Green cover: Urban forestry termed need of hour

MNA calls for planting fruit trees, kitchen gardening,

Urban forestry is a need of the hour to make cities sustainable and liveable, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam said on Wednesday.

“Forests and greenery are the ultimate cures against global devastation,” said Alam said at an event held to mark International Forest Day at Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (Pips).

In spite of efforts on provincial, federal and governmental level Pakistan is still lacking the capacity to cope with international forestation level standards, she said at the meeting organised by the Ministry of Climate change in collaboration of Gharana Group of Companies, Be There, Young Parliamentarian Forum, Green Pakistan Programme, International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Association of Overseas Pakistanis, and Social Development and Policy Institute (SDPI).



Though the global standard for forest cover was 25%, in Pakistan it was only 5%, the parliamentary secretary for climate change reminded.

Therefore urban forestry was the need of the hour to make cities sustainable and liveable. Urban forestry mainly concerns the need of plantation in cities which were more prone to high pollution levels and ultimately more diseases and disasters as compared to villages.

Alam said that urban plantation could be suitable along road sides, along park corners and it might also be suitable for every house to plant a fruit tree in house lawn or open areas outside the houses.

On other hand kitchen gardening must be appreciated at smaller levels and building green infrastructures and concept of vertical gardening is also taking shape as recently introduced in Amazon Mall, a project of Gharana Group of Companies, she noted.

While talking about the importance of forests she said: “Forests apart of being a useful source of fruits and nuts, timber and fuel, shadow and shades help in maintaining climatic balance, keep check on pollution levels and support a large portion of biodiversity.”



Reminding that planting a tree was, according to Holy Prophet, a Sadqaa, a lasting good deed, and “as an economist, environmentalist, climatologist, governmental official and a responsible citizen we all are in no harm to do this Sadaqaa, indeed.”

She also highlighted “ghar ghar aik shajar” or tree in every house programme crossing the target of 8,000 plants and distribution of 3,600 plants in schools as the contributions of ministry for the cause and ensured further projects.

Islamabad Deputy Mayor Zeeshan Naqvi appreciated the plantation derive schemes of both CDA and climate change ministry and talked about the awareness in people towards sustainability and greenery.

Gharana Group of Companies Chairman Shafique Akbar said urban forestry was the main theme including Amazon Mall.

He also called for promoting this trend in other buildings as well as malls and markets.

National University of Science and Technology Professor Dr Asghar Naeem said: “Green cover of the cities has changed drastically over the years making Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Peshawar cities with worst air pollutions. We have to act now to make our cities liveable.”

Institute of Architecture Vice Presidents Fawad Sohail Abbasi said there is need to develop architecture standards promoting vertical forestry in cities.

He said architects can play an active role in urban forestation by designing green architectures.



FAO message

FAO Representative Dr Faizul Bari said forests and trees store carbon which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change in, and around, urban areas. Trees also improve the local climate, helping to save energy used for heating by 20-50 per cent.

Strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to eight degree centigrade, reducing air conditioning needs by 30 per cent. Urban trees are excellent air filters, removing harmful pollutants in the air and fine particulates. Trees reduce noise pollution, as they shield homes from nearby roads and industrial areas.

Forests in and around urban areas help filter and regulate water, contributing to high quality fresh water supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Forests also protect watersheds and prevent flooding as they store water in their branches and soil.

Forests in cities and surrounding areas generate tourism, create tens of thousands of jobs and encourage city beautification scheme, building dynamic, energetic and prosperous green economics.

Urban green spaces, including forests, encourage active and healthy lifestyles, improve mental health, prevent diseases and provide a place for people to socialise.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2018.