Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries affected by climate change and faces severe challenges due to increasing heatwaves and widespread deforestation. Numerous tree planting campaigns have been launched across the country but these efforts are largely insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.
According to a report by Mehfooz Pakistan, a safety organization, an aggressive tree plantation to promote environmental conservation and combat climate change. Pakistan ranked eighth among countries most affected by extreme weather events in 20002019, and in August 2022, suffered one of the worst floods which inundated onethird of the country.
The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are indicative of escalating climate risks. These floods were preceded by a severe heat wave in 2015 which affected Karachi. In 2018, the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh witnessed severe droughts in arid areas. Cities such as Karachi and Lahore have each reached megacity status and continue to grow. It is essential to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation in urban
Tree planting is a crucial tool in managing climate challenges, improving public health, and protecting the environment. Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate threats underscores the urgent need for intensified and consistent tree plantation initiatives.
According to the Global Forest Watch, Pakistan had 648,000 hectares of tree cover in 2010, accounting for 0.74% of its land area. However, by 2023, the country lost 148 hectares of tree cover. Since 2001, Pakistan has lost 9,940 hectares of tree cover, representing a 1% decrease since 2000. Deforestation, driven largely by human activities, has been a major issue, with 4.1% of tree cover loss occurring in areas affected by such activities. Forest fires, primarily caused by human negligence, are the leading driver of deforestation in Pakistan. These fires, often exacerbated by heatwaves, have become increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change and human negligence.
In Karachi, tree plantation has been a part of political formation. In 2009 the government began a monocultural mass planting of Conocarpus erectus, a coastal wetland tree native to the Americas. Conocarpus is salt, heat, and suntolerant, fastgrowing, and cheap to cultivate on a large scale.
Horticultural planners advised that a range of exotic and native trees, such as neem, gulmohar, and cypress would be most suitable. Instead of alleviating the heatwave situation, the city’s several million conocarpus made the crisis worse, lowered the groundwater level and damaged sewerage lines.
The tree’s pollen was a public health threat since it exacerbates asthma and causes respiratory problems. The conocarpus was banned in 2016 in favour of a wider mix of species and the authorities still are waging an allout war.
The city government has now said that local species of trees will be planted. However, the aspirations for urban greenery require large amounts of water. Pakistan is highly waterstressed and the situation is worse in Karachi. Prioritizing largescale tree plantation is more than just a conservation initiative but rather a holistic approach to tackling Pakistan’s environmental, social, and economic issues.
This strategy will not only help in disaster resilience and public health improvement but also contribute to energy conservation and sustainable development. Pakistan can forge a path towards a greener, healthier, and more prosperous future for all its citizens.
