April - June, 2010 - Sustainable Development Policy Institute

SDPISustainable Development Policy InstituteSummaryThe forest digest is a compilation of Urdu and English news items on state of forests in Pakistanis back and an attempt is being made to provide the readers objective information. Various newsreports have been categorised in sub headings and sub topics so that readers can follow them upin subsequent issues of Pakistan Forest Digest.Current issue covers the news items from April to June 2010. News items such as CapitalDevelopment Authority’s statement in the Senate of Pakistan that it removed 14228 trees inIslamabad over last five years; or the report that sixty thousand hectare area under forest hasbeen deforested since 1947 (almost 1000 hectare per year) reveal that forests are still beingsubjected to usual neglect and policy disconnect in Pakistan. The news items also reflect thatforest department officials, timber contractors (read timber mafia), police, and ordinary citizensare all equally involved in illegal forest harvesting; no doubt many analysts believe thatPakistan’s growing vulnerabilities to climate change is partly due to increased deforestation.It is evident from news items in “Forest Department” section of this digest that 18.5 percent offorest area has been turned into non forest area so far. There are reports of pilferage of provincialforest department funds; there are reports that forest department is under huge influence oftimber contractors; there are also reports that timber is being smuggled in connivance with forestdepartment officials. On top of it there are reports that people are pleading for reforestation driveto regain area under forests.Illegal timber harvesting is not the only cause of deforestation. Every year many precious treesare destroyed by incidental fire. During last quarter fire broke out in forests of Koh SheikhBadin, Parrhana, Konish Valley, Koh Tinghlai, and Marghala hills leading to deforestation invast areas. Traditionally human error was perceived to be the major cause of such fire. However,ongoing war on terror is also playing its role here. During June 2010, fire broke out in forests ofZoba due to five marter shells that hit this area.Experts say that for environmental sustainability, a minimum of 25 percent area of a countryshould be under forests. However for Pakistan only 5.1 percent area is under forests. No wonderthat Urdu as well as English media is univocal in warning that deforestation in Pakistan as slowTsunami leading to rapid climate change.Media reports in the section titled “Forest Conservation” not only emphasise on importance offorest conservation but also highlight the role that youth can play in environmental protection. Inone of the articles it is mentioned that forest conservation is not possible without bringing anamendment in Forest Act of 1927. The loopholes in Forest Act 1927 are allegedly leading toincrease in illegal timbre harvesting at the rate of 30 percent per annum.This is just a brief introduction of Pakistan Forest Digest and its contents. In the months to comewe are also planning to include key informant interviews and expert analysis in this digest.Please do provide your feedback on how to improve its quality and contents. We look forward toyour valued opinion.Pakistan Forest Digest viii Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June 2010