Deforestation in KP enhancing risk of flooding

Islamabad: Experts at a seminar underscored increased risk of flooding and other natural catastrophes due to loss of massive tree cover at the hands of timber mafia in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa.

The seminar on “Walking into disaster: massive illegal deforestation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” was jointly organised here by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN).

Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, SDPI, said that the climate change impacts will be felt in the provinces and we must unite on behalf of communities for their own wellbeing. Forests, he said, are an integral part of the discourse on climate change as it has its impacts on cross-sectoral areas from sea level rise to heatwaves and forest fires.

He said that Pakistan is a forest deficient country due to its soil and less rainfall. The model of Iran for conservation of lakes, wetlands and water bodies which is appreciable as it is a water deficient country, should be replicated for forest conservation, he added.

Dr Adil Zareef, Convener, SCN, said the situation is disturbing in newly merged and settled districts due to increased tree cutting leaving the lush green forests denuded and future of generations compromised. He said forest is a devolved subject after the 18th Amendment but it is a transboundary issue affecting locally, regionally and internationally as the country is ranked fifth most vulnerable at the Global Climate Index.

He added that the forum intended to garner workable suggestions from this seminar to pass it on to the relevant forums. He warned that deforestation can cause serious consequences during flooding.

Mohammad Rafiq, former Country Head, IUCN, regretted that the deforestation increased backed by the timber mafia deeply aligned with forest service. However, the benefits did not reach to the forest owners as the local masses cannot access to the decision-making forums which gives room to the contractors (timber mafia) to exploit the forests.

He added that a complete independent review of the forest service and management along with a coherent policy and legal framework and a hundred-year vision for forest management should be done. Moreover, an irreversible policy decision to stop commercialisation of state forest forever should be taken as forests standing are more valuable then forest cut, he added.

Former Senator Afrasiab Khattak, President, Rooshan Democratic Institute, said the problem in KP is that tribal expansion has been overextended into our areas. “We had a very difficult geography that put us at the receiving end of the Russia-British colonial era contestation and also the region has been ravaged by global war on terror,” he added. He said the prolonged domination of feudal gentry owning the land in KP impacted the forest sector as well who wanted to become capitalistic elites through shortcuts. The former Senator added that it is imperative to sensitise masses as it's a matter of survival.

Arshad Samad Khan, Provincial Coordinator, World Bank, said climate change is directly impacting our livelihoods and sustainability, whereas there is need to probe the nexus between climate change-deforestation and national security.