Between 2000 and 2005, Pakistan’s forest cover declined by more than 2%. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID
ISLAMABAD:
The threat to forests in Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Diamer district may not have disappeared after all.
Locals have alleged that the transportation of illegally-cut timber from Diamer to the rest of the country is still being carried out, in violation of a July 5 order by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to withdraw the Diamer timber movement policy.
The policy, which was notified by Sharif’s predecessor Raja Pervaiz Ashraf a day before he left office, had allowed four million cubic feet (cft) of legally and illegally cut timber, worth an estimated Rs8 billion, lying in Diamer’s forests to be transported down country. But it just provided an excuse for the influential timber traders to chop more trees illegally and move them away from Diamer, according to environment activists.
Locals have alleged that the transportation of illegally-cut timber from Diamer to the rest of the country is still being carried out. PHOTO COURTESY: ALI AHMAD JAN
“The transport of illegal timber has not stopped. Around 400 trucks had crossed the forest barrier at Shatial on Karakoram Highway with an estimated 250,000 cft of timber altogether,” said Ali Ahmad Jan, an environmentalist and native of G-B.
He said the movement of trucks had continued till 11am on Tuesday, when he had left from G-B for Islamabad.
Chilas native Khan Muhammad Qureshi alleged that the movement did not stop on Tuesday.
He claimed 200 trucks carrying timber left Chilas on Friday night.
Qureshi alleged that the town’s divisional forest officer was conniving with influential timber traders to transport the logs, which costs around Rs30 per cft in Chilas but are sold for Rs3,000 in the markets of Lahore and Karachi.
“The forest officer is going to claim he did not receive the notification from the PM Secretariat, even though it was made public on Monday, July 8,” said Qureshi.
Meanwhile, the July 5 directive from Sharif --- who as Prime Minister of Pakistan is also the G-B council’s chairman --- had cancelled Ashraf’s March 15 notification and had ordered an earlier Cabinet Division decision to be implemented.
The Cabinet’s earlier decision, dated February 29, 2008, had ordered that all illegally cut timber from the northern areas should be transported by September 30, 2008, and anything left over should be confiscated by the government. This means that the government should take possession of any illegal timber presently lying in Diamer.
Men loading trucks with timber after the expiry of the deadline. PHOTO COURTESY: ALI AHMAD JAN
The July 5 order also directed the G-B Council secretary to submit a report about the cancelled timber movement policy to the PM office within a week, after incorporating the views of G-B’s chief secretary, the Climate Change Division and other stakeholders. G-B Council officials could not be reached for comment.
Environmentalist and Himalayan Wildlife Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Anisur Rahman said there should be a zero deforestation policy in Pakistan.
“Influential timber traders are the only people that benefit from timber movement policies,” he said.
World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan Director-General Ali Hassan Habib said that the decision taken by Ashraf on timber movement had given the timber industry a free hand and contributed to the felling of an increasing number of trees from March 2013.
“The previous decision exacerbated deforestation in Diamer district and increased the risk of silting in Tarbela Dam, which is fed by the Indus River and its tributaries,” said Habib. “Deforestation and increased silting were key factors which aggravated the impact of the floods in 2010.”
He said environmentalists were hopeful that the present government would take more steps towards recognising important environmental issues facing the country.
Some startling facts and figures about deforestation
A 2011 report by FAO had put Pakistan’s total forest cover at 2% of the country’s total area. The Economic Survey of Pakistan 2012-13, however, claims the forest area is 5.2%, a figure that is contested by environmentalists.
Between 2000 and 2005, Pakistan’s forest cover declined by more than 2%.
Deforestation in Gilgit-Baltistan exposes the rest of the country due to effects of climate change.
Unlike Pakistan, forestry was placed on the concurrent list in India. India’s forest cover has increased to 23% in less than 40 years.
Forest area in G-B is estimated at 4.8% or 0.34 million hectares.
The private forests are mostly located in Chilas, Darel and Tangir valleys covering an area of 217,088 hectares.
