PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department’s Secretary Junaid Khan on Friday said that the department had formulated a comprehensive five-year plantation protection and maintenance plan to ensure the survival and healthy growth of newly-planted saplings.

The plan included continuous monitoring, irrigation, maintenance, and protection measures to maximise the long-term success and sustainability of plantation efforts.

He stated this while addressing the Fourth Online Open Forum of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department here on Friday.

The forum provided citizens from across the province with an opportunity to directly engage with senior officials, raise questions, share suggestions, and register concerns regarding forestry, environmental protection, afforestation, wildlife conservation, and departmental services.

Speaking on the occasion, Junaid Khan stated that planting a tree was an investment in the security and prosperity of future generations, while cutting down a tree was not merely the loss of timber; it was a loss to the environment, biodiversity, water resources, and the rights of generations yet to come.

He remarked that growing a tree required patience, dedication, and years of care, whereas felling one took only a few moments. Therefore, safeguarding forests was not only a governmental obligation but also a shared national, moral, and constitutional responsibility.

He emphasised that every officer and official of the forest department served as a true guardian of the province’s forests and natural heritage. They must remain steadfast in protecting forests, biodiversity, wildlife, and natural resources. He further stressed that forest conservation could not be achieved by government institutions alone; every citizen had an equally important role to play in preserving Pakistan’s green legacy.

Junaid Khan announced that with the onset of the monsoon season, the department had officially launched its province-wide monsoon plantation campaign. Millions of saplings were being planted across all districts, while free saplings were also being distributed among citizens to encourage broad public participation.

He noted that in the face of escalating climate change, rising temperatures, air pollution, floods, landslides, and increasing water scarcity, large-scale tree plantation remained the most effective and sustainable solution. He further announced that the forest department had designated March 23 and August 14 as permanent annual calendar events for province-wide mega plantation campaigns.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026