AFG

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Generate a Summary to go with each environmental case study, this is used to generate a summary for a local state of the environment report.

Answering the following questions and generate your LSOE report.

 1. What is happening in the environment (i.e., how are environmental conditions and trends changing)?

Afghanistan’s population of roughly 23.5 million is largely Dependent upon the country’s natural resource base for Its economic well being. These resources have been severely Degraded as a consequence of past political instability And weakly implemented environment and resource Management policies. To remedy the situation, both short-term Measures to address immediate needs and a long-term Plan will need to be developed and executed to Rehabilitate and protect the natural resource base while Providing the country’s people with the means for their Livelihoods through sustainable resource use. Afghanistan is a landlocked country whose geography And natural resources share many characteristics with Its Central Asian neighbors: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, And Uzbekistan to the north; Iran to the west; and Pakistan And the People’s Republic of China to the south and East. Mountains dominate the central and Eastern part of Afghanistan, covering about three fourths Of the country. Extensions of the Hindu Kush Mountains Cover the central and northeast parts of the country, with Many peaks exceeding 6,000 meters (m) in elevation. The Mountains are young, characterized by narrow valleys and Steep rugged peaks; in a number of places the effect of Glaciers are evident. To the west the mountains become Lower and their slopes gentler, often turning into plateaus With the surrounding peaks protruding above them. In The north the topography is characterized by hot and arid Northern plains as well as several high basins. The western And southern regions are dominated by desert ecosystems, The largest being the sand desert in Registan and The clayey-rocky Dasht Margo. Steppes form wide belts Of intermediate elevation and receive an average level of Rainfall—more than the dry lowlands and less than the Wet highlands. The sources of the country’s rivers lie in the mountains, And water levels in the rivers oscillate greatly. The Highest flows are in the spring and early summer fed by Snowmelt. During the other seasons the rivers may become Small streams or disappear entirely. Lakes are scarce. Those in the mountains are small, mostly of postglacial Origin, while those in the desert are often highly saline And dry up in the summer. A complex of five small lakes at Band-i-Amir, located in the Koh-i-Baba Mountains, is of exceptional natural beauty and has the potential to be an ecotourism site. Land use in each zone is largely determined by the availability of water from precipitation, groundwater, or Rivers. The natural vegetative patterns also closely follow the influence of water availability and altitude. In those river valleys with reasonably secure year-round water supplies, human settlements and irrigated agriculture are prevalent. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated in 1981 that 84% of land was used as rangeland (54.7 million Hectares. Though there are no reliable current estimates of these figures, it is clear that changes have occurred over the past 20 years. Both irrigated agriculture and grazing activities would be expected to decline substantially because of damage to water delivery systems and loss of livestock during the period of conflict. There are indications that agricultural area—particularly rainfed cultivation—has expanded at the expense of rangelands. Afghanistan is endowed with a wide variety of vegetative types and habitats that contribute to its unique biological resources. Short-lived vegetation grows in the sandy semi-deserts, and salt-tolerant vegetation is found in the salt semi-deserts. The most common trees found on humid soils are oaks, ashes, willows, poplars, planes, and fruit trees in orchards. Forests of the Himalayan type, including evergreen oak woods, grow in the borderland between Afghanistan and Pakistan (in Nuristan and Paktia) at an altitude of 2,400 m above sea level. Pine, spruce, and cedar trees grow at 3,500 m, whereas alpine meadows extend even higher. The slopes of Tirbandi are covered with pistachio trees. The fauna of Afghanistan is similar to that of other Central Asian countries. Beasts of prey, like the snow leopard, brown bear, wolf, striped hyena, jackal, and fox are still found in the mountains, though their populations are assumed to be in decline. Hoofed mammals are represented by the Marco Polo sheep, markhor, ibex, and others. Surveys have been conducted sporadically over the past 30 years, but there are no reliable current estimates of wildlife populations. It is obvious that hunting and habitat degradation have decimated the indigenous fauna and flora of the country. Management of the existing network of protected areas also is in disarray. Given the country’s poverty, any efforts to generate sustainable economic benefits from these resources— through ecotourism or other means—will need to pay close attention to the needs and aspirations of communities living in and adjacent to protected areas

