This three-day workshop consisting of one-day presentation of all participants from invited countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Republic of Korea) and two-day field trip to introduce and explore dryland forest ecosystem in the Charyn State National Park and relict Ash (Fraxinus sogdiana Bunge.) groves and restoration experiences implemented in the southern part of Republic of Kazakhstan. It brought together more than 50 registered participants from 7 countries and 10 more unregistered participants from Kazakhstan. This event was jointly organized by National Institute of Forest Science, Republic of Korea (NIFoS), Republic of Korea (ROK), Institute of Forest Sciences, National University of Mongolia (NUM), Kazakh Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestmeloration, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), and State Committee of Forestry and Wildlife, Republic of Kazakhstan and co-supported by National Institute of Forest Science, ROK, Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI), Kazakh National Agrarian University, Republic of Kazakhstan, and IUFRO Special Programme for Development of Capacities (SPDC), Units 1.06.00 Restoration of Degraded Sites and Units 1.01.13 Long-term Research on Forest Ecosystem Management in Northeast Asia. Participants included international researchers, managers, and students.

Fifteen (15) invited speakers (two invited speakers from People’s Republic of China could not joined to the Workshop due to visa issue problems) including one plenary lecture provided overviews, broad perspectives, and challenges that set the stage for specific information on status of dryland forests, conservation and restoration in Central Asia and Mongolia.

Welcoming address were kindly delivered by the Dr. Joo Han, Sung Senior researcher, Division of Forest Industry Research, National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS), Republic of Korea and he expressed his honor to welcome all participants to the Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan and stressed out the common problems in drylands of Mongolia and Central Asia including livestock grazing, forest and land degradation which it is important to promote Regional synergistic efforts towards sustainable forest management and restoration of forest ecosystems is essential for conservation of forests and enhancing functionality of the dryland forests.

Mr. Maxat Elemesov, State Committee on Forestry and Wildlife, Republic of Kazakhstan kindly attended whole Workshop and delivered Congratulatory address on the behalf of the Government of Republic Kazakhstan. He had shortly introduced a State Committee on Forestry and Wildlife and their role and duties at regional and national level and kindly asked all participants for their active participation and discussion during the Workshop.

Workshop Opening remarks were given by Dr. Aliaksandr Kurdzeka, Vice-Rector for the Scientific Work and International Relations, on the behalf of Rectoriat of the Kazakh National Agrarian University as the host Institution in the Republic of Kazakhstan. He has delivered short introduction about Kazakh National Agrarain University and expressed his deepest appreciation to the organizers and participants for taking time out of their busy schedule to attend the Workshop.

Prof. Nyam-Osor Batkhuu introduced General Introduction about the series of the Expert Workshop, Agenda, and Filed trip and gave plenary presentation entitled “The Role of International Cooperation in Science, Technology and Capacity Building for Restoration of Drylands “covering different topics, challenges and experiences in dryland forest restoration with several case studies in Central and Northeast Asia including series of the Workshops organized since 2014 in defferent countries of Central and Northeastern Asia.

Afternoon session were kindly moderated by Dr. Hosang, Kang from Seoul National University follwed by Prof. Nyam-Osor Batkhuu in the afternoon session.

Valuable information and insights about dryland forests their ecological importance, conservation and restoration experiences in Central Asia and Mongolia were shared by speakers and described conditions in their home countries with specific challenges, and opportunities in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. Last minutes of the Workshop were dedicated to Panel discussions where all participants, speaker were actively involved and shared their knowledge and experience in the field of Dryland Forest Restoration and Conservation.