly. One of the proposals of Group of Friends was establishment of the alley of memorial trees, which was supported by Almaty Botanical Garden.
The first planting of memorial trees was organized on May 1, 2010. Representatives of JTI-Kazakhstan and the WSU program team, as well as members of the Group of Friends, were the first awardees who had the honor to plant memorial trees for their contribution in the development of the Almaty Botanical Garden. Most of the participants came together with their families. Thanks to sunny weather and good management, the event went with enthusiasm. The participants planted 18 Tian Shan spruce trees, visited a conservatory of tropical plants, spruce nursery and had a chance to discuss opportunities for further activities in the framework of the Group of Friends. JTI-Kazakhstan expressed its interest in joining the Group of Friends and supporting its activities.