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| Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan. An output of the National capacity needs self-assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA) for Afghanistan | |
| 2008 Full Book | |
Biodiversity, the variety of living things, is sometimes called 'the wealth of the poor' because rural people living close to the land depend upon biodiversity to provide natural goods and ecological services. History shows that environmental degradation is often a contributing factor to the collapse of civilizations and that vibrant, healthy societies depend on a healthy environment that is rich in biodiversity. The intent of this report, which was an output of the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA) project implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is to provide a summary of what is known in 2008 about the status of Afghanistan's biodiversity. There are three components: a narrative summary of Afghan biodiversity; a listing of known species of Afghan mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, molluscs and liverworts; and a subject bibliography of published information on elements of Afghan biodiversity. Much of the information on Afghanistan's biodiversity is old and no longer reliable. Little significant information has been gathered since the onset of war in 1978. However, the few recent investigations suggest that Afghanistan's biodiversity has suffered enormously in the last three decades. Afghanistan is comprised of eight unique biogeographical Provinces of which seven belong to the Palaearctic Realm. Only a small area in the lower Kabul River Valley is of Indo-Malayan origin. A recent classification breaks Afghanistan down into 15 smaller eco-regions of which four are considered as critical/ endangered, eight as vulnerable and only two as relatively stable and intact. The species composition of all eco-regions has been significantly reduced through a combination of overgrazing, fuel collection and exploitation by large herbivorous animals. Deciduous and evergreen true forests are limited to the monsoon-influenced eastern part of the country and once comprised about 5% of Afghanistan's surface area. Recent analyses suggest that only 5% of these original forests may still exist. Open woodlands dominated by pistachio and juniper once comprised about 38% of Afghanistan. Satellite image analysis of selected areas in 2002 found that tree density was too low to be detected anywhere, suggesting that this once widespread ecosystem is on the verge of extinction in Afghanistan. The vast areas of subalpine vegetation was probably originally steppe grassland but is now almost entirely comprised of grazing-resistant cushion shrubland. Analysis of recorded species records shows that are there are 137 to 150 species of mammals, 428 to 515 birds, 92 to 112 reptiles, six to eight amphibians, 101 to 139 fish, 245 butterflies, and 3,500 to 4,000 vascular plant species native to Afghanistan. The range in numbers results from uncertainty in taxonomy and the questionable validity of some records. A total of 39 species and eight subspecies appear on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List as being globally threatened with extinction. There are 23 Afghan species listed on Appendix I and 88 on Appendix II of the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). No formal assessment has been made of species at risk at the national scale, but many species, particularly large mammals, are obviously at risk of extinction within Afghanistan. Only seven vertebrate species are known to be endemic to Afghanistan, but estimates for endemic plant species range from 20 - 30% (i.e. about 600 - 1,200 species). Afghanistan is an arid country and the few wetlands that do exist are therefore of great significance to biodiversity. A list of 21 wetlands of known or potential significance is provided in this report. Afghanistan currently has no legally instituted or effectively managed protected areas. Prior to 1978, one National Park, four Waterfowl Reserves and two Wildlife Sanctuaries were designated by the Government, but were never formally and legally declared as such and management was minimal. A list of 15 potential protected areas proposed by various parties is provided in this report. |
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