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Afghanistan 4 – 10 September, 2016. Trip Report Tony Rinaudo,
Principal Natural Resources Advisor,
World Vision Australia.
Table of Contents Afghanistan 4 – 10 September, 2016. Trip Report ................................................................................. 1
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ 1
Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Field Observations .................................................................................................................................. 3
Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 3
Notes on Creating an Enabling Environment .......................................................................................... 5
Deforestation and Hope in the Afghanistan Context. ........................................................................ 7
The Relevance and place of FMNR in the Afghanistan Context .............................................................. 9
FMNR links ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Video resources ................................................................................................................................ 11
List of Annexes: ..................................................................................................................................... 13
As long as there are proud, hardworking people like
Bismillah in Afghanistan, there is hope for restoration of
its extremely deforested and degraded landscape. On his
own initiative, Bismillah has planted his own mixed
forest of timber and fruiting trees. In Badghis province
where World Vision Afghanistan has been working
through its DFAT funded AARCS project, farmers have
begun reclaiming the bare hills through awareness
raising, ensuring user rights are established, training and
planting and direct sowing of indigenous pistachio nut
trees. Installation of solar powered irrigation systems
has made it possible to grow annual crops and fruit trees
even in the dry season.
2
Acronyms AARCS – Strengthening Communities to Build Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods in Badghis
Project.
FMNR ‐ Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a low‐cost, sustainable landscape
restoration technique used amongst poor subsistence farmers to combat poverty and hunger.
ICARDA ‐ The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas
USAID – US Agency for International Development
Glossary Cutting ‐ a piece of a plant that is used in horticulture for vegetative (asexual) propagation. A piece
of the stem or root of the source plant is placed in a suitable medium such as moist soil. In time it
will sprout roots and grow.
Swale or half‐moon – earth is shaped to capture
water runoff and increase rainwater infiltration for
the benefit of plants and ground water recharge.
Truncheon – is a cutting using larger stems e.g. the 1 – 2 meters in length for plant propagation.
Zai pit – or Tassa is a farming technique to dig pits (20‐30 cm long and deep and 90 cm apart) in the
soil during the preseason to catch water and concentrate compost. The technique is traditionally
used in western Sahel (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali) to restore degraded drylands and increase soil
fertility.
3
Field Observations
The AARCS project staff have been very successful at mobilizing communities and
implementing effective and impressive irrigation (for horticulture and agriculture) and
reforestation projects. AARCS staff have been working with community leaders and
government officials, building trust, creating an enabling environment and providing
technical input and follow up for terracing, tree planting, direct sowing (Annex I: Direct
Sowing) and grafting of trees. AARCS staff have laid a significant foundation for reforestation
– to both build and improve on work done to date and to expand it.
Communities and individuals are very hard working and will participate in reforestation
activities, given an enabling environment. They have worked to successfully reforest both
private and government land and have achieved a high tree establishment rate in a very
challenging environment.
Deforestation, particularly during recent decades has been severe, leaving hills bare and
exposed, and valleys with few trees remaining. This has had a significant negative impact on
the environment and on livelihoods.
Deforestation has been thorough and it appears that even most of the tree stumps have
been removed from both cultivated and communal grazing lands, though there are
exceptions and live tree stumps are more common in some areas e.g. Cyprus type trees
growing from stumps at Sabzak, higher altitude area.
A number of hardy tree species (Annex II: Existing tree species, Uses and Propagation) have
either been planted or occur naturally in the landscape which can provide planting material
(seed, cuttings and truncheons) for mass propagation.
Recommendations
Build on the solid foundation already laid by AARCS project through ‐
Ensuring land ownership, land and natural resource user rights agreements are in place
and understood
Working through established traditional structures e.g. village leadership, religious
authorities, government entities.
Co‐creation and local enforcement of by laws for natural resource use (includes grazing
regulations, collection of firewood, cultivation..)
