Prosecutors Recover 20,000 Hectares of Forest Fund from Private Businesses

Prosecutors have returned 20,000 hectares of forest fund to the state, allocated to private entrepreneurs for grazing non-existent livestock, reports Orda.kz.

According to the Almaty region Prosecutor's Pffice, 43 forest fund plots were provided to private individuals for livestock grazing and haymaking. However, an inspection revealed that the entrepreneurs had no agricultural animals and no connection to the agricultural sector.

An additional 44 forest plots were allocated for ecotourism development.

They were used for personal purposes without compliance with fire safety and sanitary regulations.

The forest plot owners were supposed to engage in environmental protection and forest ecosystem development but failed to do this.

As a result of the inspection, 60 forest fund use agreements covering more than 20,000 hectares were terminated, the prosecutor's office stated.

In early February, the Almaty region prosecutor's office reported the return of eight reservoirs to the state, valued at 20 billion tenge.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin