'Forests essential for controlling floods, droughts'

KARACHI:

Despite the afforestation efforts by the government, civil society organisations, and local communities, 11,000 hectares of forest cover are lost every year. Major threats to forests in Pakistan include deforestation, wildfires, climate change and conversion of forest land into agriculture, commercial and housing schemes.

This was stated by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan). Further, it stated that protecting forests in Pakistan requires an approach that brings together government institutes, conservation organisations, and local communities.

Pakistan is a forest-poor country, with only five percent of the total area under forests. Most of the land falls under arid and semi-arid regions, so low precipitation deters the growth of forests. In areas where forests remain, their richness and health are declining due to threats such as the rising population.