Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Afghanistan is an arid country making the few wetlands that do exist of great significance to biodiversity. The vast areas of sub-alpine vegetation were probably originally steppe grassland but are now almost entirely comprised of grazing-resistant cushion shrub land... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Threats to Afghanistan’s biodiversity are land encroachment, over-hunting, deforestation, over-grazing, shrub collection, dryland farming, water diversion and climate change... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Afghanistan is currently seeking funds to develop its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) which is in preparation. To date, the National Adaptation Programme of Action and the National Capacity Self-Assessment have been the only planning initiatives undertaken specifically to address the CBD... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

In 2009, UNEP initiated efforts to establish Shah Foladi in the Koh-i-Baba Range as a protected area. However, the development of protected areas is in the initial phase only and to date no protected areas have been formally established... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The greatest success in the past five years has been in developing environmental policy, laws and procedures which effectively incorporate best current practice... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The administrative burden of full environmental impact assessment is beyond the current capacity of the government so interim EIA Regulations intended to provide some assessment, while not hindering the development vitally necessary to Afghanistan’s economy, are currently in force... More »