The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Taliban’s National Statistics and Information Authority said that Afghanistan’s forest area has increased by 427,000 hectares compared to 2011 levels.
The authority said that by the end of the 2025 solar year, a total of 1.6 million hectares of forest land had been identified across the country, representing a 35% increase compared to 2011.
According to the report, forested areas now cover 2.54% of Afghanistan’s total land area, with increases recorded in Paktia, Khost, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Badghis, Nangarhar, Kunar, Herat, and Laghman.
Based on official figures, Nuristan ranks first with 274,000 hectares of forest cover, followed by Kunar with 253,000 hectares. Badghis ranks third with 180,000 hectares, Paktia fourth with 170,000 hectares, Khost fifth with 127,000 hectares, and Paktika sixth with 119,000 hectares.
Forest management in Afghanistan has long faced challenges, including environmental protection concerns, illegal logging, and natural resource governance issues. Experts say continuous research and standardized assessments are needed to accurately monitor the country’s forest resources.
