Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan
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NEPA Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan An Output of the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA) for Afghanistan June 2008 United Nations Environment Programme Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch First published in Kabul in 2008 by the United Nations Environment Programme. Copyright © 2008, United Nations Environment Programme. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme Darulaman Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0)799 382 571 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.unep.org DISCLAIMER The contents of this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of UNEP, or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Unless otherwise credited, all the photos in this publication have been taken by the UNEP staff. Design and Layout: Rachel Dolores & Matija Potocnik Table of Contents Foreword................................................................................................................................................................................6 Author’s.Note.........................................................................................................................................................................8 Executive.Summary...............................................................................................................................................................9 1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................11 2. What.is.Biodiversity?.......................................................................................................................................................11 3. Why.is.Biodiversity.Important.to.Afghanistan?................................................................................................................12 4. Afghanistan’s.Human.Population...................................................................................................................................12 5. Topography,.Climate.and.Hydrology............................................................................................................................13 6. Biogeography.and.Ecological.Classification................................................................................................................15 7. Afghanistan’s.Land.Cover..............................................................................................................................................19 8. Afghanistan’s.Eco-regions.............................................................................................................................................20 8.1. Closed.Forest.Vegetation................................................................................................................................. 20 8.1.1.East.Afghan.Montane.Conifer.Forests.(PA0506)...................................................................................... 20 8.1.2.Baluchistan.Xeric.Woodlands.(PA1307).................................................................................................. 21 8.2. Open.Woodland.Vegetation............................................................................................................................ 22 8.2.1.Central.Afghan.Mountains.Xeric.Woodlands.(PA1309)........................................................................... 22 8.2.2.Paropamisus.Xeric.Woodlands.(PA1322)................................................................................................. 22 8.3. Semi-Desert.Vegetation.................................................................................................................................... 22 8.3.1.Afghan.Mountains.Semi-Desert.(PA1301)................................................................................................ 23 8.3.2.Badkhiz.(Badghis)-Karabil.Semi-Desert.(PA1306)..................................................................................... 23 8.3.3.Central.Persian.Desert.Basins.(PA1313)................................................................................................... 23 8.3.4.Registan-North.Pakistan.Sandy.Desert.(PA1326)..................................................................................... 23 8.4. Subalpine.and.Alpine.Vegetation.................................................................................................................... 24 8.4.1.Karakoram-West.Tibetan.Plateau.Alpine.Steppe.(PA1006)...................................................................... 24 8.4.2.Pamir.Alpine.Desert.And.Tundra.(PA1014)............................................................................................... 24 8.4.3.Hindu.Kush.Alpine.Meadow.(PA1005)..................................................................................................... 24 8.4.4.Ghorat-Hazarajat.Alpine.Meadow.(PA1004)........................................................................................... 24 9. Eco-region.Status...........................................................................................................................................................25 10. Afghanistan’s.Wetlands..................................................................................................................................................26 11. Afghanistan’s.Riparian.Areas.........................................................................................................................................27 12. Afghanistan’s.Species....................................................................................................................................................27 12.1.Mammals......................................................................................................................................................... 28 12.2.Birds.................................................................................................................................................................. 29 12.3.Reptiles............................................................................................................................................................. 30 12.4.Amphibians...................................................................................................................................................... 31 12.5.Fish................................................................................................................................................................... 31 12.6.Invertebrates.................................................................................................................................................... 32 12.7.Plants................................................................................................................................................................ 32 12.8.Lichens.and.Fungi............................................................................................................................................ 33 13. Afghanistan’s.Species.at.Risk.........................................................................................................................................34 13.1.IUCN.Red.List.of.Threatened.Species................................................................................................................ 34 13.1.Convention.on.the.International.Trade.in.Endangered.Species.of.Wild.Flora.and.Fauna.(CITES).................... 34 14. Afghanistan’s.Endemic.Species.....................................................................................................................................35 15. Afghanistan’s.Protected.Areas.......................................................................................................................................35 15.1.Band-i-Amir.National.Park................................................................................................................................. 37 15.2.Ajar.Valley.Wildlife.Reserve.............................................................................................................................. 39 15.3.Ab-i-Estada....................................................................................................................................................... 40 15.4.Dasht-i-Nawar.................................................................................................................................................. 41 15.5.Hamun-i-Puzak................................................................................................................................................. 43 15.6.Kol-i-Hashmat.Khan.........................................................................................................................................