Rangeland after three years of quarantine in Deh Beranj Rangeland Management Association of Qadis district, Badghis, Afghanistan (Shamsulhaq Shams)
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project of “Community-based sustainable land and forest management in Afghanistan” aimed to promote biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and rangeland productivity through introducing community-based sustainable land and forest management (SLM/SFM) practices in rangeland and forest areas within five targeted provinces, including Badghis, that benefited rural communities that rely on these ecosystems for their livelihood.
In June 2022, a 1,000-hectare rangeland quarantine area was established to promote the rehabilitation of degraded land and restore the natural vegetation cover. This area was strategically enclosed with clearly marked benchmark boundaries to prevent grazing and ensure its complete protection. By protecting this area from human interference and grazing, the land has been given the opportunity to recover naturally.
The quarantine area has shown remarkable improvements in the health of its ecosystem. Native grasses, shrubs, and bushes have successfully rehabilitated, with noticeable growth and regeneration. The efforts to protect this area have allowed these plants to thrive without the pressure of overgrazing, leading to the revitalization of the local flora.
A significant outcome of the quarantine area is its role as a natural seed bank. Native seeds collected from this rehabilitated land are now being stored and used for reseeding other degraded rangelands. These seeds, adapted to the local environment, have high potential for successful regeneration when used to restore other areas facing similar ecological challenges. This process not only supports the rehabilitation of nearby rangelands but also contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the local ecosystem.
The success of this quarantine area highlights the importance of protective measures and demonstrates the potential for land recovery through strategic interventions. As a result, this area serves as both a model for rangeland rehabilitation and a valuable resource for future restoration efforts across the region.
Lugar: Deh Beranj Rangeland Management Association, Qadis district, Badghis province, Afganistán
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados: un solo sitio
Difusión de la Tecnología: distribuida parejamente sobre un área (10.0 km²)
¿En un área de protección permanente?: No
Fecha de la implementación: 2022; hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)
Tipo de introducción
| Especies | Conteo |
| ovejas | 50000 |
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (USD) | Costos totales por insumo (USD) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| Skilled labour for construction of benchmark | person/day | 60,0 | 750,0 | 45000,0 | |
| Unskilled labour for construction of benchmark | person/day | 130,0 | 350,0 | 45500,0 | 100,0 |
| Guard for patrolling the area | person/day | 2,0 | 72000,0 | 144000,0 | 50,0 |
| Material de construcción | |||||
| Rock | M3 | 100,0 | 600,0 | 60000,0 | 100,0 |
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología | 294'500.0 | ||||
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD | 3'926.67 | ||||
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (USD) | Costos totales por insumo (USD) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| Guard for patrolling the area | person/year | 2,0 | 72000,0 | 144000,0 | 50,0 |
| Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología | 144'000.0 | ||||
| Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD | 1'920.0 | ||||
Cantidad antes de MST: 500 kg fodder/ hectare
Cantidad luego de MST: 900 kg fodder/hectare
Preventing overgrazing helps maintain plant cover and allows for recovery periods, leading to increased biomass production.
Cantidad antes de MST: 0.5 liter per sheep/day
Cantidad luego de MST: 1 liter per sheep/day
Enhancing the quality and availability of forage provid sheep with a more nutritious diet, which directly impacts milk production.
Cantidad antes de MST: Contaminated water with minerals
Cantidad luego de MST: Leading to clearer and cleaner water
Effective rangeland management practices enhance the overall health of the ecosystem, leading to improved drinking water quality through better infiltration due to better soil cover and less water runoff.
Sustainable rangeland management supports local economies by providing livelihoods through livestock production, which can improve food access and self-sufficiency in communities.
Cantidad antes de MST: Less nutritious animal products
Cantidad luego de MST: More nutritious animal products
Enhanced forage quality leads to healthier livestock, which provides better quality meat and dairy products, contributing to improved nutrition for communities.
Cantidad antes de MST: Little capacity building
Cantidad luego de MST: Capacity building for 500 members of the Rangeland Management Association
Training programs for farmers and land managers, increasing their knowledge about sustainable practices and land conservation techniques.
Rangeland improvement practices can significantly reduce surface runoff, enhance soil health, and improve water quality
More efficient excess water drainage, enhancing soil structure, reducing waterlogging, and promoting overall ecological health.
Cantidad antes de MST: 20% soil cover
Cantidad luego de MST: 80-90% soil cover
Enhanced vegetation cover leads to healthier ecosystems, improved soil conditions, and increased biodiversity.
Cantidad antes de MST: 20%
Cantidad luego de MST: 80-90%
Enhanced vegetation cover leads to healthier ecosystems, improved soil conditions, and increased biodiversity
Cantidad antes de MST: 20-30% biomass
Cantidad luego de MST: 80-90% biomass
Rangeland improvement practices significantly boost biomass and above-ground carbon levels, enhancing ecosystem productivity and contributing to carbon sequestration efforts.
Cantidad antes de MST: 60/plants per square meter
Cantidad luego de MST: 200/plants per square meter
Enhanced plant diversity leads to healthier ecosystems, increased resilience, and improved overall productivity.
Cantidad antes de MST: 500 kg fodder/ha
Cantidad luego de MST: 800 kg fodder/ ha
Rangeland improvement practices significantly mitigate the impacts of drought, enhancing soil moisture retention, vegetation resilience by enhancing the land's ability to retain moisture and support vegetation growth, and overall ecosystem stability.
Cantidad antes de MST: 80000 m3/ winter season
Cantidad luego de MST: 20000 m3/ winter season
Healthy, diverse plant communities capture and sequester more carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, contributing to greater carbon sequestration and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
Cantidad antes de MST: 10-12 times /year
Cantidad luego de MST: Zero floods per year
Risk and impact of downstream flooding is significantly reduced by enhancing vegetation cover, improving soil health, and promoting better water management.
Cantidad antes de MST: 20 tons CO2 removed/year
Cantidad luego de MST: 50 tons CO2 removed/year
Healthy rangelands help absorb more carbon in plants and soil, which lowers the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. When these lands are grazed properly, they allow perennial and annual grasses to regrow. This regrowth not only captures more carbon but also improves soil health.
