Title Pakistan Forest Digest Issue 01- A4 - Pakistan Research Group

SDPISustainable Development Policy InstituteMinister belonging to the other side of Attock struck adeal of Hazara forests with big fish of timber mafiaDaily Shamal, May 21, 2010Mansehra (Courts Reporter)Provincial Minister Abdul WajidKhan has struck a bargain withtimber thieves for illegallyextracted timber from Kaghan,Aalai and Kohistan forests. Thepeople of Hazara have demandedthat the forests of the area shouldbe protected from those who comefrom the other side of Attock andillegally sell Hazara’s timber.Pay attention to reckless cutting of forests: Tasleem KhanDaily Azadi, Swat. May 30, 2010Mansehra (correspondent) In thebeautiful land of Hazara trees arebeing cut down recklessly. Thereare different elements involved inthis activity. If every one pledgesto plant ten saplings during theplantation season and takes care ofthose plants the target of 25percent forest cover can easily beachieved. Trees are covering ofthe earth and a source ofcontinuing virtue. Wild animalscan survive only in thick forests.These views were expressed byACO Mansehra Tasleem Khanwhile addressing a ceremony inNisar Bagh in connection with theplantation campaign. He said thatthe reason for low rainfall inHazara is that trees have been cutdown and new plants have notbeen planted.He said that according to theexperts 25 percent of the total areaof a country should be under forestcover. Tasleem Khan said that inMansehra district deforestation isturning the forests into bare lands.He said the community shouldplay its role for achieving thetargets of plantation. Addressingthe ceremony EDO MansehraRiyaz Ahmad Shah said thatforests are very important forsustaining human life. Trees helpin keeping the environment clean,he said and added that treesprovide timber for construction ofbuildings, save land and habitat forwild animals. Riyaz Shah said thatforests increase fertility of landand bring rains.Forests on hills in Galiyat should be protectedDaily Shamal, May 21, 2010Editorial: Cutting down of forests in continuing unabatedly in Galiyat area. Forest officials areconniving with the timber smugglers just to earn a meager amount of money and are destroyingforest in Galiyat. The forest officials are playing their role only for receiving bribes. Galiyat is abeautiful area only because of its trees. Local and foreign tourists visit this area. But the enemiesof the area are clearing out the forests and causing loss to the national exchequer. At the sametime this is causing loss to the tourism to the area. The high officials of the department arerequested to take immediate action against the timber smugglers.Take action against timber smugglers in HaripurDaily Shamal, Abbottabad, May 23, 2010Editorial: Lush green forests of Haripur are turning into empty fields. With the connivance offorest officials timber mafia is busy in timber smuggling via Tarbela Lake. Every day dozens ofvehicles loaded with timber leave Chhappar Road near Tarbela Lake and go towards Punjab. Thetimber smugglers enjoy full support of the DFO. The reason is bribery. As the water level hasPakistan Forest Digest Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June, 2010