NANGARHAR - Local committees to protect the forests are showing progress in Afghanistan's eastern region, where officials say the most effective to protect the environment is by making people aware of potential dangers and changing their behaviours.

“During last five years, we launched several awareness programmes through mosques, gatherings, and weekly radio TV programmes which had very positive results in Jalalabad city as well as in the districts,” Shamahmud Muhmand, director of environment protection of Nangarhar province. The activities were created with support the National Environment Protection Agency and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Among the main challenges to the environment is the cutting of forests and killing of wild animals that live there.

“We have established particular committees in the districts to protect forests. In some districts, such as Darinoor and Shirzad, these committees and awareness programmes show that 80 per cent of the forests are being protected,” said Mahmad Alam Gharanay, supervisor of the forests’ section of Nangarhar’s environment protection department.

In Laghman province, local communities – supported by UNEP – have made even greater progress.

“Due to the efforts made by our colleagues and community elders, the numbers of trees cut down has decreased almost 90 per cent,” said Payinda Muhamad Sahak, director of provincial department of environment protection.
Despite the progress made, challenges continue.

The 65,000 hectares of mountains in Kunar used to be covered by forests, but the heavy fighting and illegal lumber smuggling has eliminated approximately 60 per cent of the trees.

“We have launched awareness programmes on radio and TV, and established special community Shuras to conduct awareness programmes to prevent cutting of forests but unfortunately, in many of the districts, local people and timber smugglers are still cutting trees,” said Najeebullah Kunary, director of provincial department of environment protection of Kunar.

The numbers of trees cut has decreased only in some of the most accessible districts, such as Shigal, Dangam, Sawkay and Asmar.

Local residents said the awareness programmes are good, but more attention needs to be paid by government officials to other environmental challenges, such as the use of substandard vehicles and diesel generators.

Karimullah, 45, citizen of Jalalabad said “Through gatherings and radio and TV programmes, environment protection department is making a lot of effort, but some people and authorities -especially the municipality and traffic police - are not providing necessary support to keep environment clean.”

The Government of Afghanistan is among the more than 100 world leaders gathered in Rio de Jaineiro, Brazil, for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which seeks to shape new policies to promote global prosperity, reduce poverty and advance social equality and environmental protection.

By UNAMA Jalalabad