The Evergreens Of Afghanistan: A Natural Wonder

Afghanistan is known for its sparse yet diverse plant life. The country's mountainous regions are home to a variety of trees, including evergreens, oaks, poplars, wild hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios. The southeastern and eastern parts of Afghanistan, influenced by the Indian monsoon, provide the ideal conditions for dense and lasting forest plants. Among these forests, evergreen oaks such as quercus baloot, quercus dilatata, and quercus semicarpifolia can be found at higher elevations, typically above 1,300 meters. These evergreens are part of the country's limited forest cover, estimated at less than 4% of Afghanistan's total surface area.

Evergreen oaks are found in the eastern varieties of Mediterranean forms

Evergreen oaks, or Quercus Ilex, are a species of the oak family, Fagaceae, and are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe. They are characterised by their large size, with a huge head of dense branches, and oval-shaped leaves that are dark green on the topside and whitish on the underside. Younger shoots appear to be covered in greyish velvet. Evergreen oaks are considered invasive in the United Kingdom but are well-suited to seaside gardens as they can tolerate sea spray. They are also used to stabilise sand dunes along the Atlantic coast due to their powerful root system, which allows them to reinforce crumbling soils.

In Afghanistan, evergreen oaks are found in the eastern varieties of Mediterranean forms. They grow in the southeastern and eastern parts of the country, specifically in the mountainous regions, where they can receive sufficient rainfall for their growth. The eastern varieties of Mediterranean evergreen oaks found in Afghanistan include:

• Quercus baloot, which grows up to 2,000-2,300 meters above sea level
• Quercus dilatata, which grows at around 2,000-2,400 meters above sea level
• Quercus semicarpifolia, which can be found up to about 2,900 meters above sea level

These eastern varieties of Mediterranean evergreen oaks are an important part of Afghanistan's diverse plant life and contribute to the natural beauty of the region.

The highest limit of forest vegetation in Afghanistan is a level of junipers

Afghanistan's vegetation is sparse in the southern part of the country, particularly in the west, where dry regions and sandy deserts are common. Trees are rare, and only in the rainy season of early spring is the soil covered with flowering grasses and herbs. However, the plant cover becomes denser toward the north, where precipitation is more abundant, and at higher elevations, the vegetation is almost lush. The high mountains abound with large forest trees, among which conifers, such as pine and fir, predominate. Some of these trees are 180 feet (55 meters) high.

The average elevation for the fir line is over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). At lower elevations, somewhere between 5,500 and 7,200 feet (1,700 and 2,200 meters), cedar is abundant; below the fir and cedar lines, oak, walnut, alder, ash, and juniper trees can be found.

Juniper trees are the highest limit of forest vegetation in Afghanistan, reaching 3,500 meters (11,483 feet). The forest formations mentioned above are mostly theoretical, as the country's real surface of forests is located almost entirely in the east and southeast and accounts for less than 4% of the total surface. The natural extension of the clear juniper forest has been destroyed, and only a few witnesses can help reconstruct it.

Juniper trees are also found in the lower regions of the mountains to the west, although the vegetation in these areas consists almost entirely of herbaceous plants, scattered shrubs, and very rarely, trees. In the shade of these large trees, various varieties of roses, honeysuckle, gooseberry, common hawthorn, rhododendron, and lemon trees grow.

In the Nuristan Province of Pakistan, the second-largest juniper forests in the world are more than 1,500 years old. The forest ecosystem is believed to be one of the most long-lived in the world, with mature specimens over 1,500 years old.

The rainforests of Afghanistan are mainly found in the southeastern and eastern parts of the country

Afghanistan's plant life is sparse but diverse, with common mountain trees including evergreens, oaks, poplars, wild hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios. The country's rainforests are mainly found in the southeastern and eastern parts of the country, where the climate is more conducive to the growth of dense and lasting forest plants.

The southeastern slope, in particular, exhibits a well-defined series of successive strata. At lower elevations below 1300 meters, a semi-arid landscape of shrubs gives way to a lush combination of wild olive trees and reptonia buxifolia. Above 1300 meters, the landscape transforms into a verdant expanse of evergreen oaks, including eastern varieties of Mediterranean forms such as quercus baloot, quercus dilatata, and quercus semicarpifolia.

