AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan's forests are one of the many victims of years on conflict in the country. The rate of deforestation is increasing and over 33% of its forest cover has disappeared since 1990. Years of war have seen forests cut down or set on fire during battles - both the Soviet army and the Taliban operated a scorched earth policy. Much land has also been polluted with fuel and landmines. Before the Soviet invasion in 1979, 3% of Afghanistan was forested; the figure is now less than 1.5%.

In addition to the effects of conflict, forests are being cut down for fuelwood, agriculture, as a result of rapidly expanding urban areas, and because of widespread illegal logging and smuggling activities. Reforestation programmes are almost non-existent as there are no incentives provided for longterm projects. Habitats are being lost at an alarming rate and a number of species, such as the snow leopard, are seeing a dramatic fall in numbers.

The illegal timber trade has thrived during the years of conflict and is continuing today, with logs being smuggled into neighbouring countries. Mass illegal logging has decimated huge areas in the provinces along the Pakistan border in particular. There are reports of involvement by police, military personnel and local officials, and few efforts have been made by the government to crack down on corrupt practices. The profits from the illegal trade - estimated to be millions of dollars a week - help to fund local warlords. It is believed much of the timber is destined for the Middle East and Japan.

There is little optimism about the future. The government has no control over the forests and no capacity to protect the environment against the warlords and colluding officials. Large areas of the country's forests have already been destroyed and what little remains could soon be wiped out.

NEWS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
02/02/2011	Afghans highlight deforestation dangers at start of UN Year of Forests As the United Nations today launches its International Year of Forests, Afghans in the eastern part of ...	ReliefWeb
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01/06/2010	Call to ban timber logged illegally Strong Australian laws should be established to stop imports of illegally logged timber, often connected ...	The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
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13/04/2010	Illegal logging financing Taliban attacks on U.S. troops In case you didn't have enough reasons to dislike the Taliban, The Wall Street Journal's Yaroslav ...	The Huffington Post, US
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26/08/2009	Pakistani crime feeds Taliban coffers ...	The Star, Toronto
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30/07/2009	Team works with Afghan Government to address timber issues Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan - Members of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Kunar ...	US Department of Defense
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08/06/2009	Chosin Battalion derails illegal wood smuggling routes in Konar Konar Province, Afghanistan - Konar province, a lush area near the Pakistan border, has in the past been ...	dvids hub, Afghanistan
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21/09/2008	Deforestation Scientific studies have shown that a large part of ancient Afghanistan was covered with forests. However, ...	Afghanistan Online
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06/06/2008	Afghanistans natural environment a victim of war ...	Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
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03/06/2008	Afghan forests another victim of war Kabul, Afghanistan - Environmentalists have warned that the illegal timber industry is threatening the ...	The National (United Arab Emirates)
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23/02/2008	Timber mafia still active in Kunduz Kunduz City, Afghanistan - Officials of Agriculture department in Kunduz province said illegal cutting ...	Afgha.com (Germany)
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29/08/2006	Central/South Asia: Deforestation makes mark on region, its people The destruction of forests in Central Asia, Iran, and Afghanistan is having a massive impact on the environment ...	Radio Free Europe
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01/01/2005	Afghanistans drug-friendly environment Afghanistans President Hamid Karzai has stepped up international fundraising efforts in recent weeks, ...	Project Syndicate
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20/11/2004	Afghan woodland ravaged by border traders Jalalabad, Afghanistan - Sayed Fazl Akbar, the Governor of Kunar province, in eastern Afghanistan said ...	e-Ariana Afghan News
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