According to Worldwide Fund for Nature -Pakistan (WWF-P) 11000 hectares of forests are lost every year across the country due to wildfires and climate change.
Conversion of forests land into agricultural, commercial and housing schemes also contributed to the lost.
In a statement released on Friday coinciding with International Day of Forests observed every year on March 21, the WWF-P emphasized that preserving forests is not only crucial for the environment, but also essential for social and economic well-being.
This year’s theme was “forests and food”, which highlighted the vital importance of forests in maintaining food security.
According to the organization, Pakistan is a forest poor country having only five percent of total area under forests.
“Since most of the area falls in arid and semi-arid regions, low precipitation naturally deters the growth of forests.â€
“Thousands of hectares of forest are destroyed yearly, making way for various human activities. The rising population, coupled with poverty and lack of awareness, has led to illegal and unsustainable logging, overharvesting of wood for fuel and charcoal, and increased small-scale farming that continues to reduce the forest cover of Pakistan,†WWF-P said.
“On International Day of Forests, WWF-P urges govt, civil society and local communities to take collective action to protect wooded areas, “the statement read.
The organization emphasized that preserving Pakistan’s forests depends on a collaborative framework. “WWF-Pakistan underscored the urgent need to protect and restore the country’s forests, which serve as a lifeline for biodiversity, support local livelihoods, and maintain the health of ecosystems, “it said.
