Forest cover

When we drink a glass of water, write in a notebook, take medicine for a fever or build a house, we do not always make the connection with forests. And yet, these and many other aspects of our lives are linked to forests in one way or another. Forests play an important role in providing shelter as over two billion people rely on forests. Pakistan covers an area of 87.98 million ha; this includes 4.57 million ha of forests, constituting 5.2 percent of the total land area.

As a source of food, shelter, water, fuel and security there is a greater need to preserve our forests. Additionally, forests are also a source of jobs for 13 million people, which is a major reason to think about the preservation of forests. The government of Pakistan has put forward a goal to plant more than 10 billion trees. This action will help minimize global warming and deforestation.

Razi Rehman

Karachi