Existing and proposed protected areas in Afghanistan

Description

UNEP aimed to gather information from the designated protected areas in the east-centre of the country, including Band-e-Amir, Ab-i-Estada, Dasht-e-Nawar and Kole Hashmat Khan. The tugai forest islands of Imam Sahib were also observed from the banks of the Amu Darya. Other sections of this report also detail findings from assessments to the Pamir-e-Buzurg Wildlife Reserve and the proposed Hamoun-i-Puzak Waterfowl Sanctuary. Besides making an assessment of the status of these sites, particularly with regard to the effects of conflict and drought, a principal objective was to identify options for future management, seeking to support the twin goals of local development and maintenance of biodiversity. The Ajar Valley Wildlife Reserve and potential forested sites in Nuristan could not be accessed because of recent local disorder.