orests ecosystems play an essential part in mitigating the adverse effects brought about by climate change. They are powerful carbon sinks and absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus helping counter global warming and related adverse consequences.

Deforestation is a significant environmental issue in Pakistan with far-reaching consequences. Pakistan has fared poorly in the management of its forests.

According to the World Bank, only 4.78 percent of our land has a forest cover. Also, it is worst-off country in Asia (except Afghanistan) in terms of deforestation rate.

Pakistan is a forest deficient country. Still, every year it loses 27,000 hectares of natural forest area. Given that a significant fraction of the rural population depends on forest resources for its livelihood, the deforestation predicament amounts to a ‘green emergency.’ Most Pakistanis do not consider deforestation and climate change as much of an issue. Illiteracy and poverty are probably the main causes for the extreme apathy. Topics such as deforestation and climate change have seldom been of major interest to our politicians and decision makers. However, remaining oblivious to the gravity of the situation can only accelerate the environmental disaster that the country is heading towards.

Pakistan is the fifth most populated country in the world with a population of around 236 million. More than 60 percent of the population resides in rural areas and depends heavily on forests for basic needs, particularly biomass energy. This is a major cause of the loss of forest cover.

Farmers in some areas have clearing the forests to bring more land under agriculture. Both legal and illegal logging contribute to deforestation. Timber is harvested for construction, furniture and other uses. Sheesham (Dalbergiasissoo, also known as Indian Rosewood) and Deodar (Cedrusdeodara, also known as Himalayan Cedar) are harvested heavily, mostly illegally, in Dargai, in the Malakand district to manufacture high quality furniture, mostly in connivance with forest rangers.

Pakistan is a forest deficient country. Every year it loses 27,000 hectares of natural forest area. Given that a significant fraction of the rural population depends on forest resources for its livelihood, the deforestation predicament amount to a ‘green emergency.’ 

The expansion of cities and towns is also leading to the clearing of forests to make way for new housing, infrastructure and industrial zones. Many rural communities depend on wood for cooking and heating, leading to the unsustainable harvesting of trees. Livestock grazing in forest areas can prevent natural regeneration of trees and lead to soil degradation. Fossil fuel related projects such as oil exploration and coal mining require massive infrastructures including clearing forests and cutting trees. Also, extraction and burning of fossil fuels result in massive emission of greenhouse gases, pollution of air and water and acid rain on account of the release of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can damage forest ecosystems and impede forest growth. Furthermore, use of fossil fuels gives way to urbanisation which in turn promotes deforestation.

Deforestation leads to the destruction of habitats for many species, resulting in loss of biodiversity and endangerment of wildlife. Unfortunately, there is little awareness of or concern for wildlife preservation in this country. Trees absorb carbon dioxide; their removal contributes to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. Without tree roots to anchor the soil, deforestation can lead to severe soil erosion, reducing the land’s fertility and increasing the risk of landslides. Forests also play a crucial role in maintaining the water cycle so that their removal can lead to changes in local rainfall patterns and water availability.

We have to realise that Pakistan is in dire straits with regards to deforestation and take concrete steps to reverse deforestation. Strict enforcement of law is required to stop illegal logging/ harvesting. We must launch awareness programmes, especially amongst rural populations, to highlight the importance of forests and the need to preserve them. Reforestation initiatives such as the Billion Tree Tsunami in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be launched in earnestness with the aim to restore degraded forests and increase forest cover. We must reduce our heavy reliance on fossil fuels for power generation and switch over to more environmentally friendly renewable and sustainable sources of energy. We must collaborate with international agencies to benefit from their experience and to take necessary measures to preserve our forests and mitigate the adversities related to the climate change. Appropriate policies must be formulated and implemented in letter and spirit, backed up by solid legal framework.

The author, a senior consultant at the Burki Institute of Public Policy at Netsol, is a corporate member of the Institution of Engineering Technology, UK, and a chartered engineer