1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Community-based sustainable land and forest management in Afghanistan

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

FAO Afghanistan (FAO Afghanistan) - Afghanistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

15/12/2024

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Community-driven reforestation initiative that involves awareness-raising, capacity building, feasibility analysis, and collaboration among various stakeholders to address land degradation and promote sustainable forest and rangeland management

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The main aim of this approach is to contribute to ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration through community awareness raising, consultation and capacity building, feasibility analysis, site selection as well as resources mobilization for reforestation initiatives in Khost-Afghanistan.
This community driven initiative emerged, bringing together land users, forest and rangeland associations, environmental experts, specialists and policymakers from various departments like Provincial Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, National Environment Projection Agency, District Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock to heal the land, restore the forests, and rebuild the connection between people and nature.
The first step was understanding the root causes of degradation. With careful assessment, they identified areas most in need of intervention: land stripped bare by erosion, forests reduced to scattered tree stumps, and soil depleted of nutrients. The community listened to the wisdom of elders who recalled the days when the valley was green and full of life. They combined this knowledge with modern ecological practices to craft a restoration plan that balanced tradition and innovation.
The approach ensures awareness raising of the rural community, and knowledge and information enhancement on restoration of degraded forest and rangeland through reforestation initiatives in Khost-Afghanistan. Specific objectives of the approach are:
1. To enable the community to restore the degraded forest and rangeland through reforestation initiatives in Khost-Afghanistan throuth awareness raising, consultation and capacity building of the community, feasibility analysis, as well as resources mobilization.
2. To ensure the knowledge and information of rural communities are raised to ensure approach Introduction, public awareness, community mobilization, consultation and assessment feasibility study to Enable the community to Restore the Degraded Forest and Rangeland through Reforestation initiatives in Khost-Afghanistan.
3.The stakeholder involved were, Provincial Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (PAIL), provincial National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), District Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock department (DAIL), forest and rangeland management association (FM/RM association). The role of PAIL district extension department and (NEPA) were consulted for community mobilization, social engagement and for technical assistance, guidance and supervision.
4.To enhance the capacity of Forest and Rangeland management association (FM/RM Association) and local communities on adoption of restoration of degraded forest and rangeland through reforestation initiatives in Khost-Afghanistan.
5.To restore degraded forests and rangelands by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and resources for sustainable management. This includes empowering the FM/RM Association by enhancing its members understanding, skills, capacity, and participation in conservation and restoration efforts toward forest and rangeland management.
6.To restore habitat for strengthening biodiversity conservation.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

To enhance the capacity of FM/RM Associations and local communities for the adoption of the technology on Restoration of Degraded Forest and Rangeland through Reforestation initiatives in Khost

-To restore habitat for strengthening biodiversity conservation.
-To promote the application and conversion of unproductive land to productive land.
-To empower local communities to replicate and scale up similar initiatives

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization	FM/RM Association: mobilization, awareness raising and general management through social participation.
planning	interactive	FM/RM Association: jointly with community by developing of Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) plan.
implementation	interactive	FM/RM Association: jointly with community provided labour, facilitation, coordination and consultation as well as supporting all the activities during implementation period as self and community in kind contribution.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	FM/RM Association: members are key stakeholders of the participatory monitoring and evaluation process.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

It was a participatory feasibility study that involved joint decision making

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• farmer-to-farmer
• public meetings

Subjects covered:

SLM/SFM practices, awareness, mobilization, quarantine, rotational grazing, biodiversity conservation, climate change, CBNRM plan, participatory moinotoring, operation of the system and general management of natural resources.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Operating the irrigation system, sapling transplantation, quarantine, rotational grazing and general management.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

FM/RM Association

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

Give further details:

Signed LoA for implementation and cost contribution, on site awareness raising, social mobilization, holding gathering and workshops and provided construction materials and tools for nursery establishment.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

FM/RM Association has the responsibility to perform monitoring of all activities in Sapari forest of Sabari district of Khost province.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

Community-based plan, so monitoring is a part of this documentation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

FAO financial support and community in kind contribution (in kind contribution covers providing physical locations/ space or facilities across different regions to support the project, coordination, consultation and general facilitation for implementation of the project). Based on this we can say 80 percent of the financial support is given by FAO and 20 percent by community, which includes plantation, patrolling, quarantine and other community relevant activities.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Input livelihood package including solar cooker, chopper machine, dairy toolkit, walnut cracker, construction material for reservoirs (cement, sand, stone, pipes), technical support, material for nursery establishment (this year established, but in two years will produce own saplings) and saplings (from market). In the order of 8250 persons had participated in training workshops and other capacity building programmes.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify:

On job trainings, field day tour, social gathering as well as site visits by communities.

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The land user can sustain, because their capacity was enhanced, they have local ownership, adaptive tribal management is there, thereby they can ensure that the benefits of these efforts continue for future generations.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Community well aware and their consciousness and knowledge enhanced through workshops and trainings regarding natural resources management.
Natural resources like (forest, rangeland, water, financial support, equipment, saplings, community…etc) are available for existence of facilities regarding implementation of the approach.
Community contribution increased, so after the external support it will assist in protection and sustainable management.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
This approach revives ecosystems by reintroducing native plant and animal species, supporting increased biodiversity and creating habitats for wildlife.
This approach improves ecosystem resilience, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and promoting climate adaptation, restoration ensures long-term sustainability while addressing environmental, economic, and cultural needs.
The established FM/RM Associations became a legal address for forest, rangeland and general natural resources management, which will be responsible after the supporting of project for its sustainability and long term protection.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
FM/RM Associations established, but still not formally recognized and hasn’t got well population to be used a legal address.	It must be formally introduced to various organization through an official letter by Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock of Afghanistan.
Some of the project should be implemented for women, but it is a sensitive issue, because of government ban on women work, hence it can be mentioned as a weakness.	Government should allow women for the satisfaction of donor, because it is a gender-based projects, their inclusion is necessary.
This approach has been implemented in faraway forest with no formal guard, thereby its protection is also a weakness.	Community should contribute on this regard and take the responsivity of the protection

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
This approach often requires significant initial investment in terms of funding, materials, labor, and technical expertise. This includes costs for site preparation, planting, irrigation, and ongoing maintenance, which can be limiting for many communities.	Adequate budget and community contribution can overcome or reduce this weakness.
This approach can take many years, even decades, to show significant ecological improvements, which can lead to frustration, reduced enthusiasm, or a loss of community and donor support.	Strong mobilization and raising of the ownership sense in the community can overcome this weakness.
If local communities are not adequately involved, they may not feel a sense of ownership or responsibility for the project, leading to poor long-term maintenance and protection of the restored areas.	This should be a community-based project, ensuring that, after donor support ends, the community takes responsibility for its ongoing maintenance and sustainability.
Insecure land tenure and unclear property rights can lead to conflicts over land use and limit the ability of communities to manage and protect restored areas.	Solving of conflict over property rights belongs to community and it must be facilitated by them.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information