A timber depot lacking firewood for sale sums up the locals’ woes. PHOTO: SHABBIR MIR
The federal government has approved the timber policy for Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), which will allow the right to transport or dispose of timber along the Karakoram Highway, officials said on Monday.
A ban on transporting chopped timber had been imposed by the government since the early 1990s to discourage deforestation.
Aftab Haider, advisor on forests and wildlife, said previously the total timber in the valley was four million cubic feet (MMcf), of which two million cubic feet had been cut legally and can now be exported. Another 2MMcf of illegally cut timber will only be allowed to be transported within Gilgit-Baltistan.
The G-B cabinet, following the establishment of a regional government in 2009, sent a timber policy to the federal government for approval by the prime minister.
“We are happy the prime minister has honoured our summary,” said Haider, adding that the lifting of the ban is a step forward towards economic prosperity not only in the Diamer valley, but also in G-B.
Days prior to the approval, traders and local communities in Chilas town had been protesting to lift the ban. Traffic on the Karakoram Highway was twice suspended due to the protest, creating difficulties for commuters travelling between G-B and Rawalpindi.
The timber was starting to decay after being exposed to the sun and rains. Chopped timber stock was also piling up on both sides of the highway.
The forests in Diamer district are owned by local communities, but are regulated under the Forest Regulations of 1970 and managed by the G-B Forest Department.
Under the accession deal signed by the government in 1952, the communities of Chilas, Darel and Tangir own the private forests.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013.
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SDPI Policy Seminar on
Relevance of Manifesto in Political Dynamics of Pakistan A Discussion on Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N)
Monday, 15th April, 2013 03:00- 05:00 pm SDPI, 38, Main Embassy Road, G-6/3, Islamabad
Hats off to the media in particular the reporters of Tribune and Dawn to have kept this coomon issue alive. Here is one more link of yesterday
http://tribune.com.pk/story/532495/deforestation-continues-to-be-a-major-concern-in-gilgit-baltistan/ I hope there is more coverage of statements of those who matter in the Ministries and PM office
Yeah Power corrupts and absolute power does it more. Learn from others who solved the same problem: 1. The Indians divided power on forests between the provinces and the Center so now no province can convert forests or do deforestation without approval of the center. The center gives only policy but full control of implementation is with the provinces. So those who make policy do not implement it 2. The most brilliant minds enter the forest service in Indian forest Service IFS, training and selection is the mandate of the center. Here in Pakistan whatever was left was fully ruined by Senator Rabbani and his team by handing over the Forest Institute to one province who can publish forest data on whims 3. The Indian Forest Survey is an independent body not under the control of the forest department. forest survey reports of all districts are presented and debated in the parliament once every two years Here an ex PM can do what he wants in the last hours of his office
I wonder where the timber mafia spend this money election, drugs or weapons? This deforestation must stop
Here are some raw facts that investigative journalists and environmentalists already know 1. Then Secretary Kashmir Affairs M Javed Malik was forced out of the job because he would not allow Minister Watto do it same was the stance of Babar Yaqub Chief Secretary GB. 2. When both were removed a unilateral decision was taken a few months back. 3. Upon intervention of Rana Farooq Minister Climate change the decision was reversed a few weeks back. 4. Suddenly the press reports that the ex PM gave a farewell gift to the timber mafia 6. Now the only way is that the issue is raised by the press and ask the present Secretary Kashmir Affairs and GB to explain what was his role and did he consult the relevant technical offices before issuance of this notification. It is learned that on 8th April the Senate Standing Committee Chairperson from PPP has convened a meeting with NGOs in this issue. Let us watch what she decides Will the Tribune play its role by reporting the meeting ?
It appears all the hype created by media is false TV channel has taken this up. If you have doubts please see the latest "Forest Atlas of Pakistan" authored by hon Badshah Bokhari the report is based on 4 years of research and satellite based survey conducted with state of the art technology and spending 70 million. The report says that in the last four years the forest area of Kyber Pukhtunkhwa has increased by three percent and same is the case in Gilgit Baltistan. Teh report is based on bias free GIS maps of Google Earth and of variable scales.
What is PTI stand on this issue of Legal Illegal timber policy we the youth want clear answer. The Indians resolved this through a constitutional amendment in 1976 can PTI dare take bold decisions or will be dictated by honorable Senator Raza Rabbani who closed Environment from the Central Government.
