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| Main Information |
| Title |
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Afghanistan: Case study on the integration of biodiversity into national environmental assessment procedures |
| Type of Information |
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Other |
| Description |
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In Afghanistan there is a growing recognition of the need for protection of biodiversity
and the associated benefits from conservation and sustainable utilization of these
resources. Unfortunately, many human factors cause loss of biodiversity and many
people even among the authorities are unaware about the values that can be associated
with biodiversity. The general trend is toward decreasing number of species of both wild
plants and animals. In poor countries (and Afghanistan is not an exception) where the
minimum daily subsistence caloric intake is an issue; it is hardly surprising that concern
over the longer-term conservation of species is a low priority. This has catastrophic
effects, especially for edible species.
The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity "depends fundamentally on
integrating biodiversity concerns into decisions made in every facet of our lives" (Bagri
et al, 1998). While the continuum of human decision-making is vast, EIA is widely
recognized as an important mechanism for systematically considering the likely impacts
of development proposals before decisions are made, and has been widely adopted in
approval processes for development applications.
While EIA has always tackled impacts on flora and fauna, and endangered habitats and
species, it was only recently that biodiversity has received explicit attention in
Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), particularly in terms of impacts expressed at the
level of genomes or, at the other extreme, ecosystem. Its treatment in EIA has paralleled
the wider community's growing understanding of the range of variation encompassed by
the term 'biodiversity' and of the steady diminution of habitat resulting from the
cumulative effects of human development.
No example can be cited where biodiversity has been considered during any assessments
in Afghanistan. Biodiversity concerns are not reflected and managed through any
screening or regulatory including EIA for the following reasons:
- No comprehensive EIA procedure so far exists in the country to include biodiversity.
- Appreciation of and information about the values of biodiversity among the public
and government authorities are almost non-existent.
- There is no an authorized framework to follow closely the developmental planning.There is no screening mechanism to check whether a proposed action could culminate
in biodiversity loss in the country.
- There is very little or no conservation education to inculcate the value and benefits of
biodiversity among the general public for the prosperity of present and future
generations.
- Information about biodiversity is not sufficient and in most cases is non-existent.
Some information that was gathered before the war is still used in the scientific
circles. Even this information is hardly available now due to destruction of
institutions and their libraries.
- Conditions of War for over two decades now and the conditions this has created in
the form of abject poverty and lack of basic amenities make many people less careful
about the future.
- Every action other than relief is considered luxurious even among the donor
communities. There is no outlet for helping Afghanistan save its resources and ensure
their wiser utilization even among the UN Agencies that naturally should have been
concerned about the present devastating trend in the country. Unfortunately, the UN
has been entangled in the policies and influenced by the affluent countries to impose a
ban on the country already being devastated by war. The ban has severely affected
the drive toward revitalization of its institutions and the economy thus deteriorating
the life of Afghans and making them even less well disposed towards preservation of
natural resources, biodiversity included. |
| Web Link |
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/impact/case-studies/cs-impact-ibneap-af-en.pdf |
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| Additional Information |
| Reference / Citation |
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UNDP/UNEP/GEF-BPSP “The Integration of Biodiversity into National Environmental Assessment Procedures - National Case Studies – India”, September 2001. |
| Programme Areas |
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Impact Assessment
Ecosystem Approach |
| Countries |
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Afghanistan |
| Regions |
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| Keywords |
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Environmental impact assessment
National biodiversity strategy and action plan
EIA system |
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