Silvicultural strategies and practices for ecological and sustainable forest management in Afghanistan: A narrative review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Afforestation, forest protection, and restoration are critical to sustaining livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, regulating climate, and maintaining ecosystem stability. In Afghanistan, especially in the eastern and southeastern forested regions, forests are vital natural resources that support local economic, social, and cultural systems. This review evaluates major silvicultural approaches for the sustainable management of these forest ecosystems. It compares intensive systems, such as clear-cutting, with ecologically oriented practices, including selective logging, retention forestry, thinning, pruning, coppicing, and assisted natural regeneration. The review indicates that integrated silvicultural strategies that balance production, regeneration, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem resilience are the most suitable for long-term sustainability. It further emphasizes the importance of community-based forest management and climate-adaptive planning in strengthening forest health and ecosystem services. Despite their importance, major knowledge gaps remain concerning Afghanistan-specific silvicultural systems, climate change impacts on forest growth, community-level economic valuation, and effective management of pests, fire, and forest diseases.
Source: ESRJ
Authors: Iqbal, Javidullah, Saadat, Mohammad Yosuf
Institution: Kabul University
Language: English
Topic: Forest Management and Policy
Subfield: Forestry
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220007681