Forest plantations on the drained bed of the Aral Sea as a tool for improving environmental conditions in the Aral Sea region

The desiccation of the Aral Sea has exposed extensive saline surfaces that are highly susceptible to wind erosion and constitute a major source of salt and dust emissions in Central Asia. This study evaluates the effectiveness of forest plantations established on the drained seabed in reducing deflation processes and improving regional environmental conditions. Long-term field observations were conducted in the former Muynak and Rybatsky bays and in the open part of the former sea. Wind velocity and sand transport were measured on non-afforested sites and in plantations of different ages, mainly consisting of saxaul, Cherkez saltwort, and kandym. The results showed that near-surface wind velocity decreased by 20.5–91.3% in plantations aged one to six years and was completely suppressed in plantations aged seven years and older. In nine-year-old plantations, the intensity of wind-driven sand transport was three to six times lower than on non-afforested barchans. Up to 85–90% of transported sand was concentrated within 10 cm of the surface. The findings demonstrate that large-scale afforestation is an effective biological measure for stabilizing exposed sediments, reducing salt-dust emissions, and supporting environmental rehabilitation in the Aral Sea region.

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