Environmental protection: ‘Policies to be modified in light of climate change’

Secretary Environment says forest cover will increase by 2% in five years.

PESHAWAR: The provincial government is working on modifying both the provincial wildlife act, as well as the environment protection policy, to make it more suitable to the current scenario in the country and cope with climate change, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Secretary for Environment Muhammad Shahrukh Arbab.

Addressing a gathering held by the K-P Environment Department at the Pakistan Forest Institute on Friday to mark the International Day of Forests, Arbab said, “The provincial government is working on several important projects to revive and sustain forests. It is our aim to bring more area of the province under forest cover.”



Arbab said the government is currently working on the first phase of a project which will increase the forest cover of K-P by 2% during the next five years. This initiative by the provincial government, he added, is proof of how seriously they take the issue.

Ex-forest conservator Ameerullah Gandapur spoke of the important role of forests in sustainable development.

Gandapur said that forests not only help in creating a good ecosystem, but are vital for the production of fodder, livestock and herbal medicines.

Participants at the event, however, expressed their concerns that the department has failed to protect forests in the province, due to which there has been extensive deforestation.

“The department said 10 trees will be planted for the loss of one; however, no one has followed this rule,” said Halima Saad, a student at Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2014.