The recent devastating floods in Parun, the capital of Nuristan, have killed at least 25 people and injured 119 others, while damaging homes, markets, agricultural land, and irrigation infrastructure. Despite Nuristan having more than 231,000 hectares of natural forests, the disaster raises a question: To what extent can forests reduce the severity of sudden floods in mountainous areas?
Jawid Safi, a resident of Nuristan, says the flood reached the area from the mountains within a very short time, leaving people no chance to save their belongings.
“The place where the flood came from is about two hours away from here, but the water reached our area in only about eight minutes. I had a shop and a hotel, and the flood swept them both away,” he says.
Zaker Zaki, another resident of Nuristan, says the speed and strength of this flood were very different from previous floods.
“This flood was completely different from floods in the past. Because the mountains are very high, the water reaches here from the mountains within only 10 to 15 minutes. Even when the rainfall is not very heavy, all the water gathers in one path. That is why the flood moves much faster,” he says.
Based on figures provided by local officials, 25 people were killed and 119 others were injured in the incident. The bodies of 24 victims have been found, while one person remains missing. This raises a question: Why were the extensive forests of Nuristan unable to reduce the severity of the floods?
Mohammad Ali Farooqi, head of the Nuristan River Sub-basin, says natural factors and the geographical features of the province played a major role in the severity of the flood. According to him, heavy rainfall over a short period, steep mountain slopes, the soil’s limited ability to absorb water, and the rapid accumulation of runoff all contribute to the severity of floods.
“Heavy rainfall over a short period, steep mountainous areas, the soil’s limited ability to absorb water, and the rapid flow of water are among the main factors that increase the severity of floods,” he says.
On the other hand, Mir Zaman, General Manager of Natural Resources at the Nuristan Department of Environmental Protection, says the loss of forest cover can increase the risk of floods and make the regions more vulnerable.
“Another factor is deforestation. Trees absorb water and play an important role in reducing the risk of floods. The more forest cover is lost, the greater the risk and severity of floods,” he says.
However, Shir Agha, an environmental expert, says forests cannot completely stop floods. Instead, they can reduce the severity, speed, and volume of surface water flow.
“Forests cannot completely prevent floods, but they can reduce their severity. Tree canopies absorb some of the rain, forest soil can absorb more water, and tree roots help hold the soil strongly. However, when rainfall is extremely heavy, even healthy forests cannot completely prevent major floods,” he says.
Meanwhile, preliminary assessments by local authorities show that, contrary to what many people believe, the main source of the flood was in an area without forest cover.
Ziauddin Jahani, head of Natural Resources and National Parks at the Nuristan Department of Agriculture, says forests along the flood’s path were able to reduce some of its severity, but there was no forest at the point where the flood began.
“Preliminary assessments show that there was no forest cover at the main point where the flood began. However, in the lower areas, forests were able to reduce the severity of the flood to some extent,” he says.
Based on information from local authorities, in addition to the loss of life, the flood damaged two major irrigation canals that supplied water to about 100 jeribs of farmland. Around 60 livestock were killed, five homes were damaged, and eight markets were destroyed.
The findings of this report show that although forests are one of the most important natural protections against floods, they alone cannot prevent major floods. The intensity of rainfall, the steepness of the land, the condition of water sources, the level of vegetation cover, and the management of watersheds all affect the severity of such disasters.
Experts emphasize that protecting and restoring forests, preventing the destruction of vegetation, scientifically managing watersheds, establishing early-warning systems, and preventing construction in flood-prone areas are among the most important measures that could reduce the risk of similar disasters in Nuristan and other mountainous areas of Afghanistan.
Reporter: Bakhmina Raiskhail
