In Afghanistan’s war-torn Nangarhar province, a simple but powerful solution is transforming lives: the jujube tree. As conflict, poverty, and climate change converge, afforestation efforts are providing both environmental protection and economic opportunities for displaced communities.
Nestled along the Pakistan border, Nangarhar has long been a hotspot for violence and migration. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees struggle with poverty, lack of resources, and increasingly extreme weather. Flash floods regularly devastate homes and farmland.
“Every year, the floods come, destroying everything,” says Abdul Aziz, a resident of the Samar Khail Araban camp.
Seeking a solution, local communities turned to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Their request: a long-term fix that would both shield them from floods and provide economic opportunities.
Jujube Trees: A Nature-Based Solution
After careful assessments, UNDP proposed planting jujube trees (Ziziphus mauritiana), a hardy species known for its drought resistance and deep root systems that prevent soil erosion. These trees absorb excess water, reducing flood damage.
“When the rains come, these trees protect our homes,” Abdul Aziz says. “We can already see the difference.”
Beyond flood control, jujube trees provide valuable fruit and attract bees, boosting local honey production. Beekeeper Hazrat Hussain says demand for the region’s honey is rising: “With higher prices, we won’t have to take our bees to Pakistan anymore.”
Community Resilience Through Afforestation
With support from the UN Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan, UNDP has planted 20,000 jujube trees across 20 hectares in Behsood over three years. The project’s Cash-for-Work initiative has provided 700 households with wages for planting and maintaining the trees, helping struggling families earn an income.
A widow, Nasreen, recalls how the wages allowed her to buy meat for her children for the first time in months. “Now, with the forest growing, I know we’ll be safer from floods,” she says.
Innovative water harvesting techniques have already raised the water table by five meters, further strengthening local water security.
Nangarhar’s afforestation project is proving that nature-based solutions can combat both climate change and economic hardship. As UNDP’s regional manager Anatoly Balovnev explains:
“This project empowers communities to take ownership of their future, proving that nature can be part of the solution.”
With climate change worsening Afghanistan’s vulnerabilities, expanding such initiatives could help communities across the country build long-term resilience—offering not just survival, but hope for a better future.