Community Councils Established to Protect Forests in Nuristan

Nuristan, one of Afghanistan’s most heavily forested provinces, has faced growing concerns in recent years over the illegal and indiscriminate cutting of its natural forests.

Officials from the Nuristan Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock say community councils have been established across the province to protect natural forests and prevent illegal logging.

Ziauddin Jahani, head of natural resources management at the department, said nine official councils have been established and granted permits to help protect the forests.

“We have established nine official councils in Nuristan to protect natural forests. This also serves as a community agreement, under which anyone who cuts down a tree will be fined one cow. These councils cooperate with us,” Jahani said.

Local elders say that under the community agreement, no one is allowed to cut down trees without authorization, and violators face penalties.

Zakaria Khan, a local elder, said: “In areas where natural forests are cut down, community councils fine those responsible by taking a cow. If smugglers cut down forests, the government arrests them and takes legal action.”

Another local elder, Abdullah, said the councils regularly monitor forests and impose fines on those found illegally cutting trees.

Meanwhile, residents of Nuristan say protecting forests is a shared responsibility of the government and local communities. They are also calling for new trees to be planted in areas affected by deforestation.

Matiullah, a Nuristan resident, said: “Nuristan’s forests are natural forests. We and the government must work together to protect them, and no one should be allowed to cut them down.”

According to local officials, 277,000 fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing saplings have recently been planted across the province as part of efforts to restore and expand forests.

Officials also say a “Green Unit” has been activated to prevent illegal logging and timber smuggling.