Afghanistan’s NEPA warns of environmental project suspensions

KABUL (TOLONews): The head of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) during a press conference in Kabul expressed concern over the suspension of environmental projects.

Matiulhaq Khalis emphasized that Afghanistan must gain membership and participation in international environmental forums. He added that the agency has been invited to the upcoming Kazan Conference.

Matiulhaq Khalis, head of NEPA: “We have received an invitation to attend a conference in Russia scheduled for May 22–23, and we are working to participate in it. Following that, a conference titled ‘Snow Leopard’ will be held in Kyrgyzstan, for which we have also received an invitation and plan to attend. In addition, there will be an international exhibition in Uzbekistan, where we also intend to participate.”

Khalis added that around 32 to 33 million trees have been planted across the country so far and urged relevant institutions to cooperate further with NEPA in this effort.

“About 32 to 33 million trees have been planted across Afghanistan, which is a major achievement for us, but we are not stopping here,” he said.

Representatives of environmental organizations have also called on NEPA to focus more on climate change efforts, greening the country, tree planting, and their protection.

Hayatullah Wahdat, an environmental NGO representative, said: “Thirty percent of our population has left their villages without any formal announcement. In my own village, 50% of families have left, and people don’t understand why. They should know it’s due to drought.”

Abdul Rahim Khurram, environmental NGO representative: “This year, we planted 150,000 fruit and non-fruit trees, and if God wills, we aim to double this number.”

Earlier, Sadr Azam Osmani, deputy minister of agriculture, irrigation, and livestock, announced the planting of 16 million trees this year.