Baghlan – 04 March, 2008 (Wakth News Agency): Yielding and unyielding forest trees are under the threat and annihilation at Baghan province, say the environmental protection agency and agricultural officials of Baghlan province, here on Tuesday.

Muhammad Rasoul Huba, Head of Environmental protection Agency told the news agency that 70 percent of the forests have slashed by the local peoples and officials for selling and firewood purposes.

" Baghlan province had forests over the land of 38,300 Hectare, 70 percent of these forests has been destroyed and some area the destruction  is even more up to 90 percent " he Told the News Agency.

Mostly the forests were situated in Tala wa Barfak , Nahrine , Burka , Khost wa Firing , Dahana-i- Ghori, which was brtualy cut Hub said.

The natural resources especially forests constantly damages because of no alternative option , for the local peoples, he added.

People don't have enough firewood and fuel, the price of fuel and liquid gasare high, therefore it force people to rush and aggressively cut the trees , to  prepare their need and also sell some of the woods to buy basic food items for  their families ,said Rasoul.

In addition to the environment protection agencies local residents are also concerned for the country's poor forest situation.

Abdul Bari dweller of Khost district of Baghlan province told the news agency "there were many trees in the mountains, people cut those trees, and now no sign has left there." 

However, Abdul Manan another resident of Baghlan province is worried for his business due to shortage of forest trees.

"Few years back, various trees were  found close to our houses , than we and all others cut down those trees to sell it ,  in the nearby markets, now forests doesn't exists around here,  except a few mutinous bushes", said Manan to news agency.

Previously the forests were protected by the officials from the ministry of Agriculture and irrigation, but now it's beyond their controls, because mostly the influential lords cut the forests, Manan added.

Hajji Shir Khan the Director of Natural resource and forest affairs said that he informed the relevant officials on a timely basis, but no one has given the attention to this matter. 

Further he said "Baghlan forests are brutally slashed by the influential lords and locals , which is out of our control".

Shir khan made the remarks, they don't have execution power to stop people from cutting the forest and they did inform the respective authorities, but no physical action has taken yet.

Despite this, General Abdul Rahman Sayedkhilli , chief of Baghlan police department said , that Agriculture department is responsible for the protection of forests.

Further he added "if they face the problems, they must call police for the help, and police are always ready to help the department in this regard."

Baghlan province is located at north east of Kabul, and named as an agricultural province with productive lands, more than 85 percent of people in this province,  are busy with agriculture forming, orchard, and live stokes. Experts believe that government should implement a number of agricultural schemes, unless locals find alternative ways and they change their minds from cutting the forests. 

75 years old Muhammad Zahir , who has been working since last 25 years at the forest management department of Baghlan told ,the news agency, " that previously the house holds , how lived nearby the forests were responsible for taking care of the closest forest." 

"Once again here , if the responsibility is given to the local people, and government  closely watch out it , and start appreciation and retribution methods, Surely I can say that this kind of brutal destruction of forest will be stopped" , Zahir concluded.

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