A study showed deforestation in G-B at the rate of 10% during 1997-2002
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (30)
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REDD or REDD+ is the only solution (reducing emissions by deforestation) Pay the owners $ from corporate sector's CSR or from the European carbon market. conditions are best now for a small pilot in this area to show it can work
There appears a confusion on this issue, was the illegal timber stopped by the PM or not if yes then why it was reported by Tribune that locals claim it never ws stopped. If it was stopped then how come the huge movement was captured on camera and printed in the Tribune? If forests have increased by 3 percent in last 3 years as reported by the forest institute then what is the problem if commercial harvesting is done. A national commission with independent observers must investigate
It looks that there is still hope for better times for forests in this government
This is a matter of serious concern. How come orders of the PM are not honored by a corrupt line of baboos who have zero authority under law. Illegally officers of the federal ministry keep powers in contravention to the GB timber rules 1975. This legislation gives no role to the Ministry of KA and GB while the defined officers in the law are not allowed to exercise their powers. Billions of Rupees are riddled in this case, simple investigation reveals everything. It needs men of matter who are rare these days. I hope some women will come forth
Hard work most rk by a few good men and more women at last pays back but most timber is already gone with the wind. Now is time to call civil society to convene a forum and let people who are real owners get their share of REDD $ in real term
The money comin from timber is going to terror this can investigated no need to go for any other action to collect money
All stake holders must try to solve the problem of deforestation not only in GB butt even in other parts of the country.This is all due to the unawareness of ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION.In Pakistan,where worse economy and law and order conditions exist,who cares for this problem.
No wonder there are so many untold stories to reveal in the Ministries in Islamabad that take major decisions. But who cares and this is the same story all over the world with deforestation trends
WHile there is still so much that can be done I wonder why this silence when the following choices are real:
2 billion PKR is lying un-utilized in the kitty of GB government solely for timber and forests, why can we not pay the owners this amount and retire the costs incurred on cutting these precious trees. the global community is ready to pay for not cutting trees for the carbon stored in forests. And GB forest organization is already spending millions on a REDD project, then why this duality It is just a matter of contacting HRH the Prince Aga Khan who can retire all purchases done at very low costs, but this can only be done if government can show that it is serious else nothing doing WHy on earth the baboos of Ministry of GB in Islamabad are performing duties of forest officers under the Forest Act 1927 when this is done in all other provinces. It is so easy to cheat and bribe baboos of any grade by technical peoples why power to sanction of working plans is with baboos ?A nationa that has no will to stop jailbreaks how can it stop tree cutting shame shame
A national level seminar would be a good option
Oh Yes like other provinces AJK has its own setup called AKLASC to harvest timber independent of any forest or bureaucracy fully on professional grounds, like FDC in NWFP/ KP and also separate Timber Extraction Division in Punjab. All these harvest timer either government/ private or guzara forests then why GB is left at the mercy of a Ministry full of contractual legal advisers and contracted Section Officers THIS IS JUST TO FACILITATE ADHOC TIMBER POLICES THAT SUIT THE ADHOC SECTION OFFICERS
This complex issue is riddled with stories only Sherlock Holmes can resolve. One question remains: why do Gilgit forest Department have to come to a federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs while no other province has to. The answer is simple the vested interest does not allow the technical procedures to be followed in well defined roles in Forest Act. Because there is no room for Section Officer mostly on contract Baboos in the Act of 1927 applicable in GB.
In AJK and all other provinces there is no such system of adhoc timber policy issued by Section Officers even all have private forests, why GB is discriminated and every time there is one time waiver for illegal acts ?
How short lived is the memory of humans. The last timber policy was approved by Mr Kaira then Minister Forests in 2008. How self deceiving is the present high ups in Gilgit are today and how cleverly they are mixing up facts ,,, please read on http://bangsahar.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/timber-policy-approved/
This is the sixth adhoc timber policy and the story is that this is the last time one time waiver for the illegal acts.Last time the NWFP government made a huge income int he forest fund by imposing timber cess on the movement of timber from Gilgit Baltistan. Now is time that KP and Punjab to impose tax for forest welfare funds again. This way a record of timber across check posts can be cross checked and we can know if any timber is added from the jungles on the way to down country markets
Alas all the reporting by Tribune appears a hoax, please see http://tribune.com.pk/story/577474/g-b-timber-movement-policy-locals-claim-policy-has-not-been-cancelled/ If no such cancellation is made by the present Premier then lets find a siesta under the shade of rocks and floods. What Great NGOs are doing now do they have the proofs for the Minister as claimed in ths report
If the government of Pakistan is not serious and cannot safeguard its natural forests it is time that the international community should stop all kind of support in all sectors. Fraud to such an extent that Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar has issued an Atlas of Forests 2012 that shows an increase of forest are by 3.2 percent for the period when the ex Minister was at the helm. If such reports are published with support of federal funds of planning commission then donors have the right to withdraw all support in all sectors.
