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

SDPISustainable Development Policy InstituteSummeryThe forest digest is a compilation of Urdu and English news items on state of forests in Pakistan is backand an attempt is being made to provide the readers objective information. Various news reports havebeen categorised in sub headings and sub topics so that readers can follow them up in subsequent issuesof Pakistan Forest Digest.Current issue covers the news items from April to June 2010. News items such as Capital DevelopmentAuthority’s statement in the Senate of Pakistan that it removed 14228 trees in Islamabad over last fiveyears; or the report that sixty thousand hectare area under forest has been deforested since 1947 (almost1000 hectare per year) reveal that forests are still being subjected to usual neglect and policy disconnectin Pakistan. The news items also reflect that forest department officials, timber contractors (read timbermafia), police, and ordinary citizens are all equally involved in illegal forest harvesting; no doubt manyanalysts believe that Pakistan’s growing vulnerabilities to climate change is partly due to increaseddeforestation.It is evident from news items in “Forest Department” section of this digest that 18.5 percent of forest areahas been turned into non forest area so far. There are reports of pilferage of provincial forest departmentfunds; there are reports that forest department is under huge influence of timber contractors; there arealso reports that timber is being smuggled in connivance with forest department officials. On top of itthere are reports that people are pleading for reforestation drive to regain area under forests.Illegal timber harvesting is not the only cause of deforestation. Every year many precious trees aredestroyed by incidental fire. During last quarter fire broke out in forests of Koh Sheikh Badin, Parrhana,Konish Valley, Koh Tinghlai, and Marghala hills leading to deforestation in vast areas. Traditionallyhuman error was perceived to be the major cause of such fire. However, ongoing war on terror is alsoplaying its role here. During June 2010, fire broke out in forests of Zoba due to five marter shells that hitthis area.Experts say that for environmental sustainability, a minimum of 25 percent area of a country should beunder forests. However for Pakistan only 5.1 percent area is under forests. No wonder that Urdu as wellas English media is univocal in warning that deforestation in Pakistan as slow Tsunami leading to rapidclimate change.Media reports in the section titled “Forest Conservation” not only emphasise on importance of forestconservation but also highlight the role that youth can play in environmental protection. In one of thearticles it is mentioned that forest conservation is not possible without bringing an amendment in ForestAct of 1927. The loopholes in Forest Act 1927 are allegedly leading to increase in illegal timbreharvesting 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 come we arealso planning to include key informant interviews and expert analysis in this digest. Please do provideyour feedback on how to improve its quality and contents. We look forward to your valued opinion.Pakistan Forest Digest viii Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June 2010