AFGHAN DAILY WARNS OF DANGERS OF TIMBER SMUGGLING

Text of S. Ziarmal article by Afghan newspaper Anis on 4 June entitled "Forests are our national property and their protection is our duty." [BBC Monitoring]

According to Agriculture Ministry statistics, there were forests on around 1.9m hectares of land in Afghanistan 25 years ago. Unfortunately, half of these forests were destroyed during the years of war and the rest is being destroyed by timber smugglers and armed commanders.

We hear from the domestic and foreign media that influential local officials are directly involved in deforestation and smuggling timber. They smuggle the timber to neighbouring countries in lorries for profit. Some news sources are quoted as saying that more than eight Kamaz vehicles [Russian vehicles] of timber are smuggled to Pakistan via the Behsud bridge every month, and the tax on this goes directly into the pockets of 73 influential commanders. In fact, this tax should go to the customs departments of Nangarhar and the capital rather than into the pockets of treacherous commanders. Our lumber is sawn on the instructions of Pakistani agents and with their financial assistance. It is not only smuggled in Kamaz vehicles, but bridges of lumber are built over the Kabul-Konar river to smuggle timber to Pakistan, with the collaboration of security officials.

If this continues, we will lose this valuable, natural property. This will not only cause economic damage to us, but will damage our environment. Forests play a key role in controlling floods and protecting agricultural land, as well as providing a home for wild animals and birds. The forests of pistachio, almonds, walnuts, pine nuts and other fruits are of great economic importance to our country. Reportedly, some armed government officials are involved in the destruction of pistachio forests in northern and western regions. Our failure to prevent them from doing this will not only cause economic damage to our compatriots in the north and west, but will have a negative impact on the environment there.

We hope the Irrigation Ministry will keep the Agriculture Ministry in the picture about the current threats to forests. We hope the Agriculture Ministry will take the necessary measures to protect the rest of this natural property throughout the country.

Our security officials should also take measures against those involved in deforestation. The faces of those involved in timber smuggling should be revealed, and they should be brought to justice. Our people should be told about the importance of forests. It is their duty to save their regions from deforestation.