Semey Ormany, the protected ribbon pine forests around Semey

Semey Ormany is a state forest nature reserve that protects the ribbon pine forests of the Irtysh region around the city of Semey, in Kazakhstan’s Abai Region. It is a working protected landscape, not a single viewpoint. Pine belts on sand alternate with dry steppe, and the forest has been hit by repeated fires and illegal logging. Plan it as an add-on from Semey in the warm months, not as a trip on its own.

Where Semey Ormany is and what kind of place it is

The reserve covers forest land in several districts of northern Abai Region in east Kazakhstan: Beskaragay, Borodulikha, Zharma, Abai, Ayagoz and Kokpekty. It also includes land belonging to the city of Semey. Its centre point lies about 35 km in a straight line from Semey, so the city is the natural base. We could not confirm road distances or journey times to the reserve.

The reserve was created on 22 January 2003 by merging ten separate forest and wildlife protection agencies. Its stated purpose is to keep and restore the ribbon pine forests of the Irtysh region. These are narrow belts of pine on sand with groundwater close to the surface, set among dry feather-grass steppe. Most branches lie in the steppe zone. The Zharma branch lies in the desert zone.

The area figure appears only in the Kazakh-language article, and the boundaries have changed since 2003. Land was added in 2005 and 2008, and 804.2 ha were removed in 2014 for the Bulak hydropower plant. Treat the area as approximate.

Pine, steppe and a long list of birds

Most of the forest is pine, with birch and aspen, growing on sand. The ground layer is dominated by feather grass, fescue and wormwood. Wet hollows hold sedge, reed and bulrush. Kazakh Wikipedia counts 344 species of higher plants in the ribbon forests.

The animal list is long for a lowland forest: 354 vertebrate species, including 234 birds and 83 mammals. In the steppe-forest branches you can find elk, roe deer, wild boar, wolf, fox, corsac fox, badger and pikas. Larks, grey partridge, steppe eagle and pallid harrier are among the common birds, with waterfowl on the ponds. The Zharma branch adds argali and lynx. Marmot and brown bear live there too.

The reserve also has species listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book. They include black stork, whooper swan, osprey, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, saker falcon, demoiselle crane, peregrine, short-toed eagle, red-breasted goose and spoonbill. For a birder, this is the strongest reason to come. We could not confirm where in the reserve visitors are allowed to watch them, or whether a guide or permit is needed.

Fire is the main fact of this forest

Wildfire has shaped Semey Ormany’s recent history, and it should shape your visit too. Fires have started here in April, May, June and July, which overlaps the warm months when most visitors would come. One fire broke out near a city district and reached the edge of homes.

The practical point is simple: no open fire, no cigarettes, no barbecues. Leave at once if you see smoke. In 2018, firefighters were slowed by sand dunes, thick smoke and illegal rubbish dumps on the access tracks. Do not drive deep into the forest on sand tracks in dry, windy weather.

Illegal logging also puts heavy pressure on the forest. A prosecutors’ check reported on 8 February 2023 found 1,890 cases of illegal felling. Wikipedia notes that the last forest restoration programme dates from 2014. Expect cleared patches and old burns, not untouched woodland.

When to go to Semey Ormany

Late spring to early autumn is the window. Winters are long and very cold.

These are ERA5 reanalysis normals for 2011–2020 at a grid point at 257 m, not readings from a weather station. The region has a sharply continental climate. Summer is hot and dry, and winter is cold with relatively little snow.

June to August bring daytime highs of about 26–27°C and nights around 13–16°C. July is the wettest month, with about 58 mm of rain. May and September are cooler, at about 19–20°C by day. From November to March, average daytime highs are below freezing. In January the average high is about −12°C and the average low about −20°C.

If you want warmth and lower fire danger, September or early June may be a reasonable compromise, though we found no month-by-month fire-risk data. Check fire warnings whatever month you choose.

Getting there and what we could not confirm

Semey is the only realistic base, about 35 km in a straight line from the reserve’s centre point. The reserve spreads across several districts, so one ’entrance’ may not exist. We could not confirm any visitor centre, marked trail, entry fee, opening hours, public transport or permit rules.

Access without local help is unclear. You will need local help in Semey to reach a forestry branch and to ask what is open.

If you are travelling further around east Kazakhstan, Lake Zaysan and the Rakhmanov Springs in the Altai are the closest pages on this site. Both are still hundreds of kilometres away.