Capacity building
further capacity building of staff and communities incorporating learnings from the
short FMNR workshop conducted by Tony Rinaudo and Brian Hilton,
encouraging staff to read FMNR materials (a CD was provided) and web links provided
in this report,
enrol a key staff member in the FMNR web based training course due to start in
October with view to him/her becoming a trainer of trainers
send at least one field staff member on an exposure visit to Tigray, Ethiopia. Note,
Tony Rinaudo will be in Tigray during the week of 17th October, 2016, and possibly in
March, 2017.
Order the video and screening rights for “Ethiopia Rising” film and use this in
communities to widen the vision for land restoration and for mobilizing for action
4
Map –
occurrence of tree stumps and tree species suitable for FMNR implementation
land classes (private, government, communal..)
community knowledge and uses of each tree species
needs analysis (or draw on existing analysis)
Conduct a visioning / planning workshop with communities for landscape scale restoration
linking restoration activities with identified needs such as income generation, water and
food insecurity, fodder and fuel wood shortages and environmental risks such as flood,
drought and insect outbreaks.
Set reforestation targets with all stakeholders for private and government lands.
Select pilot areas with good visibility to frequently used roads, preferably with North facing
slope.
Mass collection of seed for direct sowing, and cuttings or truncheons for rapid reforestation
Experiment and investigate
with reforestation approaches including FMNR, direct sowing techniques and planting
of cuttings and truncheons (Annexes III)
what other organizations such as ICARDA, USAID etc. have done in regards to reforestation and introduction of fodder (Annex IV), timber, fruiting tree species etc.
What has worked in similar climatic zones? What can be transferred into WV
operational areas? Where possible and practical, collaborate with leading agencies to
assess and possibly introduce high potential species capable of thriving on hill sides
without irrigation e.g. Tree Lucerne1 for fodder, Persimmon2 , Plum3 etc.
live fencing as an alternative to labour intensive and erosion promoting trenches.
Thorny species such as Prosopis cineraria, Acacia modesta can be direct sown and in
the right location, other species can be grown from truncheons at close spacing.
building small dams and swales for water catchment
Add value to reforestation sites
Promote multiple‐use of reforestation sites in order to provide short, medium and long term benefits. E.g. Combine reforestation with promotion of bee keeping, growing of rain fed cash crops such as water melon, liquorice4, Hing or devil’s dung5, and annual and perennial fodder6 species (Annex IV) in between pistachio trees while they are young.
Survival and yield of the above crops under rain‐fed conditions can be increased
through preparing zai (planting) pits. See: Annex V ‐ Zai pits.
1 Chamaecytisus palmensis - http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/pastures/Html/Tagasaste.htm 2 Diospyros kaki ‐ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persimmon 3 Prunus species ‐ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus 4 Glycyrrhiza glabra – Liquorice ‐ http://www.tloafghanistan.org/Liquorice%20Market%20Report.pdf , 5 Ferula asafoetida ‐ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asafoetida 6 http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/Counprof/afgan/afgan.htm , https://assets.helvetas.org/downloads/liv3a_feed_and_fodder.pdf
5
Graft commercial fruit and nut varieties onto hardy rootstocks which thrive under
rain‐fed conditions and build community capacity to do this on their own.
Enhance tree growth through low tech solutions such as using pierced PET bottles as
drippers, plastic sleeves as mini green‐houses, planting in zai pits
Above Left: ‘Trench Fencing’ is labour intensive and can accelerate erosion.
Above Right: many species already present in Bagdhis such as this poplar readily grow from cuttings
and truncheons
Left: living fences reduce erosion while
providing fodder, fuel wood and nectar and
pollen for bees, depending on species used.
Notes on Creating an Enabling Environment
The cornerstone to landscape and vegetation restoration is in winning hearts and minds of
communities in utilising their natural resources. Once they are convinced that it is in their best
interests and that they will greatly benefit through sustainable land management, then they can be
assisted in self‐organisation to take action. In this way, with a little human intervention, the
environment will rapidly heal itself.
