LSO’s Experiences in Agriculture and Environmental Protection: LSO has been implementing a number of donors funded and self-funded projects in agriculture and environmental protection sector since 2011. Below is the list of projects LSO has implemented:

1- Plantation of Trees Completed by LSO and Local People: LSO completed this project through mobilizing volunteer community people in Zarghab, Geroy Bom and Sare Saj villages of Shahristan district, Daikundi province in 2013. The project purpose was to enhance the green coverage and rangeland of targeted communities through plantation of trees in high lands and hills. The project achievement are:

1. Planted and grown 10,000 almond trees out of which 6,540 plants survived in a land of 10 hectares that enhanced green coverage and produced good income for the surrounding communities,
2. Rehabilitated and enhanced absorption capacity and prevention of erosion of soil from raining/ spring water in 10-hectare land on the areas in which 10,000 almonds planted; in turn, it potentially reduced possibility of flood, landslide and avalanche which in the past had negative effects on people’s life during winter and spring seasons,
3. Aside from environmental benefits of plantation, the areas green coverage built on the beauty of landscape of the targeted communities which become safe home for both its human inhabitants and wild life.

2-Construction of Road Project in Mountainous and Hard to Reach Areas: This project was completed with LSO core funding of AFN 480,000 and total 200 workers per day in kind-contribution of community from Uzmok (Zardsang, Shalige and Amij villages) of Shahristan District continuing to the Center of Daikundi Province, Nili, from January 2012 to 31^st December 2012. The purpose of project was to connect the targeted communities to center of province to access public transportation and government services because previously there was no road between these villages and Nili.  The project results are:

1. Construction of 15 Km road that connects five hard to reach villages with Nili, the capital of Daikundi province,
2. Reduce the transportation cost of local shopkeepers, farmers and businesses to reach to provincial market through a short cut road.

3-Rehabilitation of Degraded Land and Livelihood Improvement by Planting Indigenous Wild Almond and Wild Cherry Species with funding from UNDP GEF SGP from (Jun, 2014 to Jun, 2016).  The project was implemented in five villages of Waras District – Bamyan Province, with a total budget of 49,500 USD from June 2014 to Jun 2016. The project aims to improve forestry, green coverage and livelihood of people by enhancing awareness of communities on benefits of forestry and convincing community for protection of forests, mobilized community for extension of forestry within the deserts to ensure avoidance of floods and training community on managing properly natural resources for environment protection by planting various kind of none fruit plants.

The project result:

1. Established and facilitated the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Committee from youth and communities for protection of natural resources in Waras district, Bamyan province,
2. Constructed 300 watersheds in 10 hectares of land where 75 KG wild almond and cherry seeds planted and grown in the areas, out of which, 80 percent of plantation survived next years,
3. Strengthened the biodiversity of areas and increased spring water and underground water resource, and reduction of soil erosion that resulted in protection from land degradation and flash floods and changed climate of areas positively in Waras District, Bamyan province,
4. Rehabilitated 10 hectares of land with wild almond and cherry seeds in five targeted villages to 500 households with population of 3,000 individuals (1700 female and 1300 male).
5. 3000 wild plants (almonds and cherry) cultivated in 10 hectares land.
6. 300 watersheds excavated and managed.
7.  one batch of capacity building training held to increase working capacity of CDCs and NRM in the areas of land and forest management.
8. 3000 households including indigenous communities, women, local CDCs and district NRM in a remote district of Bamyan province, central highland region of Afghanistan,
9. 75 males’ workers earned income through daily wages working on cultivation and excavation,
10. 22 community members (18 males and 4 females) from CDCs and NRM benefited capacity building sessions.

4-The project being  “Northern Plateau Proposed Protected Area Landscape Management, Bamyan” with funding from UNDP GEF/SGP from (Mar, 15^th, 2017 to Jun, 15^th, 2018). LSO achieved following results:

• Improved capacity of 30 members of Community Development Councils (CDCs) through 3-day training workshop on landscape management, forest management and biodiversity,
• Enhanced awareness of 590 individuals (310 females and 280 males) on wildlife management and biodiversity conservation,
• Enhanced youth engagement and established a community association, represented by key members of 24 community councils in two districts of Bamyan province,
• Construction of a ranger station in northern Band-e-Amir, Yakawlang district, Bamyan province.
• This project of LSO has been recognized by Energy Globe Award as a National Award Winner in Glasgow by Global Energy Award to Climate Summit COP 26 on 08^th November, 2021. https://www.energyglobe.info/national/winner/afghanistan.

5- Resilient Agriculture and Livelihood Initiative for Socio-Economic Empowerment (REALISE):   

The project was implemented in Bamyan province by LSO with funding from Action Aid Afghanistan from January 2019 to June, 2021.  The project’s aim is to increase residents’ resilience to shock and seasonal constraints for their food and livelihood security. To reach this end the project supported 6599 (2849 male & 3750 female) across 35 villages in the form of beekeeping, para-vets, demo-farms, seed production, vocational training, value chain development and other kind of training. The project resulted in:

1. The women roles (35 Self Help Groups & 35 Reflect Circles) in social affair and community development have been accepted and recognized by target communities in 35 villages; as result, the women groups successfully managed awareness sessions on women rights, child rights and disability inclusion in their communities. The Self Help Groups (SHG) established a loan system collecting the money for an investment in their localities in condition of return after a specific period.
2. 6599 individuals (women and men) have improved their livelihood and nutrition security through supported agricultural infrastructures, seed support and training support in their communities,
3. 53 women & 38 men of Women Headed Association (Potato growing association and beekeeping association) supported and improved a capacity to produce a significant portion of their family food and nutrition needs and market needs.
4. More than 180 members of SHG and RCs members have built capacity around tailoring and mobile repairing vocations through LSO, have produced an average income of AFN 15000/ month for their families.