Afghanistan's Fourth National Report to the Convention on ...

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3.4.4. Afghanistan Wildlife Executive Committee (AWEC)The purpose of <strong>the</strong> AWEC is <strong>to</strong> recommend additions <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Harvestable and ProtectedSpecies List <strong>to</strong> NEPA as required by Article 47 of <strong>the</strong> EL (Section 3.1.3.2.). In future,AWEC may also take on <strong>the</strong> role of CITES Scientific Authority. Determination of speciesstatus is made on <strong>the</strong> basis of short species assessment reports. Status in Afghanistan isalso assigned according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> IUCN Red List regional criteria.The Committee is currently comprised of a Chair from NEPA, one representative fromMoAIL, several faculty members from Kabul University and non-voting internationaladvisors. This composition ensures that <strong>the</strong> Committee has enough depth and expertise<strong>to</strong> make informed decisions related <strong>to</strong> wildlife status, take and trade. The AWEC held itsfirst meeting in Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2008 and has listed 31 species (32 counting <strong>the</strong> split-listing foribex) <strong>to</strong> date (see Table 1).3.4.5. Biodiversity Coordination CommitteeThis committee was initiated by WCS as an informal forum for NGOs, governmentdepartments and UN institutions working on issues related <strong>to</strong> biodiversity in Afghanistan <strong>to</strong>share information. The Committee has not been active recently.3.4.6. Biodiversity Working GroupThis multi-stakeholder group was formed by UNEP <strong>to</strong> serve a consultative andeducational function during <strong>the</strong> NCSA/NAPA process which was completed in December2008, and was re-formed <strong>to</strong> review this report. It is comprised of members of academia,Government Ministries and local NGOs.3.4.7. Protected Area Working Group (PAWG)The PAWG is an informal, information-sharing ga<strong>the</strong>ring of groups working on protectedareas in Afghanistan. It is not a decision-making body. The PAWG was initially called <strong>the</strong>Band-i-Amir Coordination Committee and was intended <strong>to</strong> integrate <strong>the</strong> efforts of <strong>the</strong> manydonors, NGOs, Government departments, and UN institutions working in variouscapacities <strong>to</strong> establish Band-i-Amir <strong>National</strong> Park. With Band-i-Amir nearing formalestablishment, <strong>the</strong> name was changed and <strong>the</strong> mandate was expanded in 2008 <strong>to</strong> includeall protected areas. There have been 12 meetings of <strong>the</strong> Band-i-Amir CoordinatingCommittee since Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2006 and 2 meetings of <strong>the</strong> PAWG since May 2008.3.5. Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)3.5.1. <strong>Convention</strong> of Biological Diversity (CBD)The CBD is a legally binding international treaty adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.The <strong>Convention</strong> has three main goals:• conservation of biological diversity;• sustainable use of its components; and• fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.Afghanistan signed <strong>the</strong> CBD in 1992 and ratified it in 2002. Afghanistan submitted <strong>the</strong>Third <strong>National</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> CBD Secretariat in 2007, but o<strong>the</strong>rwise has not beensignificantly engaged in CBD activities.Afghanistan’s <strong>Fourth</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity30 March, 200932
Afghanistan is not a Party <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cartagena Pro<strong>to</strong>col on Biosafety, a supplementaryagreement <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> CBD. Afghanistan does not currently consider biosafety <strong>to</strong> be asignificant issue relative <strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs challenges facing <strong>the</strong> country.3.5.2. <strong>Convention</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)CITES is an international agreement between governments which came in<strong>to</strong> force in1975. Its aim is <strong>to</strong> ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plantsdoes not threaten <strong>the</strong>ir survival.Afghanistan acceded <strong>to</strong> CITES on 30 Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1986 but has not been activelyimplementing <strong>the</strong> <strong>Convention</strong>. Several notifications from <strong>the</strong> CITES Secretariat haveadvised Parties not <strong>to</strong> accept alleged CITES documentation from Afghanistan and <strong>to</strong>suspend all trade with Afghanistan in CITES-listed species. Currently, Afghanistan isconsidered by CITES as having substandard legislation <strong>to</strong> implement <strong>the</strong> <strong>Convention</strong>.Articles 54 – 57 of <strong>the</strong> EL provide umbrella CITES legislation and state that import orexport of CITES-listed species must have valid documentation. However, regulations havenot yet been developed <strong>to</strong> provide specific guidance in implementation of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Convention</strong>.Currently, <strong>the</strong> CITES website lists both <strong>the</strong> Management Scientific Authorities as beingwithin MoAIL although discussions are underway <strong>to</strong> transfer <strong>the</strong> Scientific Authority <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>AWEC (Section 3.4.4.).In 2008, WCS organized a study <strong>to</strong>ur for senior Government officials <strong>to</strong> visit CITESheadquarters in Geneva, attend <strong>the</strong> 57th meetings of <strong>the</strong> CITES Standing Committee, andreceive training on CITES principles. In 2009, WCS plans <strong>to</strong> assist <strong>the</strong> Government insetting up a CITES-compliant permitting system.3.5.3. <strong>Convention</strong> on Migra<strong>to</strong>ry