Water/Pasture Assessment of Registan Desert(Kandahar and Helmand Provinces)

The desolate desert in Afghanistan's Kandahar and Helmand Provinces was previously populated by thousands of pastoralists until a devastating drought decimated animal herds and forced them to live as IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) on land bordering the desert. Through funding from UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan), this report assesses conditions in the Registan Desert and border regions to devise solutions to the problems facing Registan Kuchi nomads. A work plan is provided for putting all scientific and practical efforts into immediate action for range rehabilitation programs and agropastoralism development in countiguous desert/semidesert areas such as Panjwayi, Maiwand, Takteh Pol and Garmsir (Kandahar and Helmand provinces). This report describes the results of a Grant in Aid for Scientific Research, Japan Ministry of Education and Culture, 2003 (No.15252002) represented by professor Tsuneo Tsukatani.