Category: Environment

120-day winds and dust in Herat; A warning sign of climate change ahead of COP31

Herat has lived with the 120-day winds for years. These winds are part of the natural climate of the Sistan region and western Afghanistan, blowing from late spring through summer and into early autumn. But the problem is not the wind itself. When the land dries up, groundwater levels fall and vegetation disappears, dry riverbeds, wetlands and abandoned land are exposed to the wind. The same wind that was once simply a natural climate phenomenon can then lift soil and carry dust.

Thin livestock and dry pastures; Faryab livestock owners’ message to COP31

In the plains and villages of Faryab, Afghanistan, drought is no longer affecting only farmland. Pastures have decreased, fodder has become more expensive, and extreme heat has made life harder for livestock. For families whose food, income and financial security depend on cattle and sheep, the loss or weakening of livestock means more than losing an asset. It can mean less milk and meat, lost income and greater difficulty providing food for their families.

From research to farms; climate-resilient cotton yields 50% more in Baghlan

In Baghlan, the «Poza-e Eshan Agricultural Research Farm» has in recent years been working to identify and develop cotton varieties that are more resistant to water shortages, extreme heat and diseases by establishing a cotton collection. At the center, characteristics such as fiber length, boll weight, plant height, growing period and the level of crop production are examined so that seeds better suited to future climate conditions can be identified and made available to farmers.

Falling groundwater levels in Ghazni; a threat to agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods

Water shortages caused by drought and climate change have affected agriculture and livestock farming in several districts of Ghazni in recent years. A number of farmers and orchard owners in Ghazni city and the districts of Khwaja Omari, Malistan, Deh Yak, Qarabagh and Jaghatu say groundwater levels have fallen significantly in recent years, although the extent of the decline varies from area to area.

Daikundi’s almond orchards under pressure from climate change; empty tables, a message to COP31

In the mountainous areas of Daikundi, Afghanistan, almond blossoms are being damaged by sudden spring frosts, while consecutive droughts are reducing harvests. For families who depend on almonds for their livelihoods, this is more than the loss of a crop. It means smaller meals and growing financial pressure, forcing some families to sell their remaining livestock, borrow money to buy food from local shops, and cut back on meals.

Women farmers in Jawzjan strive to adapt to climate change

Consecutive droughts, declining rainfall, and drying water sources in Jawzjan have changed farming methods and the lives of farmers in the province. A number of women farmers in Jawzjan say they are striving to maintain their families’ food security and income by using drip irrigation, improving water management, establishing home gardens, and diversifying their agricultural production.

30,000 people in Farah displaced by climate change; a message for «COP31»

Farah Province has been one of Afghanistan’s major agricultural regions for many years. But today, parts of the province are clearly showing signs of a deepening water crisis. This crisis has placed a heavy economic burden on poor farmers. Drilling a deep well costs between 300,000 and 500,000 Afghanis, an amount that many rural families cannot afford.

Rising livestock market; how recent rainfall has changed livestock farming in Ghor?

Consecutive years of drought in Ghor have left pastures with little fodder and forced many livestock owners to face high costs to feed their livestock. Some have also sold part of their livestock to keep the rest alive.

Green fields turn dry; a woman farmer’s concerns about climate change in Badghis

A warm evening wind blows across the dry plains of Ab Kamari district in Badghis. The strong summer sun shines on land that was once covered with golden wheat fields. But now, many of those green fields have turned dry and cracked. In one corner of the plain, 29-year-old Parwana, a farmer, stands wearing a black headscarf and looks at the land that has been part of her life and memories for years.

Excessive harvesting of mountain plants threatens vegetation cover in some provinces

With the start of the growing season this spring, the green slopes and mountains of Panjshir, Parwan and Kapisa once again saw large numbers of local residents heading into the mountains to collect mushrooms, rhubarb and other medicinal plants. For many families, these plants not only meet some of their food and medicinal needs but also provide a source of income.

“Qoroq”; a local solution for conserving vegetation in Ghor

In the mountainous areas of Ghor, where climate change, increased seasonal floods, soil erosion, and declining water resources are posing serious challenges to people’s lives, residents in some parts of the province are using a simple approach to protect natural resources and reduce the damage caused by these problems. They are conserving lands (qoroq) covered with natural shrubs and preventing the destruction of vegetation to help restore nature and protect natural resources.

Floods in Nuristan raise questions about the role of forests

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?