While Approving this Policy did the Ministry of Environment realize that the Prime Minister had approved the National climate Change Policy under which there is a chapter on deforestation under REDD plus, Oh ! they closed the Ministry of Environment before taking this bold decision. It is understood that if the same parliament is re-elected they will close also the Ministry of climate change
A little bird tells me that the forest mafia in the provinces through which this timber will pass to down country markets at Lahore and Karachi are very happy. The rate for posting of forest staff at forest check posts has skyrocketed. The staff will check documents of legal and illegal timber certify that it is the one for which the PM has given permission or it is from deforestation done in the forests en route ie.e Kohistan, Hazara, Dir, Abottabad, Chitral or Murree hills . The bird not Najm Sthi's Chirya also tells me that the forest officials are very happy with Senator Raza Rabbani the architect of the 18th Amendment which closed the Ministry of Environment and let loose any province do that it likes while the Ministry of KGB lastly headed by hon Minister Manzur Watto is free to issue such permissions "License to deforestation"
With the oath taking of the caretaker cabinet now there are high hopes that this last moment decision shall be re-visited by the first Cabinet meeting. The decision to release illegal timber by imposing a minor penalty means that we encourage future deforestation
IWith the largest network of Fellows why LEAD may remain silent
ALl these rich talks show that there is a need to a neutral platform to talk to legislators on such issues
All Foresters would request Dawn investigative report on this very issue please
I wonder how InternationalSnow Leopard organization will proceed by silence they must at least seek a fact finding report
There is an orgnization called WCS why they are silent ? Is it that there are no doner funds here
I think the Indian Supreme court has some precedence on such issues
Env sees no boundaries, is there any international forum to take up such matters anywhere in the world, if someone is adept in env law please come up it is time now
This is a perfect case for public interest litigation Are there Env Lawyers in Pakistan?
Kelash and other native forests are weeping
This case has impacts on deforestation in chitral also
It is time for the press to rise beyond personal interests and see this matter of timber mafia
Pakistani Press is too busy in reporting the good deeds of one journalist for not violating the code of the press by refusing to accept a post in the interim government and insinuating Mr Sethi for becoming the Chief Minister. This is good time for the timber mafia as none is interested for the future generations. SDPI is arranging political seminars because the donors have gave them money. If someone gives them money SDPI can arrange seminars and build pressures on the timber mafia
In the Karachi and Sindh markets there is huge demand for deodara timber. The Ministry of commerce has removed duty on imported timber so as to save local forests. Now that local forests are no more safe unless this illegal order is reversed it is heard that the duty on imports is being re-imposed
Interim Chief Ministers can do much to save forests
This is a case where the federal prime minister has allowed movement of illegal timber from one province to another that passes through the third. Provinces involved are Gilgit Baltistan, KpK and Punjab. The revised Forest Act .2010 of the Punjab gives power to make rules to regulate timber movement across provincial and national borders to the federal government. But no such rules are framed so far. The federal government cannot order movement of this timber that will effect and flood the timber market in Lahore. The first thing to stop this is that Punjab and KP governments must either ban or impose duty n this timber to bring it at par with eh market rates Alternation is that this timebr be burned as are confistacted drugs
If SDPI can arrange seminasrs on politics then Environmental politics is a major issue and this is the bed time to take up the deforestation issue now or never
These are serious matters and if Pakistan is serious then this remains a litmus test case.
When all forests and tigers are gone we will then really enjoy National Geographic channel so lwt us make max movies now
I recall that the then IG Forests and Ambassador Mr Abdul Malik Khattak ltried to solve,this chronic problem once for all: he approved a project worth 12 crore in 1982 to buy and retire all purchases done by timber mafia. The poor forest owners had sold their rights to the timber at shoestring prices to the timber mafia. This timber mafia arranged protests against the IG, they bribed every one to undo the iG and finally the government dropped the project. And today it is the tenth time that a one time waiver is granted to the timber mafia. Does anybody recall that project of the then Ministry of Food and Agriculture
the government servant cannot do anything have to obey orders only. But remember the recent supreme court decision to obey illegal orders is a crime
I bet that even with the preset bad law order situation we can earn many time more if the timber is not removed but it will be zero income if there are no forests
Agreed Civil society can play a role but decision is to be taken by the courts or the government But we have to do something before the entire timber is removed
I am a forest owner from Chilas the very area where this deforestation happens. I have lot to say to save the forests, I even went to Supreme court for a suo moto but did not succeed so far I need civil soceity support but do not know how Please contact me if there are champions of forestry here kmqureshiliveadmin@yahoo.com phone : 03343918846
SDPI should take up this case we need to engage the interim government and the Senators
Where are the champions of democracy and forests Helga and Tahira Abdulla when IUCN and WWF and LEAD are sleeping
Why the sourts are silent becaue there is no NGO to take up this case ?
