KOHAT, Aug 9: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has stressed the need for a multi-dimensional approach to promote and protect the forests and to make them an unconventional source of sustainable income for the people.

Speaking at a gathering after inaugurating tree-plantation campaign by planting a sapling of silver oak at Sheen Dhand in Togh Bala area on Friday, the governor said: “We have to promote unconventional means of income for the local people through the forests specially by setting up wildlife parks.”

In this connection, the governor also urged the need to promote and encourage the trend of establishing wildlife parks through the active involvement of the area people.

The function which was jointly arranged by the Forest Departm-ent and the local village development organization was also addressed by the Provincial Minister for Environment, Abbas Khan.

The governor said from economic point of view about 20 to 25 per cent area of a country should have forests, however, in Pakistan the situation is quite pathetic.

Though in this province, he added, almost 17 per cent of the area came under forests yet we had to work more harder to meet the challenge.

The governor regretted that the high rate of population growth was also becoming a major cause of destruction to the forests. Talking about illegal cutting of trees, he said it was a serious crime against the area people and the Forest Department must fulfil its responsibility with complete sincerity and devotion in this regard.

Responding to the demands presented by Syed Muazzam Shah, Chairman VDO Togh Bala, the governor announced approval for the establishment of a wildlife park at Togh Bala and also announced a grant of Rs10 million for this purpose.

Referring to another demand, he also disclosed that the government was actively working on a comprehensive plan to construct check-dams to control land erosion as well as to save the rainy water.

As for the Togh Bala area of FR Kohat, he said 4,000 new saplings would be planted during the next few days.

Earlier, Bashir Bangash, local Nazim, presented traditional Lungi Qula to the governor on his arrival at the function.

Later, the governor also participated in the Usher (mass) Plantation along with hundreds of local people.