ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranks third worldwide in the area of land covered by restoration efforts, with 8.13 million hectares, or approximately 3% of its territory, included in such initiatives, according to the first global Nature’s Comeback report published by United Nations agencies.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Environment Program (UNEP), and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity prepared the report. China ranks first with 127.4 million hectares, followed by Mongolia with 12.18 million hectares, reported the Agriculture Ministry on Nov.
12. Alongside restoration initiatives, Kazakhstan is expanding efforts to monitor soil conditions, identify degraded agricultural land and improve the sustainable management of its land resources. In 2025-2026, digital land degradation maps covered 114 million hectares.
Surveys identified 2.7 million hectares of degraded agricultural land, providing data to prioritize areas for targeted restoration and soil protection measures. A key step in strengthening the country’s regulatory framework was adopting the Law on Soil Protection on July 8.
The legislation establishes legal mechanisms for soil assessment, protection and restoration. The Agriculture Ministry and local executive authorities are also developing regional soil protection plans. These will include measures to prevent land degradation, restore agricultural areas and preserve soil productivity.
Kazakhstan’s approach combines ecosystem restoration with digital monitoring, stronger legislation and regional planning, focusing on protecting soil fertility and maintaining the long-term productivity of its land resources.