This week the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat supported the Afghan government's annual tree plantation campaign by donating 5,000 trees and plants to the greenery of Kabul – adding to the 45,000 already planted to date – to help make the city safer, cleaner and greener.

Climate change has significantly affected Afghanistan’s landscape and poses a very real threat to the population. Increased incidences of drought, change in precipitation rates, floods and avalanches have had drastic impacts on people and property. In Kabul, climate change compounds the impacts of unplanned urbanisation, an increase of motorised vehicles on the roads, the construction of high-rise buildings and the reduction of space for public gatherings due to commercialisation of lands.

In response to this, AKAH’s tree donation – together with irrigation equipment – was made in partnership with government line ministries including the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), State Ministry for Disaster Management (SMDM), Ministry of Agriculture and Land (MEAL), Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MoRRD), Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MUDL), Directorate of Afghanistan Olympics, Kabul University and the municipality of Kabul.

Tree planting not only helps absorb carbon, but when carefully situated, can help make communities safer and more resilient against natural disasters. AKAH is committed to providing varying types of trees in the upcoming years. Also, with funds from the Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Fund for the Environment, it plans to build a new park and a solid waste management system in the capital.

“Tree plantation and greening are important initiatives that we carry forward in all of our countries,” said H.E. Akbar Ali Pesnani, Envoy of His Highness the Aga Khan to Afghanistan.

“The AKDN built two major parks in the capital of Afghanistan – Chihilsitoon and Bobur Gardens. In addition, we plant thousands of trees annually. More specifically, we provided 14,000 different types of trees last year, which were planted in Kabul and its surrounding 14 districts, contributing to both Kabul City’s environmental sustainability and the residents’ quality of life and ecological sustenance.”

In Afghanistan, AKAH is present in Kabul and the northern and north-eastern provinces of Baghlan, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Samangan, Parwan and Bamyan, as these rural areas are most prone to natural disasters and the populations in these areas suffer from poverty and little access to basic infrastructure. AKAH works with these communities to ensure their habitats are safe, build resilience and improve their quality of life.

“Let us all work together to make Afghanistan green. We are happy to have support from INGOs such as AKAH which contributes to this greenery for which we are thankful,” said Zainul Abiddin Abed, Head of NEPA.

For more information, please contact: