MURREE: Fires broke out in the forests of Murree destroying thousands of plants and affecting trees as well.

The flames erupted in the forest compartments of Samli Behramal, Kaseri, Nair Goli, Masot, Phaphril, Barra Hoter and Darya Gali.

When contacted, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Wajihuddin Ahmad said wherever his office received reports about a fire the staff reached the area to extinguish the flames.

He said due to the global climate change and the prolonged dry spell, the forests caught fires frequently.

However, the local people alleged that the timber mafia in connivance with some staff members of the forest department deliberately set ablaze the forests to hide the proof of illegal cutting of green trees.

Nambardar Anser Ali Abbasi, a notable of Danna Aliot, said a number of forest department officials remained posted to the same area for decades and they were allegedly involved in chopping of trees and smuggling of the wood besides making encroachments on the forest land.

In some areas, lush green trees have been cut and the wood was being smuggled to other areas, he added.

The DFO did not deny the long stay of some staffers at one place but said he had been shuffling them within his jurisdiction.

The local people said every year the forest department spent hefty amounts of money on the plantation of saplings but unless proper measures were not taken to stop the cutting of trees, there would be no positive outcome of such plantation campaigns.

Fires not only destroy precious confer trees but also damage rare species of wildlife.

During the British era, strict measures were taken to stop deforestation and for the protection of forests and the wildlife. Sardar Imran Abbasi, Javed Abbasi, Nambardar Anser Abbasi, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah and others appealed to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court to take notice of the situation and save the forests of Murree from further damages.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2016