Only Afghanistan’s major cities have the luxury of electricity. The Afghan government estimates that less 10% of the country has access to power. There are many hydroelectric dams, but due to the drought, they have produced less electricity while demand continues to soar.

Last month, there was a positive shift in Kabul where close to 20 hours of electricity is available for most citizens thanks to a power line from Uzbekistan.

But what about the rest of the country, specially the rural areas? And what about green energy? Afghanistan has plenty of sun, rivers and wind that can produce clean, efficient energy.

Wind Power

This news report covers a small wind farm in Panjsher developed by the US. But instead of powering people’s homes, it powers the governor’s office. And that isn’t the only surprise.

Solar Power

Can Afghanistan invest in solar farms? If so, when can it be ready? I think we shouldn’t hold our breath.

In the mean time, on a grass roots level, there could be creative ways to harness the sun’s power.

Jennifer McCarthy runs the blog WaterFlows. She raised money through her “living on a $1 a day” campaign. With the funds, McCarthy financed the construction of a much needed well in the village of Ahmadabad in Faryab province.

Aside from clear water, the villagers requested access to electricity. Getting a power line to the village is a major challenge– most likely due to the thick red tape within the Afghan government. And it would cost an estimated $35,000 to get full solar panels for each household.

So she purchased two inexpensive solar mats that provide enough power to charge a cell phone or lamp batteries to light a room.

A resident of Ahmadbad charging his cell phone with a portable solar mat. Photo by Jennifer McCarthy

How can each village household have access to his own solar panel mat? One idea is to subsidize the cost. Until a major green energy initiative can deliver, could this be one interim solution to solve the most basic needs of the rural population?

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Band-e Amir (photo by Daud Saba)

With this news on Earth Day 2009, for me and other friends of environment in Afghanistan, a wish has come true. In August 2004 issue, I wrote: “In 1973, the Afghan government named Band-e Amir as the first national park. Because it was not ratified into law, Band-e Amir does not have legal status to be officially protected. In the past three decades of war, governmental protection of Band-e Amir National Park has been less than a priority.”

I am more than satisfied that the hard work of many friends of environment in Afghanistan, with generous support from the international community has finally paid off. From now on, this piece of pristine wilderness in Central Afghanistan has a legal status to be protected. Thus, ways to practically protect the fauna and flora of the Band-e Amir National Park becomes a new mandate for the friends or environment in Afghanistan.

We can’t leave the whole task to the government. We have to help the community understand the value of their natural heritage, so they could be brought on board to find a solution for immediate problems that Band-e Amir faces today. The issues are: unregulated grazing and uprooting of shrubs that degrades the delicate vegetation cover, fishing by electrification or dynamite explosion methods, serious soil erosion around the dams, unsustainable reeds harvesting that degrades waterfowl habitats in the valley, and finally motor boating. The natural setting is littered by trash and human waste. This is damaging the pristine environment and serenity of the park.

As we expect that the number of visitors to Bamiyan and Band-e Amir increase, each of the above mentioned problems needs urgent due attention. Only by the community involvement through sound natural resources management, Band-e Amir National Park could serve its purpose. The National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan (NEPA) must immediately introduce pragmatic guidelines for the use of this natural heritage site.

All friends of environment should see it as their duty to raise awareness for the preservation of the park’s beauty. Keeping the park well preserved will allow the local people a better quality of life not just from a safer environment, but also through the business of tourism, which should eventually become a lifeline to this struggling community.

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