orests, sometimes described as the “lungs of the Earth,” play a pivotal role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting life-sustaining oxygen. They provide indispensable ecosystem services, including regulating the water cycle, safeguarding biodiversity and supporting local livelihoods.

Potential depletion of forests in Khybe Pakhtunkhwa poses not only a local environmental hazard but also reverberates globally, as repercussions of deforestation extend far beyond provincial borders, impacting ecosystems and communities nationwide and on a global scale. The caretaker government’s Woodlot Policy has allegedly resulted in extensive harvesting across private forests, including the Guzara Forest.

Under another controversial policy, called the Scientific Management of Forests, the Forest Department launched a widespread harvesting campaign. It was claimed that the trees being logged were either dead, diseased or drying. Hundreds of thousands of cubic feet of wood were harvested as a result, leading to a surplus of woodlots. Thousands of the lots remain unsold. There had been a ban on forest harvesting in the KP since 1992 due to rampant deforestation in the guise of legal practices.

The civil society and conservationists have vehemently opposed the new policies, asserting that these will caused irreparable damage to the ecosystem and ecosystem services. It has been pointed out that conifer forests in the KP constitute only five per cent of the province’s forest cover. The controversy underscores the need for a balanced approach to forestry management that considers both economic interests and environmental sustainability.

Galliat Tahaffuz Movement, a regional civil society organisation, has strongly opposed the forest extraction campaign in Hazara. Sardar Sabir, the GTM chairperson, has raised alarm warning of severe ecological repercussions of the new policies. The movement, dedicated to preserving natural habitats and biodiversity in the Galliat region, is opposed to the exploitation of forests. Its members have vowed to take a stand against it at every available forum.

Sabir says the critical importance of forests in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems, providing essential services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and habitat preservation cannot be ignored. He says indiscriminate extraction of forests not only poses a grave threat to biodiversity but also exacerbates environmental degradation, leading to irreversible consequences for future generations.

The potential depletion of forests in KP poses not only a local environmental hazard but also reverberates globally, as repercussions of deforestation extend far beyond provincial borders.

Expressing grave concerns over the short-sighted approach of prioritising economic gains over environmental sustainability, Sardar Sabir says that the Galliat Tahaffuz Movement will mobilise activists to raise awareness about the devastating impact of forest extraction. He says the organisation will engage in advocacy efforts to urge the authorities to halt the extraction campaign and instead promote sustainable forest management practices. He says that if the extraction campaign is not halted promptly, the Galliat Tahaffuz Movement will stage protest demonstrations to draw attention to the urgent need for conservation action. He has called upon all stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organisations and local communities, to unite to safeguard the precious natural heritage of Hazara division and ensure the protection of forests for future generations.

Asked about the Scientific Forest Management, former chief conservator Malik Mumtaz Khan says that it is due to such policies that the forest cover in the province has been shrinking. He says that catastrophic destruction of forests was first noticed in the 1992 floods. As a result, a complete ban on forest harvesting was imposed. Despite this ban period, unprecedented transportation of timber was recorded. This raised questions about the timber mafia’s methods of making the ban ineffective. During the same period, a policy for the extraction of windfalls from the forest was implemented. This too was abandoned after some scandals came to light.

Commenting upon the policy of extraction of snags from the forest, he said that this was in direct conflict with the management objectives. He said the policy violated the present-day norms of forest management and was detrimental to the national economy, international conservation efforts.

He said a movement had been started to create awareness amongst policymakersand the communities. He said several articles on demerits of national parks and the sufferings of animals had been published in the media. Also, efforts had been made to move summaries for de-notifications of the national parks rules.

ZB Mirza, an environmental scientist, warns of alarming consequences of excessive forest extraction in the KP in general and Galliat and Hazara regions in particular. He cautions against the shortsightedness of such actions. Highlighting the invaluable ecological services provided by forests, the scientist argues that their preservation is paramount for sustainability.

Drawing parallels with the global outcry over large-scale logging and deforestation in temperate zone and tropical forests, he urges action to safeguard Pakistan’s natural heritage. He urges for greater awareness and education on ecological principles, emphasising the need for informed decision-making.

Muhammad Yousaf, the chief conservator of forests for Hazara region, says that the forest cover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has surpassed international standards. He says it now constitutes 26 percent of the province’s area. He says that the forests can now be treated like a viable cash crop. He says there is limited space left for afforestation. He also says that 25 percent forest cover is sufficient for the economic stability of a country. He says Pakistan which has been importing wood from Turkey and re-exporting it can now export from its own forests.

His assertions raise questions about the launch of a Billion Tree Plus initiative by the government.

The writer is The News correspondent based in Abbottabad