Sapling plantation by the member of Sapari RMA/FMA, Sabari district, Khust Province. ©FAO

Khust province is in Southeastern Afghanistan and it is almost entirely covered by mountains and forests. The population is largely rural and grows cereals and vegetables such as wheat, barley, maize, rice, onions, potatoes, spinach, and leek on whatever land is left from forest cover.

The rise in population and resultant pressure has pushed people living in this province to either immigrate for work, and those left behind have resorted to collecting firewood, illegal forest logging, and overgrazing to survive.  

Deforestation and rangeland overuse put Khust province in a critical position, with 0.2ha of forest destroyed on an annual basis. So far 278ha out of 15300ha have been destroyed since 2000.

FAO with funds from Global Environment Facility (GEF) established nine Rangeland and Forest Management Associations (RMA & FMAs) in three districts (Sabari, Baak, and Zazi Maidan) of Khust province and registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) in 2022. Each (RMA & FMA) has 11 key members and the whole community under each RMA & FMA are direct and indirect beneficiaries. FAO developed Community-based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) plan for each FMA/RMA and selected potential sites in consultation with FMA/RMA members for project interventions to be implemented.

RMA & FMA are responsible for monitoring project interventions regularly, helping provincial staff to identify potential beneficiaries for project interventions, facilitating the excavation of pits, participating in awareness-raising campaigns, and spreading the knowledge to the whole community, allocating land for establishing home-based nurseries as well as conducting regular weekly and monthly meetings among themselves to better facilitate project activities in the field.

In addition, FAO provincial team trained the local community and RMA/FMA members on the importance of the conservation of natural resources, particularly forests, and rangelands. The project is utilizing a bottom-up approach - working at the village, district, and provincial levels to ensure sustainability for a longer period. 

To enhance the livelihoods and socio-economic conditions of the local communities who directly or indirectly depend on forest resources, FAO planted nearly 129 840 saplings of almond, walnut, hop bush, and poplar cuttings, that covered 162.6 ha of land at the beginning of 2023. The selection of these species was because of their high resistance to drought, giving fruits and producing wood for fuel.

The aim of this plantation was to decrease pressure on forests and rangeland and restore biodiversity. Based on field-level observation, the survival rate of these saplings is around 95 percent, and the community with the help of RMA & FMA key members regularly look after the saplings, by irrigating and carrying out other required follow-up.

The community as part of their in-kind contribution did the plantation layout, excavating pits and basins, and irrigation arrangements. The plantation was done with contributions from local communities and RMA/FMA members through a large gathering locally called “Ashar”.

“I deeply appreciate the demonstration of afforestation/reforestation and supporting local communities, and farmers by FAO. We are lucky to be selected for this project, as our basic needs such as alternative livelihood, reforestation, afforestation, woodlots for fuel wood and sustainably managing the rangeland are considered. We hope to have restored forests, rangeland, and biodiversity as well as a healthy climatic environment for the upcoming generation,” says Mr. Hekmat Khan, Zambar RMA/FAM head. 

Bakhtawar Khan is one of the beneficiaries of Sapari RMA/FMA, who has individually received 500 almond and walnut saplings from FAO.

“Besides being a member of Sapari RMA/FMA, I used to be a member of the youth committee as well. We’ve planted thousands of saplings every year in our forest area. The local community through “Ashar” manages the plantation.  This year we’ve cumulatively planted 34 140 different types of saplings provided by the FAO, and we are responsible for taking care of the saplings and irrigation. We’ve hired guards locally called “Arbaky” who look after the planted area and do irrigation regularly.”