The community of Khakagh Poin in the Sare Ahangaran watershed has, with CRS support, been implementing conservation measures on pasture lands since fall 2009. An assessment of vegetative cover and bio-diversity was undertaken in October 2010 and July 2011. The findings indicate a 56% increase in total plant population as well as a 44% increase in the number of species in the protected area as compared to the control area. Soil and water conservation structures like stone walls and trenches have contributed to increased vegetative growth and diversity beyond that resulting from protection alone.

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Case Study – Khakagh Poin and Siakhar Togai Pastures
Bamyan Province, Afghanistan
CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT – JULY 2011
I. Background
CRS has been supporting the communities of Sare Ahangaran valley (Annex 1) to implement an
integrated community-based watershed project since fall 2008. The interventions thus far include:
• The formation and capacity-building of a Watershed Committee to plan and implement the
project in a participatory manner. There are 2 Cluster Development Committees (CDCs)
representing 9 villages in the valley. The Watershed Committee meets at least once a
month and has 12 members, with representatives from each CDC, including 4 women.
• Community-led development of a Natural Resource Management (NRM) plan. The
community NRM plan includes resource mapping, priority sites for community protection
and restoration of arable and pasture areas, and a 4 year community management plan for
key resources, including water, fuel, and fodder.
• Restoration of over 100 hectares of agricultural fields under existing canal systems by
implementing contour stone walls in order to control soil erosion and harvest snow and rain.
Farmers have planted cuttings of poplar and willow along the walls which will provide them
with a sustainable source of wood for housing and fuel. These fields are now being
cultivated, thus contributing significantly to the food and livelihood security of the
communities in the upper valley.
• Protection of two pasture sites at Khakagh Poin and
Siakhar Togai through community protection and soil
and water conservation measures. These sites were
brought under conservation since fall 2009. Bio-
physical interventions will be completed by fall 2011
and the communities will continue to protect these sites
from grazing and extraction of bio-mass till 2013,
during which period a long-term management plan to
ensure sustainable use of these sites for community
benefit will be developed.
II. Conservation Measures at Khakagh Poin Pasture
The pasture area forms part of a micro-catchment which lies
above Khakagh Poin village in the upper Sare Ahangaran
valley. The area selected for conservation and treatment
measures has an area of 48 hectares facing the north-west. The
Summary: The community of Khakagh Poin in the Sare Ahangaran watershed has, with CRS
support, been implementing conservation measures on pasture lands since fall 2009. An
assessment of vegetative cover and bio-diversity was undertaken in October 2010 and July 2011.
The findings indicate a 56% increase in total plant population as well as a 44% increase in the
number of species in the protected area as compared to the control area.
Khakagh Poin Pasture site

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ridge of the pasture lies at 4,080 meters elevation while the bottom of the site sits at 3,083 meters.
Although the remaining part of the micro-catchment is very steep and rocky, making it unsuitable
for conservation treatments, the community also brought this are under protection in 2011.
The selected pasture site was significantly
degraded as evidenced by the profusion of
Agropyron afghanicum grass (locally known as
kharkuda), which has no value either as fuel or
fodder, and contributed to flooding of the
Khakagh Poin settlement at the base of the
gully.
Conservation measures on the 48 hectare site
were initiated in fall 2009, with a view to
prevent flooding and soil erosion and harvest snow and rain. Given the abundance of loose stones
(shale) on the surface, a series of low contour stone walls were constructed across the slope.
During 2009, around 5 hectares of the upper ridge were treated with stone walls and the community
reported reduced flooding during spring 2010.
An additional 10 hectares along the upper ridge was treated with stone walls in 2010 and around 5
hectares in 2011. Thus while the entire 48 hectares has been under community protection since fall
2009, only the upper ridge portion (around 20 hectares) has been treated with contour stone walls.
III. Conservation Measures at Siakhar Togai Pasture
This pasture forms part of a micro-catchment which lies above the Siakhar Togai community in the
lower Sare Ahangaran Valley. The community of Siakhar Togai initiated protection in the
catchment area in the fall of 2009, agreeing to refrain from animal grazing and the extraction of
bio-mass from the pasture lands for 5 years.
The area selected for conservation and treatment measures has an
area of 45 hectares. The ridge of the pasture lies at 3,424 meters
elevation while the bottom of the site sits at 2,730 meters.
Directly below the area is a spring fed reservoir. As part of the
agreement with the community, CRS supported renovation of the
reservoir. The renovation of the reservoir was completed in
September 2009.
Before the beginning of winter, a series of 5 loose-stone gully
plugs were constructed in the main gully to protect the reservoir.
Additionally, CRS supported the community to begin
implementation of soil and water conservation (SWC) measures
through cash-for-work. Initially a small series of contour stone
walls were constructed in 2009 in the northern part of the
watershed. Following SWC best practices, work began along the ridge, continuing down the slope
at intervals based on the gradient. Community protection and SWC work continued throughout

