RASC News Agency: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reported that Afghanistan is losing 0.2% of its forests annually. In a recently issued statement, the FAO underscored the critical importance of addressing deforestation to safeguard the country’s environmental and ecological stability. The organization disclosed that since 2000, an alarming 278 hectares of forest out of a total of 15,300 hectares have been lost in Khost Province alone. FAO described this rapid deforestation as a severe threat to Afghanistan’s biodiversity and sustainable development.
In response, the FAO has launched various initiatives to restore biodiversity and rehabilitate forests, with a strong focus on Khost Province. The projects aim to enhance forest resilience, improve local livelihoods, and reduce the adverse effects of deforestation. As part of these efforts, the organization has planted 47,950 fruit-bearing trees, including almonds, plums, cherries, and oranges, over 232 hectares in Khost. Additionally, it has introduced 260,000 walnut and pine trees across 2,111 hectares in the same region.
To ensure the survival of these plantations, the FAO has constructed nine water reservoirs to facilitate systematic irrigation. These reservoirs are designed to address the water needs of the newly planted trees, reducing dependency on natural rainfall. The FAO emphasized that these projects aim to alleviate the pressure on existing forests and promote the restoration of Afghanistan’s rich biodiversity. The initiative is financially backed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a testament to the global commitment to addressing Afghanistan’s environmental challenges.
Despite these efforts, the Taliban have faced repeated accusations of contributing to deforestation through deliberate forest burning and illegal logging, further exacerbating the country’s environmental degradation.
