Beyond ten billion trees

In a pioneering effort to combat climate change, preserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has emerged as a key player in Pakistan’s green transformation.

Through an array of ground-breaking initiatives, including the successful completion of the Billion Tree Afforestation Project, significant contributions to the national 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (10BTTP) and several complementary environmental projects, the KP government is spearheading a large-scale ecological revival while simultaneously empowering communities across the province.

Building on the success of the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) in KP, the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project (10BTTP) was launched in 2019 as a national flagship initiative focused on restoring degraded forest ecosystems and enhancing forest cover. The programme has yielded impressive outcomes including reforestation on 68,000 hectares, establishing 6,130 assisted natural regeneration sites, and direct sowing over 7,185 hectares. Soil conservation interventions span 2,728 hectares, and over 152 million free seedlings have been distributed to encourage private planting.

The programme contributes to biodiversity conservation and improved watershed management while simultaneously generating sustainable employment for thousands, including rural women, youth, and daily wage labourers. It also engages schools, civil society and partner organisations to build environmental awareness and promote stewardship. In addition to contributing to climate resilience and improved biodiversity, the 10BTTP supports sustainable livelihoods, strengthens community-based resource management, and enhances the socio-economic well-being of forest-dependent populations.

The 10BTTP builds upon the impressive legacy of its predecessor, the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP), whose impacts extended far beyond increasing forest cover. By creating over 13,000 private nurseries and engaging rural communities, particularly women and youth, the BTAP has generated thousands of green jobs. Local incomes have grown, skills have improved, and environmental awareness has deepened.

These public-private partnerships have become a cornerstone of KP’s reforestation success, linking ecological restoration with economic opportunity. BTAP successfully restored and replanted trees over 350,000 hectares of degraded forest landscapes, surpassing its Bonn Challenge commitment. This large-scale afforestation has contributed to carbon sequestration, improved biodiversity, and reinforced riparian embankments in critical catchment areas like the Indus, Kunhar and Swat rivers.

In recognition of these achievements, Inger Andersen, then director-general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), remarked in 2017: “IUCN congratulates the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on reaching this momentous milestone. The BTAP initiative is a true conservation success story, one that further demonstrates Pakistan’s leadership role in the international restoration effort and continued commitment to the Bonn Challenge.”

One striking example of environmental transformation is Heroshah in Malakand, where barren hills have been turned into lush forests. In 2015–16, around 16,000 labourers reforested over 800 hectares, improving the area’s natural beauty, controlling erosion, reducing flood risks, increasing rainfall and offering economic benefits by reducing dependence on firewood.

Innovation lies at the heart of KP’s green strategy. The Forest Department has set up Forest Knowledge Parks in southern districts – hubs that combine conservation, education and income generation. These parks have delivered concrete results: 85 hectares of soil conservation, 40 hectares of sowing, 200 cubic meters of gabion structures, and 11 kilometres of avenue plantations. They also feature demonstration orchards, cactus gardens, and Non-Timber Forest Product plots across eight hectares.

Livelihood initiatives include 50 beehives, 26,000 fish farming units and wildlife enclosures, promoting biodiversity and sustainable income. Other features include bird aviaries, a greenhouse, a digital weather station and four kilometres of live hedge fencing.

These efforts benefit local communities, youth, researchers, and forestry professionals, enhancing climate resilience and environmental services. Forest Knowledge Parks are designed as centres for applied research and climate-smart practices, contributing to long-term conservation and sustainable development.

In the merged districts, the Integrated Development Forestry Sector Project under the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) is bridging ecological and development goals. The project aims to enhance forest cover and promote sustainable natural resource management in the merged districts by addressing community needs for timber, firewood, grazing and medicinal plants. Its objectives include afforestation on 6,000 hectares, promotion of NTFPs, staff capacity building, and eco-tourism development. The beneficiaries include local communities, smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and forest-dependent households who benefit from improved livelihoods, climate resilience, and access to forest resources.

Since its inception, the project has achieved plantation on 1,888 hectares, developed 5.12 hectares of nurseries, and procured 775,000 plants. Dry afforestation through trenches and hillside ditches has been carried out on 55 hectares, alongside 15 hectares of stream bank stabilisation and 428 cubic meters of gabion structures. Avenue plantations span 114 km, while 297 hectares have been managed under rotational grazing. Additional interventions include the creation of water ponds, constructing sheds and salting points, land acquisitions, establishing check posts, and comprehensive baseline surveys. These efforts contribute significantly to ecosystem restoration and socio-economic uplift in the merged areas.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department continues its commitment to long-term sustainability with its Forest Knowledge Parks and Ten Billion Trees Afforestation Project, both of which aim to scale up forest-based solutions to climate and livelihood challenges. These projects also strengthen institutional capacity and foster partnerships with civil society and educational institutions to promote a culture of environmental stewardship. With an investment of over Rs27.6 billion in the 10BTTP alone and timelines stretching to 2028, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is positioning itself as a model for climate resilience and sustainable forestry in Pakistan.

As climate change accelerates and environmental degradation poses growing threats, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's multifaceted initiatives stand as a testament to the power of strategic planning, community engagement, and unwavering commitment to a greener future.

The writer is the information adviser to the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.