As one ascends further, the coniferous forests come into view, marking the westernmost part of the Himalayan forests. Here, pinus gerardiana blends with Q. baloot, creating a unique mix of dry-loving and moisture-seeking trees. Even higher, between 2,400 and 2,700 meters, annual precipitations exceed 800 mm, nurturing a majestic blend of cedars and Q. semicarpifolia.

Beyond this elevation, from 2,900 to 3,300 meters, lies a pure conifer forest, a mixed wonderland of spruce, fir, and pine. Finally, the highest limit of forest vegetation is marked by a level of junipers, predominantly juniperus semiglobosa, reaching an impressive altitude of 3,500 meters.

The rainforests of Afghanistan, though limited in extent, offer a diverse and well-stratified ecosystem. The preservation of these forests is of utmost importance, especially considering the country's low forest coverage, estimated at less than 4% of its total surface.

The dry forests are located in the northern parts of the country

Afghanistan's plant life is sparse but diverse. The country's northern plains are largely dry, treeless steppes, while the southwestern corner is almost entirely desert. The dry forests are located in the northern parts of the country, where there are no summer monsoons, and the vegetation is adapted to a more or less lengthy dry season. Real forests are virtually non-existent on the southern slopes of the central mountains, where rainfall is insufficient and unevenly distributed.

A forest formation does appear on the northern slope, where the spring rainfalls are more abundant. This formation consists of a clear forest of junipers that extends west towards Elburz (Alborz) and Khorasan, fringing the highlands. This forest formation rises gradually westwards, from about 1,400 to 2,900 meters in the east, up to 1,500 to 3,600 meters in the west. The lower stratum of this forest produces pistachio and almond trees, reaching 1,600 to 2,000 meters in the central sector and over 2,000 meters in the Hindu Kush.

The dry forests of Afghanistan are not the only type of forest in the country. In the southeastern and eastern parts of the country, where the Indian monsoon arrives earliest in the summer, dense and lasting forest plants can grow. This region features a well-defined series of successive strata, including semi-arid shrubs, wild olive trees, evergreen oaks, and coniferous forests.

While the dry forests of Afghanistan are located in the northern parts of the country, the country's real surface of forests is located almost entirely in the east and southeast, estimated at only about 25,000 square kilometers, or less than 4% of the total surface.

Common mountain trees include evergreens, oaks, poplars, wild hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios

The mountains of Afghanistan are home to a variety of trees, including evergreens, oaks, poplars, wild hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios. These trees are a vital part of the country's ecology and economy, but they are also under constant threat from illegal logging and deforestation.

The eastern province of Nuristan, in particular, is known for its lush, tree-covered mountains and clear rivers that wind through narrow valleys. This region is home to some of the oldest and most ecologically diverse forests in Afghanistan, with large forest trees such as conifers, pine, and fir dominating the landscape. Some of these trees grow to impressive heights of up to 180 feet (55 meters).

At lower elevations, between 5,500 and 7,200 feet (1,700 and 2,200 meters), cedar trees are abundant. Below this elevation, oak, walnut, alder, ash, and juniper trees are commonly found. In the southeastern part of the country, which enjoys the earliest arrival of the Indian monsoon, there is a well-defined series of vegetation strata. At lower altitudes below 1,300 meters, there is a semi-arid mix of shrubs, while at higher altitudes, a combination of wild olive trees and reptonia buxifolia can be found. Above 1,300 meters, evergreen oaks such as quercus baloot, quercus dilatata, and quercus semicarpifolia thrive.

The dry forests of Afghanistan, which encompass most of the country outside of the southeastern region, have a different vegetation pattern. Real forests are virtually absent on the southern slopes of the central mountains due to insufficient and uneven rainfall. However, on the northern slope, where spring rainfall is more plentiful, a clear forest of junipers can be found. This forest extends westward and includes pistachio and almond trees, with the groups of pistachio trees on the northern slope particularly dense in the northwestern province of Bādḡis.

While the mountains of Afghanistan boast a diverse array of tree species, the country's forestry sector faces significant challenges. Illegal logging, driven by economic desperation and the lucrative timber trade, has decimated vast ecosystems over the past few decades. Despite efforts by the Taliban government to implement a ban on the timber trade and create a "Green Unit" for environmental protection, enforcement remains lacking, and the country's forests continue to be exploited.

Frequently asked questions