Student Initiated "Carbon Forest" Project: Driven by Personal Research, Aims to Sow 12,000 Trees
Let's dive into the groundbreaking project, "Carbon Forests", initiated by astounding student Demir Fatima. This project, part of the Shoqan Ecology competition, is a shining example of environmental innovation.
Guided by Vadim Tsurikov, the Laboratory Head of Green Technologies, Fatima delved into the intricacies of various tree species' survival in diverse climatic conditions and substrates. The project's primary focus was on examining the effectiveness of plantation and care technologies for saplings, ensuring their successful growth and survival.
The "Carbon Forests" project was crowned the Grand Prix winner of the competition and earned recognition as a promising climate initiative. The triumphant victory led to the planting of 12,000 Tian-Shan pines in the Ile-Alatau National Park.
In collaboration with programming teacher Zhumakhon Amirzhan, Fatima also developed and launched carbonfund.kz, an online platform enabling remote participation in tree planting. This opened the doors for anyone, even those living far away, to support the initiative and contribute to its success.
The Shoqan Ecology competition, organized annually by the school with the backing of its founders, Kenes Rakishev and Aseel Tasmagambetova, boasts a prize fund of 10 million tenge, not for determining winners but for supporting real projects. As Aseel Tasmagambetova puts it, "in ecology, there are no losers - everyone who acts already contributes to the common good."
Looking ahead, the school's plans include the creation of a Sustainable Development Center capable of growing up to 100,000 trees per year. Although the construction of this center is yet to be decided, the project team continues experiments and plantings on existing facilities.
The "Carbon Forests" project is open to partnerships with akimats, businesses, and public organizations. Whether you're looking to plant 100 or 10,000 trees, collaboration is welcome and encouraged.
On a broader scale, the concept of "Carbon Forests" represents a global movement towards using forests as carbon sinks, capturing and storing carbon dioxide to combat climate change. These initiatives contribute to REDD+ efforts (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), enhancing forest carbon stocks through conservation and sustainable forest management. By fostering partnerships with governments, businesses, and organizations, these projects aim to create long-term, credible carbon credits that align with global climate goals.
- "I, Demir Fatima, am grateful for the guidance given by Vadim Tsurikov as I delved into understanding the survival of various tree species in different climatic conditions and substrates, a critical part of the Carbon Forests project."
- "Tian-Shan pines, thriving under the care of the Carbon Forests project team, play a significant role in absorbing carbon dioxide and aiding in the fight against climate change, contributing to environmental science and health-and-wellness."
- "The effectiveness of the Carbon Forests' plantation and care technologies for saplings is crucial in ensuring the success of the project's mission, which aligns with global efforts against climate change and the promotion of fitness-and-exercise through conservation and sustainability."
- "In line with the school's commitment to innovation and sustainability, Demir Fatima, together with Zhumakhon Amirzhan, launched carbonfund.kz, promoting Carbon Forests and allowing anyone, regardless of location, to participate and contribute to the initiative's success."
- "Aseel Tasmagambetova, the school's founder, highlights the importance of every action taken in ecology, emphasizing that the Shoqan Ecology competition, with its strong emphasis on real-world projects rather than competition winners, mirrors this mindset, fostering environmentally-conscious health-and-wellness and climate-change initiatives."