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2010 with the implementation of contour earthen bunds and trenches and the sowing of wild seeds.
In 2011, the community completed SWC treatments on the pasture lands.
IV. Assessment of Vegetative Cover and Bio-Diversity
The assessment was undertaken in July 2011 to assess the vegetative cover (number of plants) and
bio-diversity (number of different species) on the protected and control areas of Khagagh Poin and
Siakhar Togai. The assessment was carried out simultaneously in
both protected and control areas by a team of CRS staff and
community members. The objective of the assessment was to
determine whether the protected areas benefited in terms of
vegetative cover and bio-diversity over the control areas while also
measuring any changes since the 2010 assessment of the two
pasture sites.
Control Area: For the purpose of comparison, a control site was
selected having similar areas, size, aspect and land-use. The area
selected as control is an independent micro-catchment adjoining the
protected area. A total of 40 sample plots were selected, with 10
from both the protected and control areas in each pasture site.
Sampling: In order to uniformly cover the entire area (different aspects of lower and upper
elevations and gully), a grid was overlaid on Google Earth maps and used as reference in the field
to select the sample plots. Within each section of the grid, the ring-toss method was used to
identify the location for the sample plot. A three-square
metre plot was measured around the ring-toss site. The
different plant species in each plot were identified and
counted with help of community members. Each of the
species observed was photographed for the purpose of
developing a bio-diversity data-base. The GPS
coordinates for each sample plot were recorded and
subsequently transferred to Google Earth.
Vegetative Coverage of Plants: The protected areas recorded a significant increase of 56% in the
total number of plants over the control areas. The table below demonstrates that the protected areas
had an average of 34.3 more plants in each three-square meter area.
Table 1. Vegetative Coverage of Plants
Site
Average # of Plants per Plot Average
Difference
Average %
ChangeProtected Area Control Area
Siakhar Togai 84.7 Plants 56.6 Plants 28.1 Plants 50%
Khagagh Poin 106.3 Plants 65.8 Plants 40.5 Plants 62%
Total 95.5 Plants 61.2 Plants 34.3 Plants 56%
40 Samples, July 2011, Khagagh Poin & Siakhar Togai Communities, Sare Ahangaran Watershed
Grid for sampling Conservation Area
Delineating Ring Toss Sample Area

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Bio-Diversity of Plants: The protected area of Khagagh Poin also revealed a change in the number
of species, increasing by 88% or 4.3 additional species per sample plot. In Siakhar Togai, the bio-
diversity change was minimal due to a difference in elevation as well as less grazing pressures on
the control area.
Table 2. Bio-Diversity of Plants
Site
Average # of Species per Plot Average
Difference
Average %
ChangeProtected Area Control Area
Siakhar Togai 5.1 Species 5.0 Species .1 Species 2%
Khagagh Poin 9.2 Species 4.9 Species 4.3 Species 88%
Total 7.2 Species 5.0 Species 2.2 Species 44%
40 Samples, July 2011, Khagagh Poin & Siakhar Togai Communities, Sare Ahangaran Watershed
Indicator species: In order to monitor the usefulness of the vegetation for the community, a few
species were selected which are commonly used for fuel and fodder. The population of these
species was counted and compared for conservation
and control areas. Similarly, the population of
Agropyron afghanicum (kharkuda) which is of no use
to the community was also monitored.
In the conservation area, indicator fuel and fodder
species recorded an increase of 29.9% and 106.3%
over the control area. Fodder species are herbaceous
as compared to thorny fuel species and the significant
increase in their numbers indicates that the
conservation measures are able to create a favourable
environment for them to multiply. The population of
Agropyron afghanicum marginally decreased by around 3% in the protected areas and the
community will probably need to physically uproot the plants to make way for the more useful
species for fuel and fodder.
Table 3: Value of Plant Coverage
Plant Use
Average # of Plants per Plot Average
Difference
Average %
ChangeProtected Area Control Area
Fuel 104.7 Plants 80.6 Plants 24.1 Plants 29.9%
Fodder 75.7 Plants 36.7 Plants 39.0 Plants 106.3%
Total Useful Plants 88.9 Plants 54.4 Plants 34.5 Plants 63%
Less Useful Plants 13.2 Plants 13.6 Plants -0.4 Plants -3%
40 Samples, July 2011, Khagagh Poin Community, Sare Ahangaran Watershed
Key Findings:
The protected area recorded a 56% increase in vegetative cover over the control area. This can be
attributed primarily to the successful protection by the community which allowed the vegetation to
thrive undisturbed. In 2010, an equivalent assessment revealed a 36% increase in vegetative
coverage. Since most of the SWC measures were implemented before the vegetative growth

