KARACHI: When whole world is set to observe the International Day of Forests on upcoming 21st March, Pakistan is still short of 22.9 percent forest cover, according to a report.
The international forest cover standard is as: any country in the world should have at least 28 percent of its total land under its forest cover. But, according to latest Pakistan’s Economic Survey, Pakistan is maintaining only 5.01 percent area (4.786 million hectares) under its forest cover, out of which 3.44 million hectares forests exist on state-owned lands and remaining on communal and private lands.
Though the forestry having meager share of 2.1 percent in agriculture, it provides foundations of life on earth through ecological function, regulates the climate and water resources and serves as habitat for plants and animals.
The meager forest cover area due to growing population, and dependence on the natural resources coupled with deforestation have rendered the country one of the most vulnerable to climate change effects. As a result, natural resources are under tremendous pressure owing to change of land use and habitat destruction and consumption of fuel wood and timber extraction. Such pressures have rendered most of the forests of poor and medium density in need of drastic restocking on war footing.
Plantation is the most appealing strategy to expand forest cover area in the country. Forestation will increase the absorption capacity of greenhouse gases, regulate water flows and protect coastal communities from extreme events and sea level rise. In addition, they provide migrating plant and animal species routes to resilient habitats. In Pakistan, the existing meager forest resources being crucial to environmental stability, which appeal for serious interventions supported with commitment for adequate financial flows to improve and enhance the overall forestry, wildlife and biodiversity sector.
According to the Global Forest Goals Report 2021, the world had been making progress in key areas, such as increasing the global forest area through afforestation and restoration. Many regions, in particular, Asia, Europe and Oceania, appear to be on track to reach one of the key targets of the Global Forest Goals – increasing forest area by three percent by 2030. However, these advances are being threatened by the overall worsening state of our natural environment, including land degradation, pests and invasive species, fires, storms, and droughts. Increasing rural poverty, unemployment and population growth, combined with greater competition for land with other sectors, including agriculture and urbanization, are also putting growing pressure on forests.
Healthy forests are vital for all aspects of a healthy planet, from livelihoods and nutrition to biodiversity and the environment. By managing all types of forests in a sustainable way, we can ensure that they continue to supply goods and services now and for future generations.
According to a WWF report, Pakistan is a forest poor country where less than 6 per cent of total area is under forests. Since most of area falls in arid and semi-arid region, low precipitation naturally deters the growth of forests. Every year thousands of hectares of forest is destroyed, making way for various human activities. In areas where the forest remains, its richness and health is declining.
Population boom coupled with poverty and lack of awareness has led to illegal and unsustainable logging, overharvesting of wood for fuel and charcoal, and increased small-scale farming that continues to reduce the forest cover of Pakistan.
Forest fires, natural hazards along with pests and diseases further contribute to the declining rate. All this threatens the survival of countless species, fuels climate change, jeopardizes people’s livelihoods and undermines the vital services that forests provide. ‘The value of forests cannot be underestimated. From carbon storage to cultural diversity, forests impact us in more ways than we can imagine’.
Pakistan is a forest poor country where less than 6 per cent of total area is under forests. Since most of area falls in arid and semi-arid region, low precipitation naturally deters the growth of forests.
Every year thousands of hectares of forest is destroyed, making way for various human activities. In areas where the forest remains, its richness and health is declining.
Population boom coupled with poverty and lack of awareness has led to illegal and unsustainable logging, overharvesting of wood for fuel and charcoal, and increased small-scale farming that continues to reduce the forest cover of Pakistan.
Forest fires, natural hazards along with pests and diseases further contribute to the declining rate. All this threatens the survival of countless species, fuels climate change, jeopardizes people’s livelihoods and undermines the vital services that forests provide.
‘The value of forests cannot be underestimated. From carbon storage to cultural diversity, forests impact us in more ways than we can imagine’
We want to see a world where forests are properly valued – not just for the wood they supply, but for the many other benefits they provide for people and nature. And we know it’s possible. Forest is a complex ecosystem, a biological system with distinct and myriad interrelationships with the living and nonliving parts of the environment.
Along with providing timber, fuelwood and fodder, it also provides ecosystem services, which are essentially goods and services that are vital to human health and livelihood. Many of these services like scenic landscape, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, watershed services, and wildlife habitat are viewed as public goods that provide free benefits to the society. However, unsustainable utilization of these public goods and services causes loss of forests and environmental degradation.
With better protection, management and planning we can continue to benefit from forests, without damaging the environment. We can even go further, by replanting and restoring forests that have been destroyed or degraded, which can help combat climate, extend and reconnect wildlife habitats, and reduce problems like flooding and erosion.