A Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan in 2006: A Component of the National Capacity Self- Assessment (NCSA) & National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) for Afghanistan Prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme by ACKU Christopher C. Shank December 2006 An Assessment of Afghanistan’s Biodiversity in 2006 i Executive Summary Biodiversity, the variety of living things, is sometimes called ‘the wealth of the poor’ because rural people living close to the land depend upon biodiversity to provide natural goods and ecological services. History shows that environmental degradation is often a contributing factor to the collapse of civilizations and that vibrant, healthy societies are dependent upon a healthy environment, rich in biodiversity. The intent of this paper is to provide a summary of what is known in 2006 about the status of Afghanistan’s biodiversity. There are three components: • a narrative summary of Afghan biodiversity, • a listing of known species of Afghan mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, molluscs and liverworts, and • a subject bibliography of published information on elements of Afghan biodiversity. Much of the information on Afghanistan’s biodiversity is old and no longer reliable. Little significant information has been added since the onset of war in 1978. The few recent investigations have suggested that Afghanistan’s biodiversity has suffered enormously in the last three decades. Afghanistan is comprised of 8 unique biogeographical Provinces of which 7 belong to the Palaearctic Realm. Only a small area in the lower Kabul River Valley is of Indo- Malayan origin. A recent classification breaks Afghanistan down into 15 smaller ecoregions of which four are considered as critical/endangered, 8 as vulnerable and only two as relatively stable and intact. The species composition of all ecoregions has been significantly reduced through a combination of overgrazing, fuel collection and exploitation of large herbivorous animals. Deciduous and evergreen true forests are limited to the monsoon-influenced eastern part of the country and once comprised about 5% of Afghanistan’s surface area. Recent analyses suggest than only 5% of these original forests may still exist. Open woodlands dominated by pistachio and juniper once comprised about 38% of Afghanistan. Satellite image analysis of selected areas in 2002 found that tree density was too low to be detected anywhere suggesting that this once widespread ecosystem is on the verge of extinction in Afghanistan. The vast areas of subalpine vegetation was probably originally steppe grasslandACKU but is now almost entirely comprised of grazing- resistant cushion shrubland. Analysis of recorded species records shows that are there are 137 - 150 species of mammals, 428 - 515 birds, 92 – 112 reptiles, 6 – 8 amphibians, 101 – 139 fish, 245 butterflies, and 3500 – 4000 vascular plant species native to Afghanistan. The range in numbers results from uncertainty in taxonomy and the questionable validity of some records. A total of 39 species and 8 subspecies appear on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List as being globally threatened with extinction. There are 23 Afghan species listed on Appendix I and 88 on Appendix II of the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). No formal assessment has been made of species at risk at the national scale, but many species, particularly large mammals, are obviously at risk of extinction within Afghanistan. Only 7 vertebrate species are known to be endemic to Afghanistan, but estimates for endemic plant species range from 20 – 30% (i.e., about 600 - 1200 species). An Assessment of Afghanistan’s Biodiversity in 2006 ii Afghanistan is an arid country and the few wetlands that do exist are therefore of great significance to biodiversity. A list of 21 wetlands of known or potential significance is provided. Afghanistan currently has no legally instituted or effectively managed protected areas. Prior to 1978, one National Park, four Waterfowl Reserves and two Wildlife Sanctuaries were designated by the Government, but legal standing was lacking and management was minimal. A list of 15 potential protected areas proposed by various parties is provided. Afghanistan was one of the most significant centres for the origin and development of humanity’s crop plants. Consequently, there are numerous local landraces of wheat and other crops in use by Afghan farmers. Nine local breeds of sheep are found in Afghanistan along with 8 breeds of cattle and 7 of goats. Nine priority actions are suggested for the conservation of Afghanistan’s biodiversity: 1. Establish priority and feasible protected areas as legally recognized and effectively managed entities. Priority areas should be Band-i-Amir, Ajar Valley, Pamir-i-Buzurg, and Dashte Nawar. 2. Develop a protected areas system plan for Afghanistan designed to protect representative areas of high biodiversity in all major ecoregions. 3. Survey all wetlands and potential protected areas listed in this document to determine current status and suitability for inclusion into the protected areas system plan. 4. Initiate a national Red-Listing process for Afghan mammals with the technical assistance of IUCN, incorporating targeted surveys to establish current status of priority species. 5. Encourage national and international scholars to develop a comprehensive flora of Afghanistan. 6. Develop effective plans to intervene in the destruction of the remaining monsoon-dependent forests of eastern Afghanistan. 7. Develop effective plans for preserving and recovering remnant pistachio and juniper forests in northern Afghanistan. 8. Develop programs to preserve native Afghan landraces of crop plants and livestock. 9. Develop a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Afghanistan. ACKU An Assessment of Afghanistan’s Biodiversity in 2006 iii Table of Contents 1 Introduction...........................................................................................................1 2 What is Biodiversity? .............................................................................................1 3 Why is Biodiversity Important to Afghanistan?.......................................................2 4 Afghanistan’s Human Population...........................................................................2 5 Topography, Climate and Hydrology.......................................................................3 6 Biogeography and Ecological Classification ............................................................4 7 Afghanistan’s Land Cover ......................................................................................9 8 Afghanistan’s Ecoregions .....................................................................................10 8.1. Closed Forest Vegetation ..............................................................................11 8.1.1 East Afghan Montane Conifer Forests (PA0506) ....................................11 8.1.2 Baluchistan Xeric Woodlands (PA1307) ................................................12 8.2. Open Woodland Vegetation...........................................................................12 8.2.1 Central Afghan Mountains Xeric Woodlands (PA1309) ..........................13 8.2.2 Paropamisus Xeric Woodlands (PA1322) ...............................................13 8.3. Semi-Desert Vegetation ................................................................................13 8.3.1 Afghan Mountains Semi-Desert (PA1301)..............................................13 8.3.2 Badkhiz (Badghis)-Karabil Semi-Desert (PA1306)..................................14 8.3.3 Central Persian Desert Basins (PA1313)................................................14 8.3.4 Registan-North Pakistan Sandy Desert (PA1326)...................................14 8.4. Subalpine and Alpine Vegetation..................................................................14 8.4.1 Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau Alpine Steppe (PA1006).....................14 8.4.2 Pamir Alpine Desert And Tundra (PA1014)............................................14 8.4.3 Hindu Kush Alpine Meadow (PA1005)...................................................15 8.4.4 Ghorat-Hazarajat Alpine Meadow (PA1004)...........................................15 9 Ecoregion Status.................................................................................................15 10 Afghanistan’s Wetlands....................................................................................16 11 Afghanistan’s Riparian Areas ...........................................................................18 12 Afghanistan’s Species.......................................................................................18 12.1. Mammals .................................................................................................19 12.2. Birds ........................................................................................................20 12.3. Reptiles ....................................................................................................21 12.4. Amphibians..............................................................................................22 12.5. Fish..........................................................................................................22 12.6. Invertebrates ............................................................................................23 12.7. Plants.......................................................................................................24ACKU