KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Forests on a thousand hectares of land have been revived in southeastern Khost province, officials said on Thursday. Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Department officials said the forests were revived in different districts in the past one year with the help of some NGOs. For instance, they pointed to the revival of a 350-hectare forest with the plantation of walnut saplings in the Sinkio village of Tani district.

In a chat with Pajhwok Afghan News, a resident of the village, Angar Wali, said people had previously cut forest-trees due to poverty, However, he was thrilled to see the mountains covered again with green trees. Wali hoped people’s economic issues would be resolved if the walnut trees were allowed to grow. He believed: “If the walnut-forest grows thicker, our people will be lifted out of poverty.

People will get employment and profited from the forest in several ways.” Akhtar Zaman, another resident of the area, urged the government to focus on reforestation in other areas where trees had been felled. He advised the people not to cut trees but pay attention to their protection.

Zaman suggested: “The government and NGOs should promote awareness about the importance of trees and forests. They should encourage people to save existing trees and plant more in deforested areas.” Din Mohammad, another resident of Khost, believes protection of forests has a positive impact on human life and climate.

Forests help prevent flooding and add.