Timber smuggling: Precious forests thinning out in Swat

Locals accuse forest authorities of being indifferent, negligent.

SWAT:

Though once abundant in foliage and trees, Swat valley is fast losing its greenery to illegal logging and smuggling of timber. Locals blame the forest department and influential timber smugglers of denuding the forest area - a trend they say is on the rise.

“Our precious, thick forests are thinning out as influential timber smugglers are actively involved in large-scale cutting and smuggling of the woods,” Nazir Khan, a resident of Kalam told The Express Tribune. “We see trucks laden with timber crossing the check-points unchecked,” he added.

“However, while trucks after trucks full of precious timber are being transported down country openly, we are not even allowed to cut firewood,” said a local of Boyun village. He added that illegal tree felling is taking a toll on the natural beauty of the valley, which attracts scores of tourists.

“People visit various parts of the valley to enjoy the pleasant weather and the scenery but the illegal logging is marring its beauty,” said another local, appealing to the government to take strict action against the smugglers.

On the other hand, Shah Aslam, a senior district forest officer at Madyan, said there is a mechanism to monitor and control illegal felling and smuggling. “These allegations are baseless, we are vigilant and do not allow smuggling of wood.” He also insisted that locals were allowed to cut firewood.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Forest and Environment Wajid Ali Khan concurred. He said the forest department and local jirgas in upper Swat keep check on timber smuggling and have set up check points in various locations to curb the practice.

The K-P has banned tree felling since 1992. According to government’s policy, only fallen trees can be removed from the forests, while heavy fine and strict punishment is imposed on violators.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2012.