ISLAMABAD: Only planting trees will not help keep global warming under 2°C, a limit endorsed by most world leaders, as constant observation and optimum care are imperative for ensuring the survival of a sapling, environmental experts said on Friday.

International Islamic University Islamabad Department of Environmental Sciences chair and botanist Ibn-i-Shanwari said a monitoring cell should be set up for long-term surveillance of the planted saplings.

“Without proper care, almost 60pc of all saplings die in the initial stages,” he said.

Call for monitoring cells to ensure govt’s tree plantation drive is a success

Mr Shanwari said he had recently requested Malik Amin Aslam, advisor to the prime minister on the environment, for setting up a task force which is mandated to deal with post-plantation issues to make the government’s tree plantation drive a success.

He said an awareness campaign should also be started as most volunteer-planters do not know anything about after-plantation care.

“The right time, right species and right place should be the main focus if we want to achieve maximum growth rate,” he added.

“We should promote indigenous species that are not only viable for the country’s variable weather but also need less water to grow,” he said.

Mr Shanwari suggested that the plants which are best suited for the weather in Pakistan are olive, pinus, diar, juniper, acacia, sisso, bombax and others. Species of eucalyptus, lagestonia, conocarpus, magnolia, ailanthus, broussonetia, parthenium and lantana camara should be avoided, he said.

“The departments concerned should make sure nurseries promote native plants that will help balance the environment and conserve biodiversity,” he said.

The use of aluminium and artificial wood in furniture making should be encouraged as more than 50pc of deforestation happens due to this business, he added.

Scientist and author of 26 books, Dr Zahid Baig Mirza said the country is under severe threat of climate change consequences and that enhanced afforestation is needed to protect the ecosystem.

He said the growing population is using materials that are not friendly for the environment and that planting more trees will also clean the air. He also stressed on the need to focus on water pollution.

Tree plantation should be made part of the educational curriculum, Dr Mirza said.

Ministry of Climate Change Deputy Media Coordinator Saleem Sheikh said: “We have been achieving the ideal tree survival rate at 60pc since 2007. However, the prevailing climate change may bring this figure down as the country is going to receive less than usual rains in the future”.

He added that more and more trees should be planted during the rains as this will ensure more growth than in the spring.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2018