GARDEZ, Afghanistan, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The provincial government in Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province has deployed a 100-person forest conservation unit to prevent deforestation in the mountainous region, it announced on Thursday.
"The aim of the formation of the unit is to protect the forests, ensure their survival and provide environmental conservation services to the citizens, promote tourism while producing forest harvests," the provincial government said on social media.
In October, the Taliban-led caretaker government banned illegally cutting trees in forests to prevent deforestation.
The decision was made amid reports of excessive cutting of trees and selling timbers illegally, and smuggling them outside Afghanistan. ■