INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL – 2026: FIELD PRACTICAL TRAINING AT KASKELEN FORESTRY, ILE-ALATAU STATE NATIONAL NATURE PARK
The second week of the International Summer School entitled “Smart Forestry and Land Resources under Climate Change Conditions” began with an educational and practical field excursion to the Kaskelen Forestry, located in the Kaskelen Gorge of the Aksai branch of the Ile-Alatau State National Nature Park.
The main purpose of the excursion was to familiarize participants with modern forestry management practices, activities aimed at the conservation and restoration of forest resources, as well as approaches to protecting natural ecosystems. The event was attended by Professor Zafer Olmez, Doctor of Technical Sciences from the Faculty of Forestry at Artvin Çoruh University (Türkiye), together with the summer school participants, who were introduced to the excursion program.
The specialists of Kaskelen Forestry warmly welcomed the participants and provided comprehensive information about the daily operations of the forestry service and its environmental protection activities. During the excursion, guests visited the forest nursery, where they observed the technological stages of seedling cultivation, methods of propagating tree species adapted to local environmental conditions, and modern approaches to forest restoration.
Forestry professionals shared their experience in the sustainable use of natural resources, biodiversity conservation, and ensuring the resilience of forest ecosystems under climate change conditions. The participants had the opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience and gain insight into the specific features of environmental protection activities in the region.
As part of the excursion, participants also explored the natural landscapes of the Kaskelen Gorge and received valuable information about the region’s ecological characteristics and the importance of forest ecosystems. Such field-based learning activities not only broaden the professional horizons of students and researchers but also foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
This event, organized within the framework of the International Summer School, strengthened experience-sharing among participants and provided new momentum for the development of international cooperation in forestry and sustainable land resource management.
