As Climate Change Intensifies KP's Forests Offer Hope, And Face Threats

Work is currently underway to formulate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for smart mining in the forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In this regard, the Finance Department has issued a letter to the departments of Anti-Corruption, Minerals, Climate Change, and Law. The letter states that under the proposed SOPs, conditional permission will be granted for mining across all forests of the province. As per the proposed SOPs, a committee led by the Chief Conservator will be authorized to grant permission for forest mining.

The letter further explains that through smart mining, the Forest Department will receive rent, incentives, and compensation. However, the department has also expressed concern that smart mining in the forests increases the risk of damaging the roots of valuable trees.

Similarly, mining may harm wildlife and may also force them to abandon their natural habitats. The deforestation resulting from mining activities will have serious negative effects on both the local population and the wildlife.

Can this new policy of the provincial government ensure the protection of forests?

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Climate Change Policy, actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for environmental changes, and to improve the sources that absorb these gases, are defined as mitigation. On the other hand, efforts to protect natural and human systems from the adverse effects of climate change are termed as adaptation.

In the budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, the provincial government has given special priority to critical sectors such as forestry, wildlife, and climate change, allocating a substantial amount for 62 new and ongoing projects. Work is already underway on 33 of these projects, while work on the remaining 29 new projects will commence soon.

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The provincial government has allocated approximately 4.4 billion rupees in the budget for these projects: 3.794 billion rupees for ongoing projects and nearly 445 million rupees for new ones.

Within the forestry sector, 1 billion rupees have been allocated to expand the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme and the Green Pakistan Programme, and to restore forest resources. To promote wildlife conservation and provide recreational spaces for the public-especially children-371.5 million rupees have been allocated for the establishment of a mini-zoo in Kanjoo Township, Swat, and 405.5 million rupees for a zoo in Peshawar Division.

In the critically important sector of climate change, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated 454 million rupees for various key projects. Environmental protection has been given top priority in the budget, with around 94 million rupees allocated for three ongoing and two new environmental projects. The government's prioritization of these sectors not only aims to protect the environment but also to provide the public with clean and enjoyable surroundings.

Under the supervision of Pir Musawwar Khan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Forests and Environment, the completion of these projects is expected to transform Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into a greener and more vibrant region. However, this will only be possible if these projects are implemented effectively and completed successfully.

A research study conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) reveals that Pakistan has lost 20% of its forest area over the past 24 years. The main causes are the increasing urban population and energy shortages. A study on the challenges and opportunities of the Billion Tree Tsunami Project also found that Pakistan has one of the lowest forest cover rates in the world, with 27,000 acres of forest being lost every year. In South Asia, private ownership of forests is significantly high, with Pakistan at 36% and Bangladesh at 34%.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Has the Most Forests, But Faces the Greatest Climate Threat

In terms of land area, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the largest forest cover, followed by Sindh, Punjab, tribal districts, Azad Kashmir, and then Gilgit-Baltistan. According to PIDE's research, the reduction in forest cover is primarily due to rapid population growth, poverty, urban expansion, and shortages in natural energy sources like natural gas.

Infrastructure development in major cities like Lahore and Islamabad-such as the construction of highways and motorways-has also severely impacted forest areas. Pakistan has the lowest number of trees per capita globally, with a total of only 1 billion trees, which translates to 1,131 trees per square kilometer-just slightly more than Afghanistan. In contrast, large countries have far greater tree populations: Russia has 642 billion trees, Canada 318 billion, Brazil 302 billion, and the United States 228 billion. In Pakistan, wood from forests is commonly used as firewood and for other household purposes. The global average forest cover is 31.2%, and in South Asia, it's 18.9%. Ideally, a country should have at least 25% forest cover.

Can Trees Stop Climate Change?

According to environmental experts, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen. Since carbon dioxide plays a major role in climate change, trees help mitigate this by removing CO2 from the air.

Of the total carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, 25% is absorbed by oceans and 30% by trees, while the remaining 45% stays in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Thus, while large-scale afforestation can help address climate change, it cannot entirely prevent it. This is because we simply don't have enough land to plant the enormous number of trees needed to absorb the remaining 45% of CO2.

Cutting down trees is absolutely wrong unless the tree is dead or poses a serious threat to human life.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most climate-vulnerable province in Pakistan. Due to rising global temperatures, rapid seasonal changes are being observed worldwide. Moreover, the frequency of extreme weather events has increased, particularly affecting regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the political, economic, and social structures are not very resilient.

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