This decsion was made on the last date while so many cases are withdrawn by the courts but nobdy pays atttention to this license to deforestation
There is no scientific issues involved in deforestation in Gilgit Baltistan, as the issue has more economic and political basis. The people living there have no much economic opportunities and dependent upon natural resources including forests. In the recent past the government officials especially from neighboring KP took advantage of the poverty and exploited the resources through such dubious policies and administrative measures. For some people Gilgit Baltistan is still a free grazing area and they as some Bokhari to take charge, amazing. The route with China has nothing to do with this subject as the author has his own opinion which too very ill informed. Government and people of Pakistan should seriously think about payment for environment services by forests in the watershed of the country and compensate the custodians. Alternative solutions can be worked out to provide more direct benefits to the local communities rather than charging extra fines by others on the commodities owned by someone else as such a practice has led to more exploitation of resources to meet the ends.
Ali
Sometime back I wrote a paper in International Journal of Pavements on how to make Kara Korum Highway (KKH) as an all weather road that can be used throughout the year with minimum disruptions.
I wonder do you really want to increase deforestation in Pakistan by exporting timber to china instead of exporting fuel/gas through pipelines, not by trucks.
I would say that a rail line will be an additional transport project that can be supported by China's funds and technical expertise top open trade corridor to China from Arabia Sea.
23rd March is Pakistan Day. No news about it?
Sometime back I wrote a paper in International Journal of Pavements on how to make Kara Korum Highway (KKH) as an all weather road that can be used throughout the year with minimum disruptions.
I wonder do you really want to increase deforestation in Pakistan by exporting timber to china instead of exporting fuel/gas through pipelines, not by trucks.
I would say that a rail line will be an additional transport project that can be supported by China by funds and technical support in exchange for preferred trade from Arabia Sea.
How can forests increase in computers while we see deforestation everywhere
I propose that this issue as it relates to Climate Change must be taken up by the PM Task Force or the Committees formed for this purpose
As reported in the Provincial Assembly by the Minister Forests Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The good news is that 3 percent of forest area has increased in Khyber province ever since the present DG was posted at the Forest Institute. 3 percent increase means 5 million Acres just in three years. WWF was partner of PFI in this district level research The best way is to request Mr Bokhari to take over the charge of Secretary Forests Gilgit and resolved this problem
In the past a royalty tax was imposed by NWFP Forest Department that acted as deterrent but the then Ministers relaxed it too
How could the other provinces located between the markets at Lahore and Karachi and where this deforestation is happening keep silent. In the absence of any federal agency to look after national forestry issues the provinces of Punjab, KP and Sindh can impose their own taxes to make this timber less attractive for smugglers. This is the one way to stop deforestation ! LET US LOBBY TO CONVINCE PROVINCES OF PUNJAB AND KYBER PAKHTUNKHWA TO LEVY HEAVY TAXES ON THIS TIMBER ESTIMATED AT 3 BILLION RUPEES
The first thing the interim Prime Minister should do is to re-visit the decision taken by his outgoing predecessor to lift a ban that will set pace for future deforestation in the country.
Roadmap process for improving forest protection initiated
Friday, March 01, 2013 From Print Edition
38 0 0 16
Islamabad
The Ministry of Climate Change, ICIMOD and WWF-Pakistan, with the support of the One UN Joint Programme on Environment, took an important step towards making forests a major part of Pakistan’s strategy to combat climate change, says a press release.
Over 60 forestry experts and stakeholders gathered to initiate a ‘roadmap’ process for improving forest protection and management.
A mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is now one of the key elements of international climate change negotiations. REDD+ is a new way of financing good forest management.
Industrialised nations will provide incentives to developing countries for their efforts to reduce the rate at which forests are lost or damaged, and to increase forest cover and quality, using accurate assessment of the level of carbon in forests as an indicator of success.
The ministry has already taken steps to introduce REDD+ to Pakistan by forming a national REDD+ steering committee, and securing support from the One UN JPE to begin a REDD+ readiness project, which aims to identify the drivers of forest loss and degradation in Pakistan, and strategies to address them.
The REDD+ Roadmap process launched at Thursday’s workshop draws on the experience of several other countries in Asia and the Pacific, with technical support from the United National Collaborative Programme on REDD+ (the UN-REDD Programme), jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The UN-REDD programme will provide additional financial support to the Pakistan REDD+ Roadmap process, in coordination with the One UN JPE project.