 2. Why is it happening (i.e., how are human activities and other stresses linked to the issue in question)?

1: Most of Afghan peoples don’t know about Environment 2: Air pollution 3: Water pollution 4: Deforestation 5: waste management slipping out of control 6: Groundwater overuse could cause severe water shortage 7: Flood abatement efforts yield mixed results 8: Dust storms cause health problems 9: Drought hits animal husbandry, threatens livelihoods 10: Traditional ecological sanitation system under pressure 11: not concreted Streets 12: Using not Standard Oil for Vehicles 13: Using of Small & Large Generators 14: Using of unpermitted materials for fire. (Bakery & hotels using oily timber/ in industries using Plastic, old tire, burned mob ail.) 15: Population 16: Vehicle population 17: Not existing of Green place in cities. 18: Not existing of good Canalization 19: Closing of Roads in cities 20: not existing of enough place for Waste disposal 21: challenging sanitation and solid waste management

 3. Why is it significant (i.e., what are its ecological and socioeconomic effects)?

1: Air Pollution: More than 3000 People May Die in Kabul Because of Air Pollution Every year: The air pollution can cause or exacerbate a number of serious diseases among inhabitants of an air polluted city. These diseases include Ischemic Heart diseases, stroke, hypertension, and a number of respiratory disease and birth defects. Those who are at highest risk of being affected by air pollution are children, the elderly and patients who already have diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease. Air pollution can also affect fetus in the mother’s womb. A large study in Los Angeles showed that air pollution due to carbon mono-oxide can increase ventricular septal birth defects. This condition is already high in Afghanistan. Knowing the high concentration of carbon mono oxide in Kabul, it is of great concern to us that birth defects may be on the rise in Kabul. It has been shown that when air particles of size 2.5 microgram or smaller increase by 10 micrograms per cubic meter air, there is a 6% increase in cardiovascular deaths and an 8% increase in death from lung cancer per year. The mortality from all disease increase by 4%. We know that the average crude mortality in Afghanistan is 17 per 1000 population per year. This means that in the city of Kabul in the absence of air pollution we lose about 76500 people. However, if we apply the 4% increase in mortality due to air pollution to the population of Kabul, then an extra 3060 persons may be losing their lives due to air pollution per year. So instead of 76500 people losing their lives, in Kabul we lose 79560 persons. In the Los Angles study it was also shown that high level of ground level Ozone pollution can also cause birth defects, especially valvular and aortic defects. Knowing the air condition in Kabul, especially during the hot months of summer when the Ozone level can be high, diseases exacerbated or caused by Ozone is of concern in Kabul including birth defects. Kabul's air pollution putting people's health at risk Worsening air pollution in Kabul is "seriously" threatening the health and well-being of its estimated three million residents. In terms of air pollution we are facing a crisis in Kabul; Over 70 percent of diseases in Kabul are linked to air pollution, unclean water and solid waste. Children were particularly susceptible to various diseases originating from toxic pollutants in the air, Severe air pollution causes respiratory disorders, eye and nasal problems, and is one of the major causes of lung cancer. Over the past few years diagnosed cases of cancer, mainly among children, have increased considerably. A short stroll in Kabul during the daytime leads to clear evidence – when one blows one's nose on a handkerchief - of the polluted atmosphere. Polluting vehicles: Vehicle emissions are considered a major contributor to air pollution. Every month Kabul's one million vehicles are added to by over 8,000 new vehicles registered with the Kabul traffic department. Vehicles in Kabul are over 10 years old and more polluting than modern ones. The problem in Kabul is compounded by the widespread use of substandard car fuel and old engines. Power cuts and the absence a national natural gas grid mean that many households use wood, coal and heating oil for cooking and heating. Moreover, some brick factories, public baths and small businesses burn old tyres, plastic and combustible waste to run their businesses more cheaply. Toxic pollutants, sulfur oxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide are emitted. Poor waste management – both solid and otherwise - is yet another major problem in Kabul which also damages the air quality. Unlike some other capital cities, Kabul has the added problem of its arid and mountainous landscape and lack of nearby woodlands. Air Quality The air quality in Kabul is severely affected by a variety of pollutant sources. They include: − Vehicular traffic, usage of old vehicles and adulterated fuels. − Resuspension of dust and windblown dust, damaged roads. − Residential heating during winter months using fuel wood, coal, diesel and animal residue. − Large scale usage of privately owned and operated generators due to erratic City power Supply. − Bakeries and public wash halls that use fuel wood. − Brick kilns, all of which are old technology and located in residential areas. − Asphalt factories. − Thermal power station and small size industries. − Construction activities. − Stone crushing and carpet cleaning industries. Of these, vehicular traffic and resuspension of dust are the most significant. Most motor vehicle Are more than 25 years old. The vehicle pollution is exacerbated by the local road system in Kabul which was designed to accommodate only about 10% of present vehicle numbers. Traffic Congestion is further exacerbated by hawkers, pedestrians, security walls and illegal Construction around the main roads. References: MoPH Afghanistan is indebted to many individuals and health stakeholders, especially Afghan families and elders, European