PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to carry out legal classification of forests in the tribal districts to ensure their better management on modern scientific lines.

The decision was made to increase forest cover in the province and ensure preservation of forests, said a statement issued here on Monday. It added that the matter would be presented to provincial cabinet for final approval.

The decision was made in a meeting of forest department held here on Monday with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair.

Provincial Minister Ishtiaq Urmar; MPAs from merged areas Anwarzeb Khan and Iqbal Wazir; Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Senior Member Board of Revenue Syed Zafar Ali Shah; Forests Secretary Islamzeb, Law Secretary Masood Ahmad; and other senior officials attended the meeting.

CM orders consultation with local community

The meeting was informed that during consultation with local people and tribal elders, it was proposed to classify the forests in merged areas as Guzara forests.

Provincial ministers and MPAs from tribal districts also agreed to the proposal and stressed the need for taking effective measures to preserve forests and stop illegal cutting of trees.

The meeting was told that forests in tribal districts would belong to the local community as they used to be even after the legal classification.

The provincial government would only ensure preservation and better management of these forests.

The meeting was informed told that a comprehensive management plan would be devised for management of forests in consultation with the local community after their classification.

The provincial government will get 20 per cent as management charges of the total income generated from these forests whereas 80 per cent would be given to local community.

However, it was decided in the meeting that government would waive off its management charges for a period of five years in the best interest of the people of merged areas.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister termed the challenges posed by climate change as national and international issues. He said that the only effective way to overcome those challenges was preservation of forests.

He said that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government launched clean and green Pakistan initiative to effectively deal with the issues of climate change.

The chief minister said that forests in tribal districts were an asset and their preservation was need of the day.

He said that government was working under a well-devised strategy to create employment opportunities for people by promoting tourism activities and preserving forests in the newly merged districts.

He directed the authorities concerned to ensure consultation with the local communities for their input while devising management plans for the forests besides taking proper care of the firewood and timber needs of the local population.

The chief minister also directed the authorities concerned to maintain a balance between the preservation of forests and mineral activities in the merged areas so that the livelihood of local people engaged in mineral activities was not affected.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2021