FORESTS are a valuable resource which contribute significantly to the economy and provide environmental stability, regulate rainfalls and reduce the load of sedimentation on rivers.

The World Wide Fund, an international NGO, warns in a report that if Pakistan’s current deforestation rate of 2.1 per cent is not checked soon, the country would be unable to meet its international commitments under the Millennium Development Goals to increase its forest cover from 2.5 per cent to six per cent by 2015.

The report further highlights that more than 61,000 hectares (approximately over 151,500 acres) of forest land have been converted to non-forest use since Pakistan came into being.

Imran Khoso
Dadu

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2014