Afghanistan loses 34% of its forests in last 15 years

KABUL (Ariana News): The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations says that the wars and crises of the past 40 years have had a very negative impact on forests in Afghanistan.

On the occasion of March 21, the International Forest Protection Day, FAO said on X on Wednesday that, Afghanistan has 1.78 million hectares of forests and woodlands.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, by publishing an informative video, said that in the last 15 years alone, Afghanistan has lost 34% of its forests.

For many years, arbitrary cutting of forests has continued in Afghanistan and the governments have not been able to stop it.

Since 2013, March 21 has become the International Forest Protection Day so that the people of the world are aware of its importance.

This is despite the fact that two years ago, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said in a tweet that according to the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, it is strictly forbidden to cut forests, sell the wood and transport it.

Also, two years ago, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced the formation of a unit to protect the forests of Afghanistan.

This unit of 450 people is called “Green Unit” and it was formed in order to prevent illegal cutting of forests and the smuggling of wood.

According to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan there are 100 members of this unit in Kabul and 50 people in each of the other seven provinces – Kunar, Nuristan, Khost, Laghman, Paktia, Paktika and Nangarhar – that have forests and woodlands.