Afghanistan is a landlocked, mountainous country situated in Central Asia. It has significant natural resources, yet very limited land and water resources. The economy is predominantly an agricultural economy, where agriculture is practiced largely on a subsistence basis. About 80 percent of Afghans live in rural areas. Forest depends on the government and the user right belongs to the public. Afghanistan has approximately 1.78 million ha of forest and shrubs accounting for about 2.8 percent of the total land area.

Many areas in Afghanistan are facing severe deforestation and land degradation caused by unsustainable land-use practices. Further, sparse vegetation cover and mountainous terrain result in rapid rainwater runoff contributing to flooding and erosion, along with being vulnerable to disaster events such as earthquakes, flooding and droughts. Exposure to such events and impacts of climate change has adversely impacted the communities and their livelihoods, further exacerbating the socio-economic vulnerability of rural Afghan communities.