As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s important to recognise that the effects of climate change are not just future threats: they’re a daily reality for marginalised populations around the world. This February, the International Organisation for Migration found that over the last twelve months, over 8.8 million Afghans had been impacted by environmental hazards, with floods as the biggest driver of loss of lives, homes and livelihoods.

In Afghanistan’s Samangan province, increasing environmental disasters have worsened long-standing poverty and insecurity, creating overwhelming challenges for local communities. But these resilient communities are also spearheading innovative adaptation programmes to better protect themselves and their environments from the damaging impacts of the climate crisis. One such community is the village of Arghinan.

Once known for its rich forests and diverse woodlands, Samangan has experienced decades of deforestation- driven by conflict, poverty, and a lack of sustainable alternatives to firewood. As trees disappeared from Samangan's landscapes, so did the land’s ability to protect itself from disasters like flash floods.

Trees act like nature's sponges. The canopy cover provided by tree branches and leaves intercept rainfall, slowing its impact on the ground and allowing water to seep into the soil at a more controlled rate. Beneath the surface, tree roots burrow deep into the earth to revitalise the soil and reduce rapid surface runoff. When floods do occur, trees also serve as natural barriers, dampening the force of water and reducing its deadly impact.

Without this protection from trees, the land around Arghinan village had became dry and degraded, with intense rainfall quickly worsening into flash floods. Such disasters continually wreaked havoc on families' abilities to stay safe, access food and earn incomes. Village elder Haji Hamidullah explained how tough these times would be:

Life in our village was extremely tough before the project. Frequent floods would wash away our homes and farmlands, making it nearly impossible for farmers to restore their lands to normal. Since our livelihoods depended entirely on agriculture, this situation left many families struggling to meet even their basic needs. Despite our efforts to control the floods, we had no effective mechanism in place.

Stuck in this cycle of insecurity, hunger and unemployment had reached alarming levels in the community. Many families struggled to afford essential food and household items, and opportunities for earning a sustainable income were scarce. But the community remained resolute that with the right support, they would be able to reshape their future.

Forests for a flourishing future

Recognising the vulnerabilities the community faced, Afghanaid launched a forest restoration and climate adaptation project in Haji Hamidullah's village. The initiative aimed to reverse environmental damage, reducing disaster risks, and supporting families to build more secure livelihoods in the face of a changing climate.

The project strengthened the community’s capacity to play an active role in restoring their local environment, while also providing paid opportunities for residents to help design a more sustainable future. Prioritising climatic and economic resilience, 120 new jobs were created for local labourers. To mitigate future flood risks, these labourers worked with Afghanaid staff to transform their local landscape with flood reduction infrastructure, utilising gully plugs, building canals and crafting gabion boxes to flood damage and soil erosion. The labourers also built a water reservoir to help residents better manage and store water when heavy rainfall occurred, and end the vicious cycle of floods and droughts.

Reforestation efforts saw the planting of 4,820 fruit and non-fruit saplings (including pistachio, walnut and pine), alongside 19,500 Ferula plants to enhance soil stability and biodiversity. 

Now, Arghinan village looks forward to their landscape becoming as abundant as it had been decades before. According to Haji Hamidullah, the community is eagerly looking forward the beautiful forest that will develop, not only as it will support the prevention of floods, but also as the trees' produce will provide sources of income for the residents.

Climate resilient incomes for a sustainable tomorrow

Afghanaid recognises that adapting to a changing climate often requires finding new ways to earn a living. With 80% of Afghan livelihoods tied to agriculture, rising temperatures and changing landscapes regularly disrupt families’ sources of income. In response, community members also received practical training in improved, climate-resilient livelihoods: from dairy processing and livestock farming to cultivating drought-resistant crops and maintaining kitchen gardens.

Participants were provided with the tools and resources needed to put their new skills into practice, supporting them to gain more control over their futures in an uncertain world. Some activities have already made a noticeable difference to the life outcomes of the villages' residents. 

“Some of the sheep we received have now given birth, and we have fresh milk and yogurt for our families. Life is much better than before,” Haji Hamidullah shared."Before, the particpants relied on outdated methods to make yogurt and cheese. Now, with the knowledge they gained from training, they use improved techniques, which has significantly increased their income. they now earn approximately 4,000 AFN per month, something I could never imagine before."

We need climate action now.

This project will support over 11,000 people across Samangan province to keep themselves safe in the face of a rapidly changing climate. However, as the international community drifts further from commitments to meaningful climate action, more must be done to support communities most at risk. 

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