Flora
Restoring the iconic Aport apple in the birthplace of apples
Kazakhstan is widely recognized as the birthplace of the modern apple. Today, the country is drawing on its extraordinary apple heritage to revive the Aport, a once world-famous variety now considered at risk of disappearing. Running from 2024 to 2028, the national Aport Revival Program aims to produce enough healthy planting material to reestablish large-scale…
Read MoreNature’s pharmacy on the steppe: medicinal plants of Kazakhstan
Our recent article marking World Wildlife Day 2026 highlighted the important role of medicinal and aromatic plants in ecosystems and human well-being, touching briefly on Kazakhstan’s rich flora. Here, we take a closer look at three of the country’s medicinal species—common wormwood, licorice, and sea buckthorn—representing just a few of the many plants that play…
Read MoreNature’s pharmacy on the steppe: celebrating World Wildlife Day 2026
World Wildlife Day, observed each year on March 3, is a United Nations–designated occasion that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth and underscores the importance of protecting it. This year’s theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,” highlights the essential roles these plants play in human well-being, cultural traditions, and…
Read MoreDo you know where tulips originated?
Tulipa patens_Ulytausky raion Kazakhstan Tulips are practically synonymous with the Netherlands, known for its vast fields, varieties, and celebrations of these vibrant flowers. However, there’s another country that can lay claim to occupying a prominent place in tulip history and cultivation—Kazakhstan. While it’s a little-known fact, the story of the tulip began in Central…
Read More