| Abstract | Afghanistan is situated in the center of the Eurasia continent, and it is a land- looked
country characterized by a wide variety of habitats and ecosystems, ranking from steppes,
semi-deserts, sub tropical forest and lakes to bush land, mountain forests and mountains
within a total land area of 65.2 million hectares. Afghanistan protected areas have a
significance role in the conservation of biodiversity and people's livelihoods. Afghanistan
has some world-known sites of ecological and cultural importance. These sites may once
again generate international attention and tourism revenue on behalf of Afghanistan. The
Band-e-Amir National Park is an important ecological site in this country. Band-e-Amir
National Park is situated in the western Hindu Kush in Hazarajat- Bamiyan Province. The
park area is 56'000 hectares and it comprises of six lakes with clean, neat water. Band-eAmir
was officially declared as national park on 22 April 2009 by the Afghan government.
In the Band-e-Amir area are living around 4000 people within 13 villages. This study
focuses on institution of Band-e-Amir National Park to the livelihood of local people,
perception of local people regarding Band-e-Amir National Park, and potential conflicts
and benefits arising from the creation Band-e-Amir Nation Parle For the approach to the
goals conducted a household survey with 116 questionnaires from Band-e-Amir villagers
and 85 questionnaires with visitors of Band-e-Amir National Parle In addition interviews
have been conducted with related governmental organizations, NGOs and Governor of
Bamiyan Province. The qualitative data have been categorized in various criteria and used
Microsoft excels and then transferred to the statistic software of Minitab for analyses.
People's income source is mostly agriculture and livestock. Land use issues are irrigated
farming, rain-fed farming, grazing, shrub collection, reed cutting, and hunting. The
occupations of the villagers are mostly agriculture and livestock. The irrigated land is
limited in Band-e-Amir because of mountainous topography with an average of 5 jereb and
lalmi land with an average of 13 jereb. For land productivity people use chemical fertilizers
and animal wastes. The chemical fertilizers are composed of urea and ammonium nitrate.
In addition, pesticides are used in the area therefore; this is one of the threats to the
environment in Band-e-Amir. Encouraging organic farming and introduction of improved
seed by government and NGOs can be good strategy to reduce the threats to Band-e-Amir
National Park. The average level of income from agriculture is about 46821 AFs (1040
USD) in one year per household if divided per households size of 10.8 people the daily
income of one person will be 30 US cents, this is significantly below the UN poverty line
of 1 USD.
Villagers use bushes and dung for heating and cooking which is an important pressure on
rangeland because land loss their cover and causing soil erosion. The alternative energy
such as kerosene and butane gas is limited. Villagers' shows concern on decrease of
pasture productivity due to overgrazing, bushes removal and increase of animal numbers.
Animal loss their market because of pasture productivity decreases.Creation of Band-eAmir
have disadvantages such as land use in Band-e-Amir especially lalmi land is a
controversy view, because every year people plowing new land for lalmi. This activity has been strictly prohibited close to the lakes; and limitation of grazing land especially close to
the lakes.
Creation of Band-e-Amir as National Park has advantages, because land of the area is not
fertile and soil is not productive. Nation Park creation is creating new job oppo1iunity and
sells of local products. In addition, National Park requires transportation, energy, water
supply, and waste management, so from providing all these facilities in the park villagers
obviously getting benefits. Moreover, tax sharing of park is other source of income for
villagers.
Yearly, 40,000 visitors are visiting Band-e-Amir National Park and spending around
1,000,000 USD in the area. Therefore, local communities can get direct benefit such as
selling local products, rent of house, and animal for meat and also indirect benefits.
Key words: Band-e-Amir National Park, People Perception, people livelihoods, interactive
impact, conflict on resources use, land practices, biodiversity, income source, advantages
and disadvantages |