“If you only focus on landscape restoration you will fail. If you focus on changing mindsets you will succeed.”
Aba Hawi, Abreha Weatsbha, Tigray, Ethiopia.
6
Winning hearts and minds is much easier when an enabling environment is created. This can be
done through ‐
ensuring land and tree user rights. Generally people are more motivated to invest time and
resources on their own land where chances of benefiting from their efforts are more certain.
However, even on government and communal land, people will collaborate and contribute
to tree and land management if they are confident that they will benefit. Thus, having land
and tree ownership rights on private land and natural resource (e.g. fodder, trees, water,..)
user rights on government land is foundational to success.
agreements and by‐laws established by all stakeholders with enforcement mechanisms, on
how land, vegetation and livestock will be managed and who will benefit are made. Without
locally developed and agreed on by‐laws a ‘tragedy of the commons’ situation will arise on
government land in which each individual will try to maximize their own benefits at the
expense of others rights of access. This will lead to environmental degradation. Without by‐
laws and enforcement, even natural resources on private land are more likely to be
plundered. Locally devised, agreed on and enforced by‐laws provide a behavioural
framework for all to abide by.
working through traditional institutions such as village and religious leadership which have
decision making powers and recognized authority. Historically, laws governing grazing rights
and exploitation of trees minimized destruction of the environment. However, conflicts have
eroded local authority and respect for laws on natural resource management. Wherever
possible, local leadership should be developed and faith in these institutions revived.
Facilitating local vision, ownership and responsibility. It is important for individuals and
communities to have a vision for what their environment could look like and to take
responsibility for restoration activities. Through workshops and discussion groups, use of
videos and exchange visits
training, technical assistance and regular follow up. Provision of training and ongoing
technical assistance along with regular follow up will be a great encouragement to
communities to persevere while helping ensure best practice procedures are followed.
Regular follow up will also provide opportunities to project staff to learn from communities
while regularly monitoring progress. They will be able to identify problems early and
respond in a timely manner.
identifying and working through local champions. Generally each community has a visionary
pioneer who has seen what needs to be done and taken action. These individuals need to be
identified and recognized for their efforts. Having firsthand experience and work to show
case, they can be excellent guides and a source of inspiration to others.
gaining support from authorities to the degree possible. Wherever possible programs should
partner with government services. When governments see that their objectives are being
supported, they are more likely to be supportive and to assist communities when they are
able to do so.
Economic relevance. Generally, environmental restoration does not give the immediate
economic benefits necessary to maintain strong interest of needy participants. For this
reason, activities which will provide short and medium term benefits such as fodder
production and livestock fattening, bee keeping, growing of annual cash crops such as water
melons etc. should be promoted in conjunction with restoration activities.
7
Deforestation and Hope in the Afghanistan Context.
Thousands of years of environmental stress have dramatically altered Afghanistan’s landscape and caused extensive environmental destruction. Ancient history and archaeological evidence show that Afghanistan had good forests and was green. The country had been described as ‘an orchard’. Once rich areas of forest and grassland have been reduced to stretches of barren rock and sand. It is certain that the destruction started a long time ago7. The belt of more or less continuous dry forests that perhaps surrounded the Kabul basin some 2,000 years ago had already disappeared before the Muslim period. The presence of pistachio trees in Bactria, which were still abundant during the period of the Hellenic kingdoms, soon also grew rare.
While poverty has contributed to the need to cut trees, uproot shrubs, and collect dung for burning, the direct and indirect impact of invasion and conflict has played no small part. In the last several decades, 90% of remaining forests in Afghanistan have been destroyed to meet fuel needs and much of the timber has been exported to neighbouring Pakistan. “Years of war and drought have felled more trees than wood stoves, which generally burn scrap wood8”. The big killer of trees, though, is economics. There is a huge demand for Afghan timber in the international market. Commercial timber harvesting is illegal in Afghanistan — which leaves a massive smuggling industry to satisfy international demand, with bordering Pakistan being the main outlet for Afghan timber.
