Environmental officials in Badakhshan say recent studies of natural glaciers in Wakhan indicate they have been shrinking at an unusually rapid rate, raising concern about Afghanistan’s long-term water resources.
Ziaulhaq Kamran, director of natural heritage at Badakhshan’s Environmental Protection Department, told TOLOnews that climate change and rising temperatures were major drivers of glacier loss. He said continued melting could eventually reduce water resources and affect flows feeding the Amu River.
Environmental specialists cited by TOLOnews said accelerated melting can increase river flows in the short term but may reduce water availability over time, with consequences for drought, agriculture and livelihoods. Provincial environmental officials put Afghanistan’s number of natural glaciers at about 4,000 and said more than 90% are in Wakhan. Margalla News has not independently counted those glaciers.