Commission, UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, USAID, Rotary International, CIDA, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI Alliance) and JICA. 2: Deforestation: Scientific studies have shown that a large part of ancient Afghanistan was covered with forests. However, today, deforestation is occurring at an alarming rate, and currently, only about 2% of Afghanistan is covered with forests. Generally, environmental experts recommend that 15 percent of a country like Afghanistan should be forested in order to prevent topsoil erosion and sustain good air quality. The largest areas of forests are located in the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, and Nuristan. In fact, environmentalists have stated that if the current trend is not reversed, all forests in Afghanistan will disappear in the next 30 years. As the forests go, so will lots of wildlife species, further damaging Afghanistan's biodiversity. Moreover, not only will Afghanistan suffer economically, but there will also be an increase in fatalities and damages as a result of flooding and even avalanches. Causes of deforestation in Afghanistan: 1: Smuggling/illegal activities: Truck loads of timber leave Afghanistan every day, and are taken to Pakistan. The government needs to crack down on illegal logging, unfortunately, there may be some people in the government secretly involved in the timber smuggling business. 2: War: Afghanistan has been at war ever since the Soviet Invasion. The Soviet army inflicted lots of damage by uprooting numerous pistachio trees, and the various battles caused numerous uncontrolled forest fires which destroyed thousands of trees. 3: Fuel use: Afghans have very little options in terms of the energy needed to keep warm and cook their foods. Since what little power plants and electrical lines Afghanistan did have were mostly destroyed during the many years of war, Afghans have resorted to cutting down trees and burning the wood to meet their energy needs. 4: Proper reforestation is not occurring as there is little or no incentives offered by the government. 5: Forests lands are being used for agriculture. 6: Urban encroachment: As living resources get less and less, people are moving in and settling in forest areas. Forests: Traditionally, Afghanistan’s tribes preserved forests and range resources through division of land use. However, the most significant and visible adverse environmental consequence of the conflict period in Afghanistan has been the loss of forest cover. Historical accounts show extensive forests in the region north of Kabul with relic patches of woodland existing in Istalif and Charikar, north of Kabul. In his 16th century memoirs, Emperor Babur gave an account of forests around Kabul. This suggests that vast areas of forest in various parts of the country have been destroyed by overgrazing and cutting in the recent past.6 FAO and UNDP estimates in the early 1980s place the area of forests at approximately 2.2 million ha. From that time to 1991, the forest area declined from an already low base of 3.4% to only 2.6% of total land area, or about 1.9 million ha. As indicated in Figure 4 (in Chapter I), the latest estimates indicate that forest area stands at approximately 2% of the country’s land area. As energy supplies were disrupted during the period of conflict, the cutting of forests for fuelwood accelerated. Many forests also were purposely cleared during the war years for security reasons, especially those adjacent to roads and other infrastructure. The deforestation process has now reached a stage where near total loss of forests may be imminent unless urgent and decisive conservation measures are taken. The remaining forests of Afghanistan still provide a variety of environmentally and economically important services. From an environmental standpoint, they are crucial to watershed protection, and natural forests represent important indigenous ecosystems and habitats. These environmental services generate significant though largely non-market values associated with short-term flood protection, erosion control, aesthetics, and biodiversity conservation. The country’s forests are also an important source of saleable timber and non-timber products, including fuelwood, charcoal, roots, and nuts. Further loss of forest cover, primarily from steep mountainsides, will compound the problems associated with poor watershed management, including slope destabilization, soil erosion, and reservoir siltation. The management of timber forests is of particular concern. Reports have cited pistachio forests being cut for firewood and stands of old growth cedar in the eastern provinces being felled for the lucrative export trade in timber. Furthermore, demand for both building materials and fuelwood is expected to mushroom with the return of refugees, thereby threatening the remaining accessible forestland in the absence of external supplies. As in the case of renewed water management efforts in rural communities, special attention will need to be given to understanding past, and often sustainable, patterns of forest resource use and allocation. While many traditional communitybased systems of forest management were disrupted during the period of conflict, they deserve close investigation to reintroduce appropriate local incentives for sustainable forest management. There also is a legitimate and important role for the private sector to play in the country’s forest resource development—particularly in establishing commercial forest plantations under appropriate environmental safeguards. Natural disasters and climate change: According to the Afghanistan Information Management Service, the country’s “high level of poverty, lack of Livelihood and income generating opportunities, chronic health problems and poor state of infrastructure, All add to the burden of natural disasters on the people of Afghanistan”. Every year natural disasters damage The economy, hamper reconstruction and development, and claim human lives. But many impacts could be Reduced or even avoided through effective environmental management, conservation, and early warning.