The government of Afghanistan began to recognize environmental problems in the 1970s with the help of the United Nations and other international agencies. The pressures of the war, however, have diverted attention from these issues and further aggravated the country's environmental state. The country’s forest area, located almost entirely in the east and southeast, has been estimated at some 25,000 sq. km ‐ that is, less than 4% of the total surface area. Others put it at 2%9. The deciduous forests have almost completely disappeared. The natural extension of clear juniper forest, more than 95% of which is destroyed, can only be reconstructed with the help of a few witnesses. The groups of pistachio trees on the northern slope of the central mountains have only kept some of their density in the north western province of Bādḡis between Qalʿa Naw and the high valley of the Košk. Here they still attracted a large number of temporary migrants in the 1970s during the harvest of this wild fruit. Among the wet forests of the east and southeast, the level of holm oaks is also in a state of very advanced deterioration. Only the higher level, consisting of coniferous forests, is as yet relatively well preserved. The knock on effects of such large scale deforestation include higher temperatures, wind speeds and evaporation rates, reduced soil organic matter and fertility, increased flooding and mud slides during the rainy season and during snow melt on the one hand and reduced water availability during the dry season on the other, increased incidence of drought and pest attack, reduced crop and livestock production and reduced incomes and food security. See Annex VI ‐ Ecosystem services.
The necessity of having trees in agricultural and non‐agricultural landscapes will only increase with
time, especially as population pressure and the impacts of climate change increase. Trees will be
critical for buffering the worst effects of climate change. For instance, dispersed shade from trees on
7http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afghanistan‐forests‐and‐forestry
8 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174200911/afghanistans‐forests‐a‐casualty‐of‐timber‐smuggling
9 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174200911/afghanistans‐forests‐a‐casualty‐of‐timber‐smuggling
8
farmland in West Africa can reduce air temperatures by as much as 10o C and soil temperatures by
35° C. In one study in the UK10, rainfall infiltration into the soil beneath trees was 67 times greater
than infiltration on treeless land, thus, trees can greatly decrease water runoff, flooding and soil
erosion, while increasing ground water recharge. Many tree species increase soil fertility and
increase soil organic matter content, increasing nutrient and water‐holding capacity. Maize yields on
tree’d farms in Malawi were found to be consistently high and stable across normal, drought and
excessively wet years11. Soils with 1% organic matter can hold 144,000 litres of water per hectare
which equates to approximately 14.4mm rainfall before runoff. Soils with a 4% organic matter
content can hold 576,000 litres per hectare. Thus crops growing in soils with higher organic matter
content will better withstand drought than in those growing in low organic matter content soils
because of this moisture retention.
While it is easy to despair at the degraded state of the environment, the very fact that forests once thrived in this harsh environment gives strong cause for optimism that restoration is possible. In fact, there is ample evidence that this is the case. The biggest challenge ahead is not how to restore the environment. Given a chance, nature can go a long way towards healing itself. The biggest challenge is to change mindsets since it is largely people’s landscape management approach that determines the state of the environment. Hence, it is imperative to clearly demonstrate to communities who have accepted barren landscapes as normal and inevitable, that restoration is not only possible, but essential for the wellbeing of their children, and that it is within their means to make it happen. Fortunately, WV Afghanistan has already laid a firm foundation for this in Bagdhis province.
Above Left: A lone sentinel pistachio tree stands as if guarding the memory of what was once a vast forest. It is also a harbinger of hope, boldly declaring to all with eyes to see that restoration is possible. That one tree can survive begs the questions ‐ Why not more? – and, What would it take?
Above Right: During this field visit, few live tree stumps and only isolated examples of regeneration from tree seeds was observed. However, those that were found provide evidence that under the right conditions restoration will be possible. Prosopis cineraria regenerating from tree stumps and roots, and possibly even seed, in a high livestock traffic area.
