The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979. During the next 23 years, the war between the Mujahideen Resistance and the Soviet forces, the ensuing civil war, and eventual take over by the Taliban caused enormous harm to the natural resources of Afghanistan. In 2003, the USDA Forest Service (USFS) was asked by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service to provide technical assistance to the Afghan Government to rehabilitate tree seedling nurseries. The past 7 years have seen severe drought that has significantly reduced agricultural production. The work of the USFS National Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources has been. to help the Afghan government rebuild their natural resources.