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Restoration of Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems in Afghanistan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Amir S. Hassanyar
Amir S. Hassanyar
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Ecology, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan.
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Extract

Barren, desert-like environments have been created over large areas in Afghanistan, and various degrees of desertification can be seen especially in the southwestern plains. Extensive overgrazing, frequent drought, and unwise land-use, have initiated processes of local desertification also elsewhere in Afghanistan.

The first step in the restoration of depleted vegetation is to correct the improper uses that have been responsible for these conditions. Improper grazing practices of rangelands are a primary cause of reductions in the productivity of arid and semi-arid ecosystems in Afghanistan.

The second step in restoration is to prepare a detailed revegetation plan. The following maps and information are needed: (1) a vegetation-cover map, (2) a soil-series map, (3) a topographic map, and (4) baseline data on climatic conditions. The vegetationcover map identifies the plant biomass potential and the species that might be suitable for revegetation. The soil-series map is accompanied by a description of the physical and chemical features of the topsoil and subsoil along with an assessment of the general herbage production potential. The topographic map helps with species selection and planting methods. The climatic parameters assist in determining the season of planting and any need for drought-resistant species to be planted.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , Winter 1977 , pp. 297 - 301
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1977

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