 4. What is being done about it (i.e., how is society responding to the issues)?

NEPA (National Environmental Protection Agency) has established a Coordination Committee in order to effectively coordinate environmental protection activities. 22 ministries and some other public institutions are the members. The meetings of the committee are held once a month. The members work together to enforce the made decisions. NEPA Performs public an awareness activity develops policies and specific programs regarding environmental protection in the center and provinces of Afghanistan in cooperation with other relevant institutions. NEPA has held the first Environment advisory Council with Participation of respected governors and other institutions of 34 Provinces. Some effective and appropriate environmental decisions were made at the two days meeting in May 2008.

 5. Is this sustainable (i.e., are human actions threatening environmental capital and causing deterioration of ecosystem health)?

Yes of course, the human action is the cause of Environmental problems, when they action indiscipline of Environmental law. More than 3000 People May Die in Kabul Because Of Air Pollution Every year: The air pollution can cause or exacerbate a number of serious diseases among inhabitants of an air polluted city. And they are all due to using of old cars, using of Generating, using of not standard oil, using of robber & plastics in brick industry.

  * What are current problems related to in the world? Please identify at least two.

Climate change/ deterioration of ecosystem health.

  * What has caused these problems to exist in your part of the the world?Please identify at least two causes for each problem.

Environmental Problems, peoples don’t know about Environment / War.

  * What has the United Nations done in attempting to resolve those problems?
  * What is the position of your Country on those problems?
  * What is the possible position of other countries in your committee on those problems? Consider at least two other countries.
  * How should we the ESAI make a proposition to the United Nations to resolve those problems? 
    Making sure that your solution(s) is/are consistent with your country’s position

State and define your public policy question (a public concern)

  * Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty?
  * Can you distinctly identify two positions?
  * Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
  * Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?
  * Analysing an Issue and Developing an Argument 

Provide an overview of the most current scientific understanding of the issue in question;

  * Who is your audience?
  * What do they believe?
  * Where do they stand on the issue?
  * How are their interests involved?
  * What evidence is likely to be effective with them?
  * In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:
  * Is your topic interesting?
  * Can you manage the material within the specifications set by the instructor?
  * Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of action?
  * Do you have enough material to support your opinion? 

Each LSOE report should:

be written in a manner that non-specialists can understand; include a concise executive summary or highlights section; make reference to appropriate monitoring programs that are potential sources of ecological data.