UNOPS – دفتر خدمات پروژوی ملل متحد Afghan Conservation Corps هئیت محافظوی افغان(هــما)

1. UNOPS –دفتر خدمات پروژوی ملل متحد Afghan Conservation Corpsهئیت محافظوی افغان(هــما) بســم الله الرحمن الرحــیم Noorullah Malang National Project Manager Afghan Conservation Corps ACC/ UNOPS Email: noorullahm@unops.org

2. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Use of satellite imagery Significant remaining areas of natural pistachio forest in Northern Afghanistan were identified using satellite imagery

3. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Participatory analysis with communities living around pistachio forest • Communities approached & assessments of interest in pistachio forest management realized

4. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Participatory mapping • Participatory mapping of pistachio forests by FMC members

5. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Participatory natural resource with communities analysis identified the following problems • Lack of protection guards. • Cutting of forest for fuel wood.

6. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar • Conversion pistachio wood land for wheat production. Participatory natural resource with communities analysis identified the following problems (cont.)

7. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Participatory natural resource with communities analysis identified the following problems (cont.) • Overgrazing.

8. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar • Harvesting of pistachio nuts before ripening time. Participatory natural resource with communities analysis identified the following problems (cont.)

9. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Participatory natural resource with communities analysis identified the following problems (cont.) • Low knowledge of community about forest rehabilitation and problems associated with over-harvesting. • Lack of coordination between community and government.

10. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar • Establish community based forest management committees • At least 10 protection guards from the surrounding villages to be hired for each site. Suggestions of the communities to resolve the problems faced

11. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar • Move those people who live inside the pistachio forest, back to their original villages • Establishment grazing plan. • Awareness program for communities concerning the importance of forests and their sustainable management. • Provide pistachio nut harvesting guide to the community. Suggestions of the communities to resolve the problems faced (cont.)

12. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan • Increased visits by government and aid agencies to the forest and surrounding villages. • Realize monthly coordination meetings between DFR, FMCs and ACC. • Provision of transportation facilities to DFR to facilitate visits to the field (car or motorbike). Suggestions of the communities to resolve the problems faced (cont.)

13. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Four Pistachio Forest Management Committees have been created in Samangan (Tikhonak, Shareek Yaar and Rubatak) Samangan Province and one Pistachio Forest Management Committee has been created in Farkhar district Takhar Province, to assist in the sustainable management of over 3,200 hectares of natural pistachio forest Actions taken: Management

14. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Actions taken: Management (cont.) Forest Management Committee Members Selection Process: All FMC members were selected by the communities using PRA methods.

15. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar

16. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Actions taken: Management (cont.) • For example: Shareek Yaar Forest Management Committee

17. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan and Takhar Actions taken: Management (cont.) • For example: Shareek Yaar Forest Management Committee

18. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • 40 protection guards have been hired by the FMCs from villages surrounding the pistachio wood land. Actions taken: Protection

19. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Protection check posts (location selected by FMCs and DFR) have been built. • Water tank and other necessary equipment provided to these protection check posts. • Tents provided to FMCs to use as mobile protection check posts during harvesting time Actions taken: Protection (cont.)

20. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Over 3,200 hectares of pistachio forest now being protected by over 50 villages Actions taken: Protection (cont.)

21. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Coordination meetings continually being held between Governor offices, DFR, FMCs and ACC. • Two off road motor bikes provided to DFR Samangan to visit the site. Actions taken: Coordination

22. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • ACC has conducted community awareness and environment education workshops schools and villagers. Actions taken: Environmental education

23. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Community mobilizers/ mullahs raise awareness amongst the villagers during social gatherings and on Fridays. Actions taken: Environmental education (cont.)

24. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • FMCs and DFR manage harvesting of pistachio nuts • Pistachio harvesting time (Shool Pista) set up by FMCs, DFR and ACC each year. Actions taken: Harvesting

25. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Actions taken: Restoration of degraded areas within the pistachio forest • Direct pistachio seeding projects on over 20ha of degraded land established inside the forest in three different areas. • Hing / devil’s dung (Ferula asa-foetida) and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) nurseries established by all three committees.

26. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Participation of FMCs during Agriculture Fair in Badam Bagh, Kabul. • Looking to develop market chain further. Actions taken: Sale of natural pistachios

27. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar • Over 3,200 ha pistachio woodland is protected. • The quality and quantity of pistachio nuts harvested by local people has increased • New seedlings growing (75-80%) Results

28. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Results • Empowerment of communities to work together with the government to manage their natural resource base • Learning experience for the new Forestry Law

29. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Future plans • Expand FMC to Badghis/ Herat. • Continued support to existing projects. • Develop market chain (ASAP). • Increase value of pistachio forest through development of medicinal plants and other valuable resources.

30. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Principles contributing to success • Active collaboration between the community, provincial government and the DFR. • Community led initiative. • Participatory establishment of community based forest management institutions based on traditional governance structures and CDCs. • Capacity building of community members and Gov in pistachio forest management.

31. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Principles contributing to success (cont.) • Valuable resources (pistachio nuts and hing). • Involvement of religious leaders in community awareness raising. • Regular visits and continuous follow up by experienced local staff.

32. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Challenges faced • Interference of a few individuals in the process for personal benefits. • Lack of an approved Forest Law that provides the formal legal framework for community based pistachio forest management. • Low levels of formal education and awareness about environmental and sustainability issues. • Still some people do not want to move from the pistachio wood land.

33. Community based natural pistachio forest management: Experience of ACC in Samangan/ Takhar Challenges faced (cont.) • Lack of high schools and low attendance rates in middle and primary schools. • Alternatives to fuel wood are not available. • There are capacity needs within the government to facilitate community based forest management.

34. Community based Natural Pistachio Forest Management Thank you