10 ahttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/13/flooding‐public‐spending‐britain‐europe‐policies‐homes hard pan off which the rain gushes 11 Kundhlande, G., Nyoka, BI., Garrity, DP,. Winterbottom, R., Reytar, K., (Draft copy) Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration approach in
Malawi: Does it contribute to improved food security, resilience to climate change, and sequester carbon?
9
Above Left: Communities have undertaken extensive terracing and pistachio tree planting work on both private and government land. Above Right: Two year old Pistachio trees. Tree survival rates have been very high (over 70%) but growth rates under rain-fed conditions are slow. Growth rates can be improved through a few simple measures, including digging planting pits (Zai holes) and adding compost or manure (see Annex V), digging half-moons on the downhill side of the tree to increase water harvest, placing plastic tree guards on the trees which act as mini-greenhouses, placing mulch at the base of the tree and timely weeding.
The AARCS project has been highly successful at mobilizing communities to exclude livestock, dig terraces and both plant and direct sow pistachio trees on bare hills. Significant additional short term benefits could be realized by planting cash crops such as water melon, liquorice and herbs such as Hing or devil’s dung and fodder species in planting (zai) pits in-between planted trees. By increasing the economic value of the reforestation area, individuals and communities would benefit financially and this will increase interest in and level of care of the reforestation area. The additional care will result in increased tree survival rates and overall success of the reforestation initiative.
The Relevance and place of FMNR12 in the Afghanistan Context FMNR involves the systematic and farmer‐selective regeneration and management of naturally‐occurring trees and shrubs from stumps, roots and seeds. In other words, it is a natural agroforestry system – rather than planting trees, FMNR uses what is already in the ground.
But FMNR is not simply a technical approach. Its success lies in working with communities to build an enabling environment that allows them to develop their capabilities in organisation, networking, dealing with authorities, and creating governance systems.
Advantages of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) include its simplicity, low cost,
rapidity, scalability and high success rate. Some of the disadvantages of FMNR include – only existing
tree species represented by living tree stumps, roots and seeds in the ground can be regenerated
and apart from seedlings which can often be relocated, trees will be regenerated where the stumps
12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer_Managed_Natural_Regeneration
10
and roots are, not necessarily where a land user might want them. And herein lays a weakness of
FMNR in the Afghanistan context – over much of the landscapes not only the standing trees, but the
stumps have been removed. There may be residual tree seeds in the soil though, and if so, this will
become apparent in areas where communities and individuals have begun keeping livestock out and
allowing grass to grow. Additionally, seed is often transported to an area through natural processes
such as wind and water and also by birds and wildlife.
Because of the above limitation (shortage of live tree stumps) and also because of the advantage of
planting economically valuable species such as Pistashio, FMNR should be conducted wherever it is
possible but in combination with direct sowing of seeds (Annex I), planting of cuttings or truncheons
(Annex III) and where practical, transplanting tree seedlings.
Above Left: self‐sown Ailanthus altissima or ‘Tree‐of‐heaven (locally known as Russian Ash). Self‐
establishment like this hints that direct sowing seed on a broader scale has potential for
reforestation.
Above Centre: Tamarix ramosissima trees growing naturally in river bed. Through pruning and
thinning, stands like this could become useful tree groves. This species can also be propagated from
large cuttings and direct sown.
Left: multi‐stemmed pistachio tree growing from tree stump. Improved growth rate and tree form could be achieved through ‐ pruning (removing lower branches). ‐ thinning (reducing excess stems) and Wherever living stumps occur, communities should be encouraged to protect and manage them through an FMNR approach.
