Title
Eastern Forests Program - Timber Trade Survey
Author(s)
Wingard, J.R., M. Karlstetter, A. Simms & M. Johnson
Abstract
All evidence points to a significant and very alarming loss in forest cover across Afghanistan's eastern provinces over recent years. There are a variety of causal factors but none so damaging as the thriving trade in its timber for use as fuel and construction. Recent information claims that Afghanistan has an estimated 1.9 million hectares of forest cover remaining, down from a country coverage of 4.5 percent. WCS initiated a survey of Kabul's timber trade market in late 2006 to attempt to calculate seasonal trade volumes, main useage species-by-species, monthly sales and trade value. The survey team was also able to investigate potential harvesting levels of various species and domestic and/or international timber trade routes. This report documents the survey findings in full, discusses the larger implications of this trade on Afghanistan's natural resource levels and suggests alternative sources of fuel.
Keywords
Logging ban, timber trade, Eastern Forests, GIS, woodlot survey, market volumes, market values, firewood, construction, alternative fuel, wood market, forestry law
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