Protection of nature and natural resources as well as wildlife is important as they’re valuable in human life; therefore, most countries are trying to protect and preserve them and prevent from their destruction.
Besides, in different parts of the world, efforts are being made to allocate areas that have abundant natural wealth as well as national and international value as protected sites, so that they are guarded, preserved and used properly and rationally.
For their lasting conservation, protected areas need a lot of visitation, something that is lacking in developing countries.
National parks are the prime locations of wild and untamed nature; in many countries they are the most exiting places to visit, if you can find them.
In Afghanistan, which is a landlocked country and located in South Asia, national parks are relatively new, as the first (Band-e Amir National Park) was established in 2009, while the second (Wakhan National Park) was established in 2014.
Band-e Amir National Park was established in 2009 as Afghanistan’s first national park.
The park was developed with spending about $1 million. The park is located in a remote area of the Bamyan Province, and is not accessible by any roads. It is said that thousands of Afghans visit the park annually.
Therefore, the park has generated many jobs and attracted significant tourism, which are important to the local economy.
Although the park is of great benefit to the Afghan community, residents believe it should not have been a priority, and instead schools, hospitals, and infrastructure are more pressing needs. However, champions of the park believe it is significant because it will protect the forest, fauna, and flora.
The country’s another national park is the Wakhan National Park, which was established in 2014 as Afghanistan second national park. The park covers an area of 4,200 square miles, which is 25% larger than Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The park plays a significant role in preserving the regions’ mountains, diverse wildlife, and indigenous population. The wildlife within Wakhan National Park include red foxes, snow leopards, Pallas’s cat, ibex, stone martens, and Marco Polo sheep.
The Marco Polo sheep is the largest wild sheep in the world, and its horns can grow as long as six feet. Additionally, there are nine species of wild cats inhabiting Wakhan National Park. There are about 15,000 indigenous people living within Wakhan National Park, who speak either the Krygyz or Wakhi language. The inhabitants of the land also herd their livestock on the land as a means of earning a living. A major threat faced by the park is poaching and overgrazing.
In addition to the two national parks, there are several protected areas within Afghanistan. These areas include Ajar Valley Nature Reserve, Dashte-Nawar Waterfowl Sanctuary, Khulm Landmark Protected Area, Nuristan Nature Reserve, and Zadran National Reserve.
It is worth mentioning that protected areas are significant because they preserve the ecological, natural, and cultural values of specified areas.
Qarizada
Afghanistan national parks, the most exciting places to visit