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season of 2011, the 20% increase between the two assessments can be attributed in part to these
measures.
There was an 88% increase in bio-diversity in Khagagh Poin between the protected and control
areas. In the protected area, the 10 assessment samples revealed 30 different species, representing a
large increase in bio-diversity. The insignificant change in Siakhar Togai can be explained in part
by the lower elevation. This causes the snow to melt sooner and the land to dry more quickly. The
number of species recorded is likely to have been higher if the assessment was conducted during
early summer (May) when the vegetation was in the growth phase. Many of the soft-stemmed
plant species having short life cycle would have disappeared by July. The earthen bunds and
trenches which capture snow and extend the melting period should contribute substantially to this
early drying.
The protected area recorded a 39.5% increase in number of Artemesia plants over control area. This
is the predominant plant species in both areas (approximately 50% of the total vegetation) and is
the main fuel and fodder source for the community. Artemesia is a hardy species with a deep and
woody root system. When the entire bush is uprooted it leaves the soil vulnerable to erosion by
wind and water.
Table 4: Artemesia Plant Coverage
Site
Total # of Artemesia Plants
Difference % ChangeProtected Area Control Area
Siakhar Togai 527 327 200 61.2%
Khakagh Poin 380 323 57 17.6%
Total 907 650 257 39.5%
1,557 recorded Artemesia = 49.7% of total recorded plants (3,134)
40 Samples, July 2011, Khagagh Poin Community, Sare Ahangaran Watershed
While the population of Artemesia increased, the population of Agropyron Afghanicum slightly
decreased in the protected areas. A good indicator of degraded and overused pastures in Bamyan is
the prevalence of Agropyron Afghanicum or donkey grass which is an erosion-permitting plant with
no value either for fuel or fodder. Not surprisingly, this was the dominant vegetation (47%) found
in the control areas in the 2010 assessment. While some of the reduction can be attributed to the
plants being uprooted during the implementation of SWC measures, increased competition from
Artemesia and other species may also have reduced its spread in the protected area.
Significant difference was observed in the samples taken in the main gullies. In the protected area
where gully plugs were constructed during fall 2009, there was good vegetative growth as
compared to the untreated gully in the control area – the most significant being development of
extensive ground cover of small grasses.
Growth of all species in the protected area was observed to be much more healthy and vigorous as
compared to the control areas. Many of the plants still had green leaves and seeds, while plants in
the other areas had already turned brown and shed their seeds.

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Conclusion:
The protected areas in Khagagh Poin and Siakhar Togai have benefited over the control areas in
terms of increased vegetative cover and bio-diversity. This can be directly attributed to the
successful protection measures implemented by the communities. However, a comparison of the
2010 and 2011 assessments reveals that the SWC measures implemented by the communities are
also beginning to contribute to a substantial increase in vegetative coverage and bio-diversity.
Chart 1: Comparison of 2010 & 2011 Assessment Finding
While CRS staff worked with local community members to demarcate sample areas and identify
plant species they used the opportunity to discuss the reason behind the observed changes. As this
discussion continues, CRS will work with the community to develop a management plan and
system to sustain the increases in vegetative cover and bio-diversity while also sustainably
benefiting from their economic value.
Increase in Bio-Diversity
Increase in Vegetative Cover
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2010 - Change in Protected
Area over Control Area 2011 - Change in Protected
Area over Control Area

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Annex 1: Sare Ahangaran Watershed Area
Annex 2: Bio-Diversity Assessment Samples
*Sample Points in Khakagh Poin *Sample Points in Siakhar Togai
Annex 3: Summary of 2010 Assessments of Khakagh Poin & Siakhar Togai Pasture Lands
Indicators
Protected Control
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Plants 30 34 57 89 84 52 45 56 136 66 70 67 28 24 103 73 57 68 41 39 15 28 43 63
Species 3 3 5 6 6 5 5 3 5 5 9 10 5 5 4 6 6 5 3 6 2 4 4 5
Useful 30 34 57 89 84 52 45 56 136 66 51 66 28 24 103 73 57 65 41 17 15 28 20 37
Vegetative Density Biodiversity Useful Vegetative Cover
Total Plants Treated Area 786 Total Species Treated 65 Useful Plants Treated 766
Total Plants Control Area 582 Total Species Control 55 Useful Plants Control 508
Difference 204 Difference 10 Difference 258
Percent Increase 35% Percent Increase 18% Percent Increase 51%