regardless of geo-politics forests are the common heritage in the sub continent if needed the Indians can provide insight on how they resolved similar problems of private and tribal forests from being cut by non owners and dealers The Timber Mafia.
est way out In all conflict situations a workshop, dialogue or conference is a best way out. GB Forests as private property should be the seminar topic. Lets see who holds it and takes the lead. I suppose at last it will be the Tribune and other media who will do it
It is also time for the corporate sector to ponder, how will business thrive when there are no more forests
The large network of LEAD fellows exist and it is their turn to deliver if not now then never
This matter needs to be taken up at a neutral high level forum. The existing decision makers cannot be termed as free from biases and vested interests
I am laughing blood not tears on what happens to my dear land
As one who knows ground realities I am witness how the trees were raped by Ministry of Kashmir Affairs over the years one who had seen Babusar a decade ago can only weep now over inaction and corrupt bureaucracy
Can anybody answer then why there are no rules for private forests in Gilgit when these are available in all provinces, in fact all over the world forest land tenure is a separate discipline.
One has to worry that those who matter are not ignorant, the fact is that the Forest Act 1927 is applicable in many parts of the Gilgit and Baltistan why the relevant sections on private forests are not invoked. The Chose Act is another law under which the state can restrict a private owner of property whether land, bullrings or trees from doing any act that could harm the environment.
If the baboos in the Ministries are sitting just to get their pays and do not know these laws they must be .... oh yes promoted rapidly
I agree forests are a different kind of commodity in all provincial laws of Pakistan except Gilgit Baltistan. No private owner even in Islamabad can cut a tree and get away, same is in Mansehra and Abottabad. Forest ownership is different and must be analyzed by professionals not self centered and partly honest bureaucrats who sit in Ministries in the Capital
If ex Premier did not adhere to the principles set by ZA Bhutto it is not our fault. We urge all parliamentarians to follow ZAB vision like the one of Indira Gandhi who brought forests in the concurrent list in the 1970s and do the same in Pakistan.
Private forests as private property as an academic is totally different from any other property. Diamer and Chilas is not the only area having privately owned forests. Private forests exist is Murree and Hazara areas as well. But no owner of private forests can cut a single tree on his won, If found feasible to cut then it is harvested by the government and sold by the government in a government depot. Only after sale 80 percent of the sale proceed goes to the owner and in Murree the rest goes to Guzara Community fund and in Hazara it goes to Guzara committees under legal cover.
Unfortunate are the private owners of Giglit as the corrupt mafia did not notify rules or laws and left it to the mercy of politicians like Mr Raja the ex premier and before him all previous Secretaries and Ministers of Kashmir Affairs. No technical Ministries like WAPDA and Environment are ever consulted. As both will say do not cut trees because there will be floods in down country provinces Unless the basics reforms like those made by ZAB in the early 1970s by banning contractor system that is called mafia and ordering government agencies to make the harvesting and marketing. So after Bhutto's orders in Punjab Timber Extraction Division was created, in NWFP it was Forest Development Corporations and in Kashmir it was AkLASC all these exist till today.
Why no such establishment was created in Gilgit Baltistan ? answer is simple because forests in Gilgit and Baltistan are managed by very honest people in Ministry of Kashmir affairs and GB Council having not a single technical person.
This is one side of the story to make a discourse analysis Tribune cannot ignore the following facts that are so hard and the story will not be complete :
Figures of deforestation quoted by FAO are incorrect the fact is that there was an overall increase of 3.1 percent in forests in Pakistan. This is published in "Forest Atlas of Pakistan 2012" authored by Siad Badshah Bokhari published by the once prestigious Pakistan Forest Institute. According to the book funding for this work was provided by the Federal Planning Commission of Pakistan. So we have to believe that there is no deforestation in Pakistan, hence this story.
Tribune must send a clipping of this story to hon Senator Raza Rabbani architect of devolution how and why India put forests in concurrent list and why we did not although we had the same forest Policy of British times making forests a pure provincial subject India changed and we did not
Legal meaning of private property is that the owner can use or misuse it the way he or she likes, in this case of private forests what axe has Tribune or the environmentalists to grind when forests are private property. the owner can sell it at any rate he or she likes nobody can do nothing