Islamabad Roadmap process for improving forest protection initiated
Friday, March 01, 2013 From Print Edition
38 0 0 16
Islamabad
The Ministry of Climate Change, ICIMOD and WWF-Pakistan, with the support of the One UN Joint Programme on Environment, took an important step towards making forests a major part of Pakistan’s strategy to combat climate change, says a press release.
Over 60 forestry experts and stakeholders gathered to initiate a ‘roadmap’ process for improving forest protection and management.
A mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is now one of the key elements of international climate change negotiations. REDD+ is a new way of financing good forest management.
Industrialised nations will provide incentives to developing countries for their efforts to reduce the rate at which forests are lost or damaged, and to increase forest cover and quality, using accurate assessment of the level of carbon in forests as an indicator of success.
The ministry has already taken steps to introduce REDD+ to Pakistan by forming a national REDD+ steering committee, and securing support from the One UN JPE to begin a REDD+ readiness project, which aims to identify the drivers of forest loss and degradation in Pakistan, and strategies to address them.
The REDD+ Roadmap process launched at Thursday’s workshop draws on the experience of several other countries in Asia and the Pacific, with technical support from the United National Collaborative Programme on REDD+ (the UN-REDD Programme), jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The UN-REDD programme will provide additional financial support to the Pakistan REDD+ Roadmap process, in coordination with the One UN JPE project.
Can every body read this with the positive news also from Pakistan http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-162785-Roadmap-process-for-improving-forest-protection-initiated
Timber Mafia is stronger than the legitimate governments. This policy forever has two objectives of enhancing financial charges to allow transport of timber and benefit the policy makers i.e. Federal Minster for GB and AJK. Apart from the status of deodar as national tree in Pakistan these forests are part of habitat of many CITES listed animals also like Musk deer, Astore Markhor and endemic species like Woolly flying Squirrel. The NGOs in Pakistan do not play their role as pressure groups but most likely they are in the business of consulting and supporting role in policy formulation and services delivery. The two of the NGOs mentioned by George are partners with government. In fact there is no real NGO or civil society on forefront to oppose the government for such crimes.
Ali Ahmad Jan
What next
No action can be taken in the interim period
I suppose that one option is to approach the court secodn is to ask Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change Senator Saeeda Iqbal to convene a meeting as tenure of the Committee continues
I checked wihh Pakistan Laws on forests; each province has its own laws there is no federal law that could check inter provincial movement of timber or across Pakistan's international borders.
International Day of Forests was celebrated at Serena with the Ministry of Climate Change. I propose lets decide on a Day of Deforestation celebrated right where this timber moves along the highways
The urgent thing the PM must do in the remaining few hours of his office is to stop and shelve all projects meant to pay the people cash for not cutting trees i.e. REDD No Natural Forests No REDD
Snow Leopards do not live in forests they come to the forests to feed on livestock
What kind of wild animals live in these forests that are cut and legalized Snow Leopard I believe and Bears
What can IUCN and WWF do
Wow it took three hundred years for the tree to mature and only in the last three days of his office the RENTAL Prime Minister took this bold decision to lift the ban Hats off Democracy
Will someone inform if any CITES listed species is included in this deforestation
Combating illegal logging key to saving our forests and preventing climate change Protecting the world's last remaining natural forests is crucial to global efforts to tackle climate change. There is widespread and growing scientific consensus that it will only be possible to avoid the tipping point when climate change becomes irreversible if we achieve both a reduction in overall industrial emissions of greenhouse gases, and establish an effective mechanism to protect forests from further degradation or deforestation. Living forests are the earth's green lungs that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, keeping our biosphere in balance. Logging and clearing forests releases that carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, with deforestation currently estimated to account for 17 per cent of global carbon emissions, more than from all the world's air, road, rail and shipping traffic combined.
Forests are also an important reservoir of biodiversity, providing habitat for more than two-thirds of the world's terrestrial species. A cure for cancer, and countless other diseases, is likely to be found amongst the exotic species in our forests. But it is not just for environmental reasons that forest protection has captivated our imagination: forests keep more than 1.6 billion people alive. A quarter of the world's population lives in or depends on forests for their food, medicines, shelter and fuel, with 90 per cent of the population living below the poverty line dependent entirely or in part on forests for their survival.
During the last few years, international climate change negotiations have focused on establishing a financial mechanism to reward countries for implementing policies that protect their forests. This mechanism, known as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries), has focused principally on finding positive financial incentives to motivate industry and governments to shift their policies to favour more sustainable forestry practices. The REDD mechanism is supported by the United Nations, the World Bank and other initiatives.
