Delegation of the European to Afghanistan Framework Contract Beneficiaries 2013 Lot 6 – Environment Specific Contract No. 2016 / 377924 COUNTRY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE FOR AFGHANISTAN Date: June 2017 Report: Final Report CONSORTIUM SAFEGE FWC-Lot6 National Environmental Protection Agency A project implemented by Consortium SAFEGE This project is funded by the European Union This report is financed by the European Union and is presented by the Consortium SAFEGE for the Government of Afghanistan and the European Commission. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government or the European Commission. REPORT CONTROL PATH Project title: COUNTRY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE FOR AFGHANISTAN Specific Contract No: 2016 / 377924 Country: Afghanistan Framework Contractor: Consortium SAFEGE Address: Gulledelle 92 – B-1200 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32-2-739.46.90 Fax: +32-2-742.38.91 E-mail: [email protected] Specific Contract Implementing Party: Acciona Ingeniería Address: Albatros Business Centre – Building D. Anabel Segura, 11 - 28108 Alcobendas - Madrid (SPAIN) Tel: +34 911 420 300 Fax: +34 911 420 390 E-mail: [email protected] Date of the Report: June 2017 Reporting Period: Final Report Authors of Report: . Ali M. Azimi . Ahmad Mumtaz . Gul Afghan Saleh Specific Contract Implementing Party –Responsible Person: Acciona Ingeniería . Álvaro Adam June 2017 Framework Contractor: SAFEGE Consortium Lot 6 Date: June 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................ 1 AUTHORS.................................................................................................................................................................. 4 GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................................... 5 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 8 2. BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................................. 17 2.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.1 HYDROGEOLOGY & GEOLOGY ............................................................................................................... 17 2.1.2 SOILS & TOPOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.3 PRECIPITATION ...................................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.4 TEMPERATURE ...................................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.5 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.6 AIR QUALITY .......................................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.7 NATURAL DISASTER RISKS ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.2 BIODIVERSITY/PROTECTED AREAS3 ............................................................................................................ 24 2.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................ 28 2.3.1 SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS ................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.2 ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURAL HERITAGE................................................................................................ 28 2.3.3 LAND USE............................................................................................................................................... 29 2.3.4 TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................................. 29 2.3.5 AGRICULTURE ........................................................................................................................................ 30 2.3.6 MINERAL INDUSTRY .............................................................................................................................. 31 2.3.7 ECONOMY.............................................................................................................................................. 32 2.3.8 EDUCATION ........................................................................................................................................... 32 2.3.9 HEALTH .................................................................................................................................................. 32 2.3.10 ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY......................................................................................................................... 33 2.3.11 INDICATORS ........................................................................................................................................... 34 2.4 CLIMATE CHANGE ...................................................................................................................................... 35 2.4.1 RANGELAND .......................................................................................................................................... 36 2.4.2 AGRICULTURE ........................................................................................................................................ 37 2.4.3 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.......................................................................................................................... 37 2.4.4 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 37 2.4.5 ENERGY .................................................................................................................................................. 37 3. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK .............................................. 38 3.1 POLICY & ACTION PLANS ............................................................................................................................ 38 3.1.1 LAW ON THE PRESERVATION OF AFGHANISTAN’S HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (2004) ..... 38 3.1.2 ENVIRONMENT LAW (2007) .................................................................................................................. 38 3.1.3 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT POLICY ................................................................ 39 3.1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS (2008) ........................................................... 39 3.1.5 THE WATER LAW (2009) ........................................................................................................................ 39 3.1.6 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACTION PLAN (2009) .................................................................................. 40 Specific Contract No. 2016 / 377924 Country Environment Profile for Afghanistan P.1 3.2 LEGISLATION CURRENT AND IN PREPARATION .......................................................................................... 40 3.2.1 AIR QUALITY .......................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.2 WATER QUALITY .................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.3 RANGELAND, FORESTS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS LAW ......................................................................... 40 3.2.4 BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................................ 40 3.3 GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO KEY INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONVENTIONS .......................... 41 3.3.1 NATIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (NCSA) AND NATIONAL ADAPTATION PROGRAM OF ACTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE (NAPA), 2009 .. 41 3.3.2 DRAFT AFGHANISTAN CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN, 2014 ................................... 41 3.3.3 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONVENTIONS ............................................................................. 42 3.3.4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ......................................................................................................................... 42 3.3.5 ENFORCEMENT ...................................................................................................................................... 43 3.4 ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................... 43 3.4.1 INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................ 43 3.4.2 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHARING NATURAL RESOURCES SUCH AS WATER .................. 44 3.4.3 REGIONAL COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ..................................................................... 44 3.4.4 CAPACITY AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES