The Meshrano Jirga or upper house of the parliament on Sunday demanded the creation of a special unite of security personnel for the protection of forests.
Senate Secretary Tayyib Atta told the house deforestation in eastern Kunar province continued unabated and the local government had failed to stop it.
He claimed jangles in Kunar were cut and smuggled illegally which should be stopped.
He termed forests the property of the nation and added during the leadership of Former President Mohammad Daud Khan, there was a special security forces unite called Green Unit which had the responsibility for the security of forests and greenery.
Atta said security forces currently stationed in Kunar focused on insurgency and there was need for a separate force to deal with deforestation.
Mafia groups, militants and some stakeholders within the government were involved in the cutting and smuggling of Kunar forests. Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar while referring to the creation of a separate unit directed the Senate secretariat to send a suggestion to the government to form a separate force to the security of forests. Kunar Governor Spokesman Abdul Ghani Musamim told Pajhwok Afghan News the smuggling and cutting of forests had been stopped largely in areas under government control.
He said with the support of agriculture department, 80 tribal councils had been created for the protection of forests.
