Restoring local ecosystem: Native species plantation launched

HARIPUR: To restore and promote the local ecosystem through the plantation of native species and ensure environmental sustainability, the Haripur district administration, here on Wednesday launched an aforestation campaign in the district.

The ceremony was held at Government Centennial Model Higher School for Boys No. 1, where Deputy Commissioner Shauzat Abbas was the chief guest.Sharing the aims of the campaign with the audience, Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Abbas said that the main objective of this plantation drive was to promote environmental awareness and conservation among students and the community by inculcating in them the importance of an environmentally sustainable Pakistan.

The drive titled “Adopt a Plant” according to the official, was started in collaboration with WWF and through this initiative, the native species of 12,000 saplings like Chir (Pinus roxburghii), Shesham(Dalbergia sissoo), and Phulai (Acacia modesta) were being planted at an area of 11 hectares in various educational institutions and government buildings of the district. This initiative, he said, underscored the importance of indigenous species in environmental preservation through individual care and efforts and it would not only contribute to the national forest policy but also the international Sustainable Development Goals- SDG.