Billions of dollars have been committed for REDD , most of that originating in developed countries and spent in developing countries. This funding has focused on the preparation phase of REDD , supporting developing countries to create national strategies, undertake policy reform and capacity building. The ultimate objective is to bring about an overall shift in government policy and industry practice towards sustainable forest management. Providing positive financial incentives – such as tax breaks, subsidies and the opportunity to generate carbon credits – will play an important role in encouraging this shift. However, while it is important to use positive incentives to reward good behaviour, we must also punish bad behaviour. Even the best forest management policies will be ineffective unless complemented by robust enforcement mechanisms.
Coupling financial incentives with stronger law enforcement is the best way to bring about long-term change in forestry practice. Unfortunately, not enough focus has been given to building law enforcement capacity. Tackling forestry crime, particularly illegal logging, should be one of the first steps in the battle to save the world's forests. Every two seconds, an area of forest the size of a football field is clear-cut by illegal loggers, with the highest rates of deforestation taking place in the regions where illegal logging is at its worst – the Amazon Basin, Central Africa and Southeast Asia.
Illegal logging is a direct indicator of weak forest governance. Unless robust forest governance is implemented, even the best government policies will be repeatedly undermined by an industry that simply ignores those policies in favour of quick financial gains. As it stands, between 15 and 30 per cent of all timber traded globally is estimated to come from illegal sources. Focusing on key forested countries, the situation is more acute, with 50-90 per cent of their timber exports estimated to be illegal. Tackling illegal logging is, therefore, crucial to preventing overall forest loss. This has been seen in the Brazilian Amazon, Indonesia and Cameroon, where law enforcement efforts during the past decade have brought illegal logging rates down by 50-75 per cent and saved up to 17 million hectares of forest from degradation.
In addition to causing forest loss, illegal logging has a significant negative impact on government revenue, economic stability and public health.
Illegal logging, and the corruption supporting it, costs governments around USD 30 billion every year. Stronger law enforcement efforts can help recover this lost revenue. For every dollar invested to reduce illegal logging, between two and six dollars of additional revenue can be generated – up to a six-fold return on investment.
Illegal logging operations are incredibly destructive, with operators moving into and out of a forest, extracting what they can quickly with little regard for the environment. Illegal land clearing pollutes water sources and causes landslides and other natural disasters, while illegal logging operations run by organized criminal networks deny forest-dependent communities access to their food, medicine and fuel.
A coordinated and international response is essential to combat the organized transnational criminal groups involved in forestry crime. Stronger law enforcement efforts in one country must be supported by the neighbouring countries to ensure the illegal logging operations do not simply relocate across the border.
Law enforcement officers in many timber producing countries face many challenges, including low wages, little training and poor equipment. Their efforts need the support of the importing countries, who can have a direct impact on demand for illegal timber by prohibiting the import and sale of illegally sourced wood. While such legislation exists in the United States, enforcement and prosecutions are rare. Similar legislation has been introduced Australia and the European Union, although there is no indication yet whether other major importing countries will follow suit.
Finally, it is important to recognize that reducing the supply of illegal timber on the global market helps reduce overall timber demand, a vital ingredient in efforts to protect forests. Illegal logging floods the market with cheap wood, suppressing global timber prices between seven and 16 per cent. Tackling illegal logging will increase overall timber prices to reflect its true market value, consequently reducing demand and making efforts to improve the efficiency of timber processing, recycling and re-use more economically viable. It will also benefit the law-abiding members of the timber industry by allowing them to obtain appropriate market prices for their timber. Such companies are currently being denied about USD 30 billion per year in lost profits.
It is important that incentives, regulations, punishments and rewards must all be simultaneously implemented in order to promote forest protection and sustainable forest management. International negotiations, which have so far focused only on providing incentives, should also turn their consideration to strategies to strengthen forest governance, including directly addressing illegal logging and building the capacity of law enforcement authorities in forested countries. This is an issue that needs to be brought into the debate and made a central component of the actions taken by developing countries to address deforestation and forest degradation.
Davyth Stewart Criminal Intelligence Officer Team Leader, Project LEAF
The Germans replanted all their forests after the great war and so did the Brits
Please read this decision by the outgoing Prime Minister along with the last legal amendment by the Sindh Assembly: in the later the members of the provincial assembly have been granted lifelong privileges so one province will continue to cut trees while the other will continue to provide luxuries to the Parliamentarians
As far as I know this issue is directly related to the Unconstitutional amendment where all powers were transferred to the provinces. This is an inter-provincial issue rather an international issue for which the wise parliamentarians pay no attention
Alas
Government must ensure that there is deforestation. It is very difficult to get the forest to grow a gain.
Alas.now deforestation will speed up