Activists started to restore boxwood in Kabardino-Balkaria
April 24, 2018
In Nalchik, volunteers planted 500 young Caucasian boxwood saplings. The project is financed by the head of the Metropol company Rauf Kenet, who in turn learned about the initiative of the public figure Aslan Beshto.
“This year, we will plant 2,000 seedlings: in three years we plan to plant 10,000 seedlings in Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Khabez (a village in Karachay-Cherkessia.” – Ed.) And in the Krasnodar Territory, “said Kavkaz.Realii “Beshto.
Boxwood was almost completely destroyed because of the moth, which fell on the territory of the Caucasus from Italy. In 2012, during the construction of the road from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana, 24 hectares of Kolkhida boxwood were cut down. To compensate for the losses caused to nature, organizers of the Olympics decided to plant the box in the same place, for which the seedlings of the Mediterranean boxwood were purchased in Italy.
However, on the seedlings there were caterpillars of a moth, which does not have natural enemies on the territory of the Caucasus. By 2017, the growth of boxwood on the territory of the Russian Federation and Georgia has practically disappeared. On the territory of Russia there were only three areas of boxwood growth in Adygea and Krasnodar.
The Nalchik Botanical Garden (MUP “Decorative Cultures”) provided the shoots for the boxwood restoration.
“The institute exists since 1930, and we are engaged in the conservation of rare plants.” The Caucasian boxwood is listed in the Red Book, and we have been cultivating it since Soviet times, “one of the institute’s employees told Kavkaz.Realii.”
According to Beshto, for Adygeys boxwood is a sacred plant, symbolizing purity and fidelity. “As long as we are alive, we are obliged to preserve this unique plant for humanity,” says Beshto, stressing that his project is purely ecological in nature and does not pursue commercial goals.
The first 300 seedlings were planted in a park near the building of the ensemble “Kabardinka” in Nalchik. Another 200 seedlings were transferred to the station of young people in the village of Chegem.
Three years later the volunteers intend to start recovery of boxwood in the wild.
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