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Annex 4: Assessment Samples for Khakagh Poin Conservation and Control Areas – July 2011
No Local Name
Used by the
community
Khakagh Conservation Area – Sample Plots* Khakagh Control Area – Sample Plots*
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Buta/ Bushes Fuel 16 15 29 18 12 45 44 67 71 63 11 15 14 101 8 25 52 50 5 42
2 Tawli khar Fuel 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Ghuzba Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Khar mosh Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 3
5 Bor Buta Fuel 0 3 0 10 7 0 14 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
6 Dig Shoiak Fuel 2 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Narmak ghuzba Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Khersk Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
9 Khar aho Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Kerpea Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
11 Sabz Gul Fodder 6 0 2 1 0 6 31 7 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Qiaq Fodder 0 6 17 25 2 20 15 23 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4
13 Reshqa Alaf Fodder 0 0 0 48 0 41 0 0 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
14 Shirin koda Fodder 5 1 18 4 5 3 2 0 2 2 0 2 0 5 6 4 5 0 0 0
15 Safid khar Fodder 15 2 5 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Bandak Alaf Fodder 4 2 5 4 16 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
17 Narmak Bar Fodder 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 Yela Rang Fodder 0 2 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 Gosh-e Khar Fodder 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 Qoloni Fodder 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 10
21 Ghigho Fodder 0 0 0 12 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 Qoshak Aho Fodder 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 Pashmak khar Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 0 19
24 Gosh Arghali Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
25 Naklak Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 Nakhtak Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
27 Boz bash Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 2 0
28 Kakrak Fuel & Fodder 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 Awghoka Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 Kharkuda Not Used 2 3 9 20 9 23 25 3 30 8 19 7 16 2 1 12 16 16 35 12
Total # of Plants per Plot 59 35 86 151 71 153 156 117 147 88 40 35 64 114 19 48 74 123 51 90
Total / Average # of Plants Total # of plants is 1,063. Average per plot is 106.3 Total # of plants is 658. Average per plot is 65.8
Total # of Species per Plot 10 9 8 12 11 10 8 8 8 8 4 7 4 4 6 4 4 4 6 6
Average # of Species 9.2 Species per plot 4.9 Species per Plot
Total # of Useful Plants per Plot 57 32 77 131 62 130 131 114 117 80 21 28 48 112 18 36 58 107 16 78
Average # of Useful Plants 93.1 Useful Plants per plot 52.2 Useful Plants per Plot

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Annex 5: Assessment Samples for Khakagh Poin Conservation and Control Areas – July 2011
No Local Name
Used by the
community
Protected Area – Sample Plots* Control Area – Sample Plots*
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Buta/ Bushes Fuel 129 50 18 5 30 21 32 133 103 6 14 77 25 27 29 9 17 53 53 23
2 Bor Bota Fuel 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 7 0 0 0 0 0
3 Botrangho Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Khar koda Fuel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0
5 Shirin koda Fodder 3 3 3 37 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 11 12 0 0 1 6 0
6 Oshlo Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Safid Bota Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Bandak Alaf Fodder 0 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
9 Boz Bash Fodder 0 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Khar Aho Fodder 0 1 12 7 17 23 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Baba Pish Fodder 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Dig shoy Fodder 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Rishqa Kohi Fodder 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Qoloni Fodder 0 0 0 11 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Chaspak alaf Fodder 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Bandak Alaf Fodder 0 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Sabz gul Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 Sorkhar Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 20 7 0
19 Qiaq Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 7 0 0
20 Subz gul Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
21 Nurmak oil Fodder 0 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
22 Ghozba Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 7 6 5 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0
23 Qowgh Bota Fuel & Fodder 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 0
24 Shalak Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 0 0 2 3 0 0
25 Pashmak Khar Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 20 0 0 0 0 0
26 subz bota Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
27 Khairo Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
28 Kakrak Bota Fuel & Fodder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
Total # of Plants per Plot 133 140 41 81 65 65 54 138 105 25 17 81 33 109 74 18 24 88 99 23
Average # of Plants 85.6 Average 56.6 Average
Total # of Species per Plot 3 6 6 9 7 7 6 2 2 3 4 3 5 8 7 6 4 6 6 1
Average # of Species 5.1 Average 5 Average

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