ur forests are not just trees; they are also the lungs of our planet, the guardians of our biodiversity and the foundation of local communities’ livelihoods,” says Saman Jahandad, a BS student from the University of Peshawar, as he passes by a bunch of lush green trees on roadsides while travelling in a Hiace van on the Swabi-Peshawar motorway.

Every year, the World Nature Conservation Day is observed on July 28. This is an important opportunity to focus on our shared responsibility to save and conserve the natural world. The worldwide celebration draws attention to how important it is to solve environmental issues like deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss. The day is an opportunity to assess regional effects and activities as nations come together to support conservation efforts. The importance of local activities in the larger context of global sustainability is highlighted on the World Nature Conservation Day.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is known for its natural beauty. However, it is facing a serious deforestation catastrophe. This day is an important reminder of the need to save and restore KP’s rapidly disappearing forests that are not only home to a wide variety of species but also essential to the area’s ecological and economic health. The fight against deforestation is critical for the future of the province. The KP must strike a balance between development and sustainable practices in the face of worldwide calls for environmental sustainability.

Recent data published by the World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, shows that the country has the greatest yearly deforestation rate in Asia. The forests make up only 2.5 per cent of the nation’s land. In the KP, deforestation has far-reaching effects. It releases stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, disrupts ecosystems and results in a decline in biodiversity. Additionally, communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods, clean water and protection against calamities like floods and landslides are negatively impacted by deforestation.

Despite significant challenges, the KP has made some remarkable efforts to safeguard and restore its natural heritage. These initiatives are having a significant impact on the local and global community. They range from introducing sustainable forest management methods to spearheading large-scale reforestation projects like the Billion Tree Tsunami. In light of the pressing need to address climate change and environmental degradation, these initiatives demonstrate the value of regional action in advancing global conservation objectives.

According to the WWF report, the province’s fauna and flora are disappearing as a result of an increase in the frequency of forest fires. Examples of the forest fires include those in the Margallah and Chilgoza forests in Shirani, Balochistan. In the KP, uncontrolled logging is going on under the cover of the windfall policy, disregarding the recommendations in the scientific management plans. This needs to stop.

The has incredible natural beauty and plenty of wildlife. It is a treasure of natural beauty, comprising the high peaks of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges and the lush green valleys and dense forests.

“Deforestation in KP is a socioeconomic concern in addition to an environmental one. Communities rely on these resources. Their disappearance will cause erosion of the soil, impacting agriculture and affecting the quality of water.”

The environmental challenges faced by the rest of the world also affect this area. Although the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has leased land to Merlin’s Wood for the next 40 years to begin REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) activities in the Battagram, Torghar and Mansehra districts in the Hazara division, as well as Swat in the Malakand division, Pakistan has yet to extend the system to a national scale. Whether the residents of the target areas have been taken into confidence by the government, is not known.

Dr Imran Ali, an ecologist working with a local NGO on nature conservation, says “Deforestation in the KP is a socioeconomic concern in addition to being an environmental one. Communities rely on these resources. Their disappearance will mean the loss of forests. This causes erosion of the soil, which impacts agriculture, and affects the quality of water. Taking a multifaceted approach is necessary to address this situation.”

Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country in the world according to the Global Climate Index. Forest issues are trans-boundary in nature. They influence the country locally, regionally and globally. Forestry was devolved to the provincial governments after the 18th Amendment. According to the Global Forest Watch, Pakistan is among the seven regions responsible for 55 per cent of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2016. The KP suffered the greatest tree cover loss (4.17 percent).

“The distinctive biodiversity of the KP is both a blessing and a responsibility. We need to work continuously to protect these natural resources. In this battle, community awareness and involvement are essential. Our people must be made aware of the value of sustainable lifestyle choices and the long-term advantages of conservation,” says an environmental activist from Agriculture University, Peshawar.

The World Conservation Day is an occasion for raising awareness regarding the significance of conserving and protecting our natural resources and ecosystems. This day serves as a reminder of how important it is for every person to protect the environment for the future generations. The World Nature Conservation Day is a wonderful occasion to honour and support the protection of the natural world.

Creating a legislative framework that supports investments in forests and sustainable forest management techniques is the first step for afforestation. Technical infrastructure upgrades and expansions are needed for reporting and monitoring in order to provide a strong foundation for the scientific management of forest resources. The federal and provincial governments can collaborate to promote the successful formulation and implementation of forest policies.

Public sector organisations need to strengthen the accountability of their practices. Such initiatives will bolster the confidence of both local and foreign partners in the forest sector.

Sami Ullah Khan, the Environmental Protection Agency director general, says that their mission is to provide a healthy and pollution-free living environment for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He says that the environment is a collective asset and a shared responsibility. All citizens, he says, should actively participate in its protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement. This involves preventing and controlling pollution while promoting sustainable development across the province.

Khan says that the governments’ commitment to ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be sustained.

All of us should contribute to environmental protection. By working together, we can effectively control pollution and foster sustainable development, ensuring a better future for generations to come.

The writer is a freelance journalist