Urban forestry leaves positive impact on mental health

The International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, on Saturday embarked on an initiative to create an urban forest by planting over 300 saplings. These saplings encompassed a diverse range of trees, including medicinal and fruit-bearing varieties.

During the one-day tree-planting campaign, prominent figures including Prof. Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, ICCBS Patron-in-Chief and former federal minister for science and technology, Prof. Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences and COMSTECH Coordinator General, also participated by planting saplings. The event saw active participation by students, research officers, and faculty members.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman emphasised the critical issue of climate change stemming from global warming and the imminent threat it poses through extreme weather conditions. He stressed that trees represent one of the most effective 'technologies' to counteract global warming and cool our planet.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman hailed the creation of an urban forest within ICCBS as a commendable step towards the environmental protection. Discussing the concept of an urban forest, Prof. Iqbal Chaudhary said, it involves trees and other vegetation flourishing in close proximity to human habitation. He introduced the concept of urban forestry, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akiro Miyawaki, where saplings are densely planted, resulting in accelerated growth, up to ten times faster than conventional methods.

Additionally, he highlighted the positive impact of urban forests on the mental health of those residing nearby. Prof. Chaudhary underlined the crucial role of urban forestry in addressing various environmental concerns, including erosion control, noise and air pollution reduction, wastewater management, and watershed protection.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2023.