Forests a must for controlling floods, droughts

LAHORE:‘Despite the afforestation efforts by the government, civil society organisations, and local communities, 11,000 hectares of forest cover are lost every year.

Major threats to forests in Pakistan include deforestation, wildfires, climate change and conversion of forest land into agriculture, commercial and housing schemes’. This was stated by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) in its press release issued on International Day of Forests 2025. It further said that protecting the forests in Pakistan requires a multi-faceted approach that brings together government institutes, conservation organisations, and local communities on one platform. WWF-Pakistan underscored the urgent need to protect and restore the country’s forests, which serve as a lifeline for biodiversity, support local livelihoods, and maintain the health of ecosystems.

Pakistan is a forest-poor country, with only five percent of the total area under forests. Since most of the area falls in arid and semi-arid regions, low precipitation naturally deters the growth of forests. Thousands of hectares of forest are destroyed yearly, making way for various human activities. In areas where the forest remains, its richness and health are declining due to multiple threats. The rising population, 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.

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan, remarked that forests provide a range of benefits to the environment, wildlife, and humans. They regulate the climate conditions and control floods and droughts while having social and economic benefits. We can improve the forest cover and support local economies with better planning, protection, and management of the forests. Replanting and restoring degraded or destroyed forests is essential to improve food security, combat climate change, reconnect wildlife habitats, and address issues such as flooding and soil erosion. ‘Conserving forests is, therefore, not just an environmental imperative but a social and economic necessity’, he urged.

In July 2024, WWF-Pakistan released a report that identified several locations along the Karachi coast where significant tracts of mangroves were cleared for housing schemes and commercial and industrial projects. The report also highlighted areas where mangrove landscapes were still under threat of massive deforestation. To stop mangrove destruction along the coastline of Karachi, the report proposed strict enforcement of laws and encouraged reforestation and natural regeneration programs. It warned that if preventive measures were not taken in time, existing mangrove areas could be removed or destroyed soon.

WWF-Pakistan is actively working to conserve and restore forest cover through various initiatives, including the Recharge Pakistan Programme, Engro Forest Restoration and Carbon Offset Project, Rung Do Pakistan, Integrated Water Resources Management in the Indus Basin, Agroforestry and Biodiversity Conservation Project, among others. By adopting sustainable forestry practices, WWF-Pakistan and its partners are working tirelessly to restore and protect these vital ecosystems. Efforts to build resilience against environmental threats in Pakistan include developing a Forest Fire Early Warning System and restoring over 9,000 hectares of forests through afforestation and reforestation projects.

This year’s theme, ‘Forests and Food,’ emphasises forests’ critical role in supporting food security, improving local livelihoods, and conserving biodiversity. Forests support our food systems directly and indirectly. They provide nuts, berries, mushrooms, honey, gum, edible herbs, and several medicinal plants. They also support livestock production, provide water for drinking and agriculture, regulate soil fertility, and protect agricultural land against floods and droughts.

WWF-Pakistan urges government agencies, civil society, businesses, and local communities to take collective action to conserve and protect forests, as they are essential for sustaining life on the earth.