11
FMNR links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer_Managed_Natural_Regeneration
http://www.fmnrhub.com.au
https://vimeo.com/169042685
http://blog.worldvision.com.au/farmer‐managed‐natural‐regeneration‐changing‐lives‐uganda/
Video resources Two powerful video resources depicting how people taking command of their situation can
transform landscapes and their livelihoods:
'Ethiopia Rising' tells a powerful true story of a community leader who stood up against great
opposition to lead his people and undertake massive land
restoration activities.
Copies of Ethiopia Rising and “ongoing screening rights” are
available from Anna [email protected] for the price of
£195.00 (+20% VAT).
The destruction of Ethiopia’s forests escalated after the Sahel‐wide famines of 1974 and 1984. Total
crop failures meant that vast numbers of people were faced with the choice of migrating to major
cities/other countries; or to sell the wood of their forests to feed their families. This accelerated a
vicious cycle where denuded hills were unprotected from tropical rainfall and became less able to
absorb rain, ground water reserves failed to refill and flash floods washed away valuable farmland
and caused gullies through farm and town alike. Each year the land became less able to feed those
who depended upon it.
The community of Abrha Weatsbha in Northern Ethiopia, had experienced recurrent crop failure and had received relief assistance for many years. In the 90s, they faced a terrible choice. The government asked them to relocate rather than depend on aid year after year. How could they leave the land they loved, the land of their forefathers? There was another alternative, and that was to restore their land to its former productivity. Aba Hawi, the community leader, challenged his community to work to restore their hills and farmland. They worked on three interconnected interventions: soil erosion control, water harvesting and closing the hills to livestock and to wood harvesting. The effort that this community has expended on erosion control measures is absolutely astounding. They initially built hundreds of kilometres of soil and stone bunds to slow the flow of water down hills. Each family dug a 4m X 4m pond to conserve water. In small gullies, the community constructed stone and trench bunds to slow the flow of water and chains of ponds to trap water. In the river, they constructed nine check dams. The first three catch silt and the last six hold water that allows 80% of the community to irrigate crops in the dry season from 650 hand dug wells. Everyone understands that they are banking water in the wet season – in the soil, the ponds, the check dams and the water table.
12
The community has amazing commitment and understanding but they have not turned their situation around without outside assistance. The Ethiopian Government has enabling policies such as the one that requires every able‐bodied, adult rural Ethiopian to give 40 days/year to development of community assets such as the soil and stone bunds, the chains of ponds and the check dams. Abrha Weatsbha families contribute at least another 40 days/year voluntarily. Families whose income is less than US$1000 above subsistence level participate in the Productive Safety Net Programme under which they receive food or cash for work performed on community assets. District meetings determine the priorities periodically. The aim is for those receiving the assistance to graduate from poverty. The managing committees of the Abrha Weatsbha community have utilised these programs to organise themselves, under the dynamic leadership of Aba Hawi, to restore their land. Assistance has come from the World Food Programme, the Relief Society of Tigray, the University of Mekelle, the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, AusAID, World Vision and other organisations. To complement the above changes, households planted woodlots of eucalyptus and grevillea (Silky Oak) to provide firewood and building materials; adopted the use of fuel‐saving cookstoves to reduce the consumption of firewood; and participated in the government scheme to improve dairy cattle by artificial insemination so that only one dairy cow is needed, instead of ten, to provide the same amount of milk. Introduction of modern beehives enables households to earn additional income from the unique white, organic honey produced from the local shrubs. A market chain has been established so that the organic honey can be sold to Europe at premium prices. Government, community, UN Agencies, NGOS, universities and research stations have all contributed to the successes seen in Abrha Weatsbha. However, the mobilisation of the community under dynamic and committed leadership has been a key contributor to the extent and sustainability of the change. Blog: http://www.beatingfamine.com/blog/abreha‐atsbeha‐a‐community‐restores‐a‐landscape/
The man who planted trees is an animated film depicting the devastating effect uncontrolled tree
felling has on the environment and communities, and how the efforts of one man transformed
disaster into abundance and the return of life from what had become a desert wasteland. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=the+man+who+planted+trees