AJK president for conservation of forests to maintain natural ecosystems

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Tuesday urged the people to cooperate with the Forest Department for conservation of forests to maintain natural ecosystems.

“The Department of Forest is doing a good job on its part to conserve forests but their efforts will not produce desired results unless each of us contributes to the conservation of the existing forests and growth of new forests,” he underlined.

The AJK president made these remarks after a briefing given to him by Secretary Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries, Syed Zahoor-ul Hassan Gillani, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The president said AJK is famous for its beautiful green forests and moderate climate and emphasised that we will have to protect our forests in order to keep our region attractive to promote tourism and save the future of coming generations by maintaining the ecological balance.

He highlighted that forests are not only important to maintain the climate and natural environment but also a major source of abundant water resources we have. “The survival and sustainability of our water reservoirs are directly linked to the forests of the region,” he said and added, "Instead of relying on forest wood for cooking and heating, we need to focus on alternative sources of fuel and for this purpose the Forest Department, government agencies and social organisations can guide and help the people."

He said it is our earnest desire to see other parts of Pakistan like Azad Kashmir so that the environment of the country could be improved and the country could be protected from the effects of climate change.

Earlier in his briefing, Secretary Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Syed Zahoorul Hassan Gilani apprised the president of the Forest Department's initiatives on forests protection, afforestation and tree plantation under the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami (TBTTP) programme.

He said that the target of the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme has been largely achieved and the performance of Azad Kashmir is much higher than all other parts of Pakistan. Giving information about other activities of the Forest Department, the secretary informed that the Integrated Community Watershed Management Programme was underway in Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Mirpur.