"I’m shocked": A deputy revealed that funds allocated for planting millions of trees in Kazakhstan have been embezzled.

Deputy Bakytzhan Bazarbek stated that billions allocated for tree planting are being embezzled in Kazakhstan.

"I have statistics provided by all regional akimats, where the facts of budgetary embezzlement are evident. Under the guise of afforestation, billions are being siphoned off. In 2020, at the president's directive, it was planned to plant 2 billion trees on forest fund lands and 15 million trees on urban lands.

"I specifically decided to check where these 2 billion trees are and where these 15 million trees that were supposed to be planted are. I have responses from all akimats. I am shocked: we are not even reaching 3 million trees instead of the 15 million. I am not even mentioning the billions of trees," Bazarbek expressed his outrage.

According to his data, in the Mangystau region in 2021, only about 20,000 trees were planted instead of the planned 556,000, and in 2022, only 21,000 saplings were planted instead of 167,000. In the East Kazakhstan region, as reported by the deputy, only 85,000 trees were planted in 2021 instead of the planned 127,000.

"And this is the situation in every region. Somewhere there is a shortfall of 30, somewhere 50, somewhere 150 thousand trees. I have a question: is anyone monitoring this, or are you just allocating money? Huge budgetary funds were allocated for the planting of these trees."

"No criminal cases have been initiated on these facts, and no one has been held accountable," added Deputy Bazarbek.

The Ministry of Ecology suggested that the deputy prepare a written response regarding his statistics, as well as the reasons why no criminal cases were initiated.

"As for the planting material and the 2 billion trees: these works are being carried out. During the analysis, we are discovering discrepancies with statistical data in some regions, and we are ready to provide you with this complete information in the coming days," stated Vice Minister of Ecology Zhomart Aliyev.

Deputy Bazarbek added that together with the Ministry of Ecology, he proposes to check the regions where funds for planting were allocated but where, in fact, no trees were found—these include the Zhetysu, Abai, Aktobe, Akmolinsk, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Mangystau, and Turkestan regions.

It is noteworthy that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the initiative to plant 2 billion trees in Kazakhstan in November 2021.

"I proposed the initiative to plant 2 billion trees throughout Kazakhstan because we truly need greening. Almaty used to be a green city. Unfortunately, in recent years it has lost that status. Therefore, we need to catch up. Planting trees is a sign of high culture," the president said at that time.

At the end of last year, it was reported that during a meeting between the akim of Astana and residents of the Saryarka district, residents asked Zhenis Kassymbek to "replace the trees under warranty" on one street, as they did not take root.

In December of last year, we reported that residents of Aktau captured photos of landscapers planting saplings in the winter in the city. This surprised the residents, and the landscaping company explained the situation.

Additionally, in December 2024, the akim of Karaganda shared how many planted trees in the city did not survive.