Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MUDL) Afghanistan Land Administration System Project (ALASP)–The World Bank Assisted Environmental Management Framework – Final Report February 2019 GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND LAND (MUDL) Public Disclosure Authorized Afghanistan Land Administration System Project (ALASP) The World Bank assisted (P164762) Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental Management Framework Final Report February 2019 1 Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MUDL) Afghanistan Land Administration System Project (ALASP)–The World Bank Assisted Environmental Management Framework – Final Report February 2019 Table of Contents List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................. 6 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 9 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................... 16 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 16 1.1.1 Land Issues ..................................................................................................... 16 1.2 Project Description .................................................................................................. 16 1.2.1 Project Development Objective(s) ............................................................... 17 1.2.2 Project Components ...................................................................................... 17 1.3 Cross Cutting Activities ......................................................................................... 18 1.3.1 Project Area ......................................................................................................... 20 1.3.2 Project Beneficiaries ........................................................................................... 20 1.4 Environmental Management Framework (EMF) ............................................... 20 1.4.1 EMF Purpose and Objective .............................................................................. 21 1.4.2 Scope of the Assignment ................................................................................... 21 1.4.3 Approach and Methodology ............................................................................ 21 2. Environmental Baseline ................................................................................................ 22 2.1 Profile of the Country ............................................................................................. 22 2.2 Geographic ............................................................................................................... 22 2.3 Forests and Rangelands .......................................................................................... 24 2.4 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 25 2.5 Geology ..................................................................................................................... 25 2.6 Soils ........................................................................................................................... 26 2.7 Rivers and Lakes ..................................................................................................... 26 2.8 Hydrology ................................................................................................................ 29 2.8.1 Water Management ............................................................................................ 30 2.9 Air Quality ............................................................................................................... 30 2.10 Flora ...................................................................................................................... 30 2.11 Fauna .................................................................................................................... 32 2.12 Fisheries ............................................................................................................... 33 2.13 Protected Areas ................................................................................................... 33 2.14 Socio-Economic Characteristic ......................................................................... 34 2.14.1 Population: Urban Rural and Nomadic Distribution .................................... 34 2.14.2 Sex Ratio ............................................................................................................... 34 2.14.3 Household Size ................................................................................................... 34 2.14.4 Age Distribution ................................................................................................. 35 2.14.5 Female Headed Households ............................................................................. 35 2.14.6 Life Expectancy and Mortality ......................................................................... 36 2.14.7 Education ............................................................................................................. 36 2.14.8 Literacy ................................................................................................................. 37 2.14.9 Gender Equality .................................................................................................. 37 2.14.10 Housing Tenure ............................................................................................. 38 2.14.11 Occupations .................................................................................................... 38 2.14.12 Employment Sectors ...................................................................................... 39 2 Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MUDL) Afghanistan Land Administration System Project (ALASP)–The World Bank Assisted Environmental Management Framework – Final Report February 2019 2.14.13 Mobile Telephones ......................................................................................... 39 2.14.14 Farming ........................................................................................................... 39 2.14.15 Land Holding Size ......................................................................................... 40 2.14.16 Farming Costs................................................................................................. 40 2.14.17 Livestock ......................................................................................................... 40 2.14.18 Poverty Incidence .......................................................................................... 41 3. Legal and Policy Framework ....................................................................................... 42 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 42 3.2 Laws and Policies of Afghanistan ......................................................................... 42 3.2.1 The Constitution of Afghanistan (2004) .......................................................... 42 3.2.2 The Law on the Preservation of Afghanistan’s Historical and Cultural Artifacts (2004) ................................................................................................................... 43 3.2.3 The Environment Law of Afghanistan (2007) ................................................ 43 3.2.4 The Labor Law (2007) ........................................................................................ 44 3.2.5 National Environmental Impact Assessment Policy (2007) ......................... 44 3.2.6 Administrative Guidelines for the Preparation of EIAs (2008) ................... 45 3.2.7 Law on Land Expropriation (2009) .................................................................. 46 3.2.8 Sub National Governance Policy (SNGP) (2010) .......................................... 46 3.2.9 National Policy on IDPs in Afghanistan (2013) .............................................. 46 3.2.10 Access to Information Law (2014) .................................................................... 47 3.2.11 National Regulations for ESIAs (2008) and (2017) ......................................... 47 3.2.12 National Land Policy (2018) .............................................................................. 48 3.2.13 Policy Framework for Returnees and IDPs (2017) ......................................... 49 3.2.14 The Law on Land Acquisition (2017) ............................................................... 49 3.2.15 The Land Management Law (2017) ................................................................. 49 3.2.16 Law on Prohibition and Prevention of Harassment of Women and Children (2018) .................................................................................................................. 49 3.2.17 Protection of Property Rights ........................................................................... 50 3.2.18 Afghanistan’s Gender Strategy ........................................................................ 50 3.2.19