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🇫🇷 France /Environment & Climate

Afghanistan's forests are reborn from the ashes of war

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Afghanistan's forests, which lost about 50% of their area between 1979 and 2000 due to conflict and deforestation, are showing signs of recovery.
  • Local community management and initiatives like microforests inspired by the Miyawaki method are proving effective in restoring ecosystems and supporting livelihoods.
  • These reforestation efforts not only combat soil erosion and improve the environment but also offer economic benefits through fruit harvests and sustainable resource use.

Afghanistan's war-torn landscapes are witnessing a hopeful resurgence of greenery as forests begin to regrow on the ashes of conflict. Decades of war, from the Soviet invasion in 1979 to the fall of the first Taliban government in 2001, decimated the country's forest cover, with an estimated 50% lost by the early 2000s. "They had been ravaged," says Ghulam Ali Poya, an elder in the village of Char Bagh, recalling the lost pistachio forests.

Between 1979 and the early 2000s, about 50% of Afghanistan's forest area disappeared.

— Mohammad Nasir ShaliziA researcher at North Carolina State University, providing statistics on forest loss.

Researchers like Mohammad Nasir Shalizi from North Carolina State University note that while deforestation, fueled by illegal timber trade and local needs for fuel, continued in some areas, the overall trend has significantly slowed in the past two decades. National statistics indicate a 35% increase in forest cover between 2011 and 2025, though challenges remain in certain provinces. The focus is now shifting towards effective local community management, recognized as a crucial policy in this mountainous nation with limited resources.

There were pistachio forests over there. During the conflicts, they were ravaged.

— Ghulam Ali PoyaAn elder in the village of Char Bagh, recalling the impact of past wars on the landscape.

Innovative approaches, such as the microforests championed by the Aga Khan Foundation for Development (AKDN), are taking root. These dense, diverse plantations, inspired by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki's method, aim to restore ecosystems, enhance climate resilience, and boost community income. Bas Begum Ahmadi, a resident of Char Bagh, finds solace in these green spaces, enjoying the cooler air and the prospect of using branches for heating and leaves for livestock feed, while also selling fruits from pomegranate and apricot trees. "These trees make me feel good, my environment is green, I breathe clean air," she smiles.

These trees make me feel good, my environment is green, I breathe clean air.

— Bas Begum AhmadiA resident of Char Bagh, expressing her positive feelings about the microforest near her home.

These small forests serve as powerful models, inspiring others to replicate the success. The dense planting of trees like poplars near rivers also plays a vital role in preventing soil erosion during floods. As Afghanistan rebuilds, the return of its forests offers not just environmental benefits but also a symbol of resilience and a source of renewed hope for its communities.

This microforest is a model, people come to see it and want to do the same.

— Ghulam Ali PoyaHighlighting the replicability and inspirational nature of the local reforestation project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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