Barren Chandan Garhi turns greener with afforestation under BTAP

PESHAWAR: It was heartbreaking to see young saplings burnt at the plantation site on the semi-arid, rugged landscape of Chandan Garhi some 17 kilometers south of here. However, it was encouraging at the same time that the Forest Department officials were committed against all odds to not only replace the damaged plants but also complete the target of planting 2.5 million trees at this site by April 2017. 

During a visit to Chandan Garhi, one saw that the nearly one million plants planted so far have almost changed the shape of the plateau-like wide dry land. This would be the largest man-made forest of the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) started by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2014.

The young saplings planted in lines give a pleasant look on this driest terrain. Plantation already has been made on 2,000 acres of the rough and tough land while the remaining 5,000 acres would be covered by green plants by the end of the project. Out of the Rs50m allocated for the work done so far, Rs28 million have been spent.

The top officials of Forest Department arranged a visit to Chandan Garhi plantation site. Special secretary forest, Ziaul Haq, additional secretary Zariful Maani, chief conservator forest Sadiq Khattak, conservator south circle Shafqat Muneer were among the visiting officials.

The forest is being grown with the support of the local community that has provided the land to the department. The local people are also hired for planting the trees, watering them and serving as guards.

“It won’t be wrong to say that the project has created job opportunities for the local population, which would also be the owner of the forest once the afforestation is completed,” said Zariful Maani.

Growing forest on a land that receives minimum rainfall and has no alternative arrangement of water isn’t an easy job. The department by working hard has made it possible by bringing water in tankers from at least 10 kilometers away. 

“The saplings are watered at least once a month, which is not enough on this water thirsty land,” said Shafqat Muneer. It is due to the scarcity of water in the area and the limited resources that plants of eucalyptus (Laachi), Kikar, Palosa and Dodonia have been planted mostly on the site.