QALA-I-NAU (SW) – A number of Badghis resident say that the villagers of this province have been cutting down trees for years due to poverty and use them as fuel in winter.
Expressing concern over the brutal felling of fruitful and non-fruitful trees in the province, they called on the authorities to take immediate action to prevent deforestation and to take legal action against violators.
Mohammad Fahm Hashemi, a resident of Badghis, told Salam Watandar: “I ask the government and the leaders of this country to stop cutting down of forests, especially the Archeh forests, so that we have a clean and healthy environment.”
A number of agricultural experts in Badghis believe that cutting down of trees and forests causes soil erosion and environmental pollution.
Shams al-Haq Shams, an expert on agricultural affairs, emphasized that the local authorities of the Islamic Emirate must provide an alternative to the winter fuel for the residents in order to prevent the felling of trees. According to him, raising awareness in this regard can also help the villagers.
Meanwhile, officials in the Badghis Department of Agriculture and Livestock acknowledge most of the Archeh trees in the province have been cut down during the previous government.
Mohiuddin Bashari, head of agriculture and livestock in Badghis, emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has now deployed special teams to protect forests in all districts.
According to local officials in Badghis, most of the Archeh trees are located in the areas of Band-e-Sabzak, Ab-e-Kamri, Gonbad-e-Qadis, and the city of Arman in the province.
ENDS
