ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 354

Methodology
The methodology suitable for the research question at hand is the qualitative method. Intensive
literature review has been carried out to identify two sets of data:
1. Strengths and weaknesses of the current practices in Bamiyan. This part of literature review
helped identifying potential areas of improvement and setting priorities.
2. Post-conflict sustainable development strategies suggested by international organizations,
such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity (GERES), World Health Organization (WHO), and the United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Division for Sustainable Development (DSD).
Based on these two sets, a sustainability package for Bamiyan city is proposed. The study is divided into three sections: (1) the environmental, economic, and social aspects of Afghanistan in
general, and Bamiyan specifically, will be assessed; (2) the current attempts for sustainable development in the study area will be reviewed; and (3) a number of recommendations and strategies
for sustainable development will be discussed.

Literature Review of the Challenges
Literature review of the challenges that are facing sustainable development in both, Afghanistan
in general and in Bamiyan city more specifically was conducted. It is worth mentioning that it is
difficult to classify the issues into categories, since they are strongly intertwined, and each problem affects the others. Although the research aims at focusing on the case of Bamiyan city, it is of
a great importance to understand the general situation in Afghanistan as a country first. It was
found that the main issues in Afghanistan are the following:
Water
Afghanistan is a deserted land, where the only source of water is rivers that depend on snow melt
and rain at the Hindu Kush Mountains. The area have witnessed years of drought that has shaken
the water security. Moreover, there’s a high level of water pollution, lack of sanitation and poor
waste management strategies that have made this problem worse with time. (UNEP 2009).
Deforestation
Throughout the history of Afghanistan, forests covered around 5% of the land. However, due to
many factor, such as illegal logging and dependence on timber for heating purposes, the percentage dropped to 2%. According to UNEP, if no measures are taken to prevent this from happening,
the forests will disappear from Afghanistan in few decades. (UNEP 2009)
Pollution
During the past decade, Afghanistan witnessed an explosive population growth in urban center.
The years of conflict and the extreme poverty pushed people to move from rural areas to the
urban centers. Also, people who fled away from cities during wartime started returning. This has
caused pressure on the already insufficient solid waste disposal facilities. (UNEP 2009). A recent
study (2012) investigated Afghanistan residents’ exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
(PAH) by testing urine samples from 42 adults and 13 children. Results of the investigation shows
that people living in rural areas in Afghanistan are at risk of increased PAH exposure, mainly due
to the use of open fire for heating and cooking purposes.

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ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy