Quietly, Japan working with Afghans transforms Afghanistan's Gamberi Desert and in the process restores social order in the region

"The key is old wisdom: installing Stone Pitching Slanting weir"

Mind-blowing terraforming projects

The project shown in the top two photographs took 9 years; the one shown in the bottom two took 5 years. That's not a typo:  five years.  

Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan helps transform once arid desert into lush paradise

by Scott Wilson

August 7, 2015

Rocket News 24

The Japanese Embassy in Afghanistan does a lot of work. You can read on their website about what they do, but here’s just a small sample:

• security
• mine-clearing
• technical training
• infrastructure assistance
• food transportation
• healthcare
• building schools
• humanitarian and technical assistance
• cultural preservation

Oh, and did we mention terraforming?

Together with the local population, the Japanese Embassy has worked hard for years, planting trees, irrigating fields, and turning what was once a desert into a lush landscape. 

[...]

Miracle in Gamberi Desert in Nangarhar: the Japanese assistance turned the desert into a green!

Before and After at Slampur [top two photos shown above]:

- Afghanistan community has potential power to restore itself by controlling the local river and utilizing water resource.

- Key is old wisdom: Installing Stone Pitching Slanting Weir in Kunar River to control river and achieve stable water intakes.

(Stone Pitching Slanting Weir is a traditional technology in Japan since 18th century.)

Current situation in the region:

- Increased agricultural products every year such as wheat, fruits etc.

- 800,000 trees, expected to increase more than 1,000,000 in near future.

- People returned to the villages in the region and working as farmers:

30,000 (2003)

150,000 (current).

- Revival of people's traditionally good morals; no fighting, no terrorism and no robbery!

This unbelievable transformation only took seven years

[...]

********