Protect Forest to Protect Pakistan

Addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation has been at the heart of REDD+ discussions and UNFCCC negotiations since many years. Decision 2 of COP 13 in Bali already encouraged Parties “to explore a range of actions, identify options and undertake efforts, including demonstration activities, to address the drivers of deforestation”.
The dynamics and causes of deforestation and forest degradation are multi-faceted, complex and vary from place to place. Direct drivers are associated with a complex set of underlying drivers that need to be tackled if efforts to address the direct drivers are to be successful over the long-term. Along with human-induced drivers, natural drivers; abiotic and biotic of land degradation and land use change have to be taken into account. Natural drivers, such as droughts, predispose forests to degradation (e.g. by pests, disease or wildfires), which sometimes leads eventually to land-use change. The distinction between direct and underlying causes and between human- and naturally-induced change is often not as clear as it might appear. In reality, there are long, complex chains of causation that can bring about deforestation or the degradation of forests.
Overexploitation and unsustainable forest management practices are the main human-induced causes of forest degradation. Measures and strategies to address drivers should seek to harmonize different development objectives taking into account the need for increased food production and improved livelihoods as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation and enhanced environmental conservation. A cross-sectoral “landscape approach”, encompassing all land uses would contribute to halting both deforestation and forest degradation while meeting future demands for food and nutrition.
Now if we assess the land use and land-use change drivers in Pakistan. In 2012, the Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) published the land cover Atlas of Pakistan with the objective of assessing the existing forest types and other land cover of the country. Unfortunately, the study was not able to be utilized for the drivers of deforestation report because it overstates the total area of Pakistan reporting 88.430 million hectares (ha), when the official land area reported by UN and national statistics shows total land area of 79.6 million ha. The significant overstatement of land area in the publication means that the results reported were not able to be cited with credibility. Pakistan’s Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP) does present current land use and change trends in Pakistan. The R-PP contains valuable and reliable information on the trend over the last few decades in which large scale transfers of Government forestland for non-forestry and commercial purposes have taken place. These forest lands have been transferred permanently or on lease to various departments including defense, education, housing, agriculture, roads, building, ports and tourism departments.

 Lands of Forest Departments transferred for non-forest uses since 1992

In addition to these official transfers there have been several illegal encroachments upon Government forest lands. While the Government of Pakistan has committed to increasing its forest area, there is also an increasing trend of expanding housing colonies and industrialization that can also cause deforestation.

The drivers of deforestation and Forest Degradation are nevertheless same in all regions of the country. Major drivers at National level are Agricultural expansion for subsistence: fruit orchards, unsustainable timber extraction, unsustainable fuel food extraction, urban expansion, Mining, Infrastructure Development, Forest clearing for small scale agriculture, forest clearing for livestock grazing and Forest clearing for habitation. Other than these different drivers vary region to region in the country just like drought is a major driver in Balochistan while flood is a major driver in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Another very important driver is Forest fire either it’s natural or due to some negligence but this plays a big role in Deforestation.
Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation may vary region to region but generally the major causes are Wood energy needs, Livelihood dependence on agricultural subsistence, No demarcation boundaries, and Poor implementation of law, Illegal logging, food security, poor extension services, poor land use planning and Lack of alternative livelihoods in rural areas. Another major cause is unsustainable forest management. Other than these causes region to region some specific causes are also present for example In Punjab Political interference and unclear land tenure are big issues. Similarly in Sindh Illegal logging and encroachment are big causes. Moving forward In FATA Influx of Afghan refugees in the past and their heavy dependence on forest along with Law & Order situation caused great damage. In AJK a major cause is uncontrolled Nomadic activities and overgrazing.

Investment and financing in forest restoration efforts is the key challenge and barrier to future restoration efforts by all forest officers. Maintaining areas with recent planting and financing nurseries to cultivate seedlings are also barriers. Similarly uncontrolled grazing is a major threat to forest restoration efforts. Other challenges includes Forest fires, Political hurdles, no right person for right job and AC Rooms Policy Making and not taking on board the key stakeholders i.e. community.
In accordance with the causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation, Government needs to facilitate local communities with alternative sources for livelihood like solar energy, gas and electric heaters. For Forest Restoration Government should establish Research cells in every province so that they can introduce new species that can survive in the respective regions according to environment and climatic Inclemency occurring there. There is also an urgent need to hire more Forest Guards and to increase check posts to stop illegal lodging of Forest Wood. Free Grazing should also be stopped by amending existing laws.