Species of Wild Animals (CMS)The CMS aims <strong>to</strong> conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migra<strong>to</strong>ry species throughout<strong>the</strong>ir range. It is an intergovernmental treaty, concluded under <strong>the</strong> aegis of UNEP,concerned with <strong>the</strong> conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. The CMS issometimes called <strong>the</strong> Bonn <strong>Convention</strong>, which is distinct from <strong>the</strong> Bonn Agreement. Thelatter was a 2001 agreement <strong>to</strong> set up interim governance for Afghanistan.Migra<strong>to</strong>ry species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Convention</strong>.CMS Parties strive <strong>to</strong>wards strictly protecting <strong>the</strong>se animals, conserving or res<strong>to</strong>ring <strong>the</strong>places where <strong>the</strong>y live, mitigating obstacles <strong>to</strong> migration and controlling o<strong>the</strong>r fac<strong>to</strong>rs thatmight endanger <strong>the</strong>m. Besides establishing obligations for each State joining <strong>the</strong><strong>Convention</strong>, CMS promotes concerted action among <strong>the</strong> Range States of many of <strong>the</strong>sespecies.Afghanistan has indicated its intention of becoming a Contracting Party <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> CMS, butapprovals currently are being delayed in Parliament because of translation issues. Theproposal is currently in Committee.3.5.4. Ramsar <strong>Convention</strong> on Wetlands (Ramsar)The Ramsar <strong>Convention</strong> on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, is anintergovernmental treaty which provides <strong>the</strong> framework for national action andinternational cooperation for <strong>the</strong> conservation and wise use of wetlands and <strong>the</strong>irresources. Afghanistan is not currently a Contracting Party <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ramsar <strong>Convention</strong>. Theprocess for becoming a Party <strong>to</strong> Ramsar is for <strong>the</strong> State <strong>to</strong> deposit an instrument ofAfghanistan’s <strong>Fourth</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity30 March, 200933
Page 4: Executive SummaryThis report compri
Page 7 and 8: • Write a NBSAP for Afghanistan i
Page 9 and 10: 3.1. AFGHANISTAN’S BIODIVERSITY L
Page 13 and 14: IntroductionIn April 2002,
Page 15 and 16: status in Afghanistan for which we
Page 17 and 18: number of assumptions, as much as h
Page 19 and 20: appears to be a co
Page 21 and 22: declining population for th
Page 23 and 24: The oak forests of Paktiya and Khos
Page 25 and 26: 7. Establish community-based manage
Page 27 and 28: institutional, legal and human capa
Page 29 and 30: 2.2.3. Wildlife Conservation Societ
Page 31 and 32: people understand the</stro
Page 33 and 34: The policies are addressing how cha
Page 35 and 36: • Article 41 states that
Page 37 and 38: ecognize the role
Page 39 and 40: 3.2.4. National En
Page 41 and 42: • UNFCCC Focal Point NEPA• Ozon
Page 43: SEA’s mission is protection of <s
Page 47 and 48: the individual, or
Page 49 and 50: Estada, although nobody has reporte
Page 51 and 52: • Figure 6. Trend in Afghanistan
Page 53 and 54: 4.1.8. Goal 8. Maintain capacity of
Page 55 and 56: • SCAPoWPA funding to</st
Page 57 and 58: Convention.4.2. Ev
Page 59 and 60: Literature CitedBai Z.G., Dent D.L.
Page 61 and 62: Morarjee, R. and S. Fidler. 2007. F
Page 63 and 64: UNEP-WCMC. 2009. UNEP-WCMC Species
Page 65 and 66: Process of Preparation of N
Page 67 and 68: Appendix II: furthe</strong
Page 69 and 70: Journal of Biology 19: 269-76.9.
Page 71 and 72: 25. Lapparent, A. F. 1966. Les dép
Page 73 and 74: 22. Finn, F. 1896. List of
Page 75 and 76: Afghanistan. 119-64.64. Nogge, G. 1
Page 78 and 79: Unpubl. rpt.Dasht-i- Nawar1. Breckl
Page 80 and 81: 5. ———. 1973. Reorganization
Page 82 and 83: Sci. Nat. Brun. 12: 1-45.25. Nalban
Page 84 and 85: UenoKyoto: Kyo<str
Page 86 and 87: Scientific Expedition to</s
Page 88 and 89: 28. Habibi, K. "The vertebrate faun
Page 90 and 91: 64. ———. 1966. Zur Ernährung
Page 92 and 93: 100. Tokuda, M. 1966. On a vole and
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22. Schaller, G. B., and A. Kang. 2
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31. ———. 1971. Ist Diarthron
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(Contribution to <
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98. Lapparent, A. F. de. 1962. Obse
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(contributions to
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Afghanistan.Asian Development Bank
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23. Steven C. Anderson, S. C., and
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24. ———. 1968. The wildfowl a
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1.1.5 …complete protected area sy
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1.4.2 Identify appropriate measurab
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As noted in Section 3.3.2., several
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3.1.11 Cooperate with neighbouring
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3.5.1 Establish or strength
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(ii) A preliminary assessment of <s
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Appendix IV: National</stro
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Prionailurus bengalensis Leopard Ca
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Psittacula eupatria Alexandrine Par
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Table 2. Summary of listings for Af
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Table 4. Afghan languages at risk f
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Figure 2. Afghanistan’s major bio
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Figure 4. Status of WWF ecoregions
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Afghanistan's Cons
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Afghanistan's Bioc
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