🇵🇰 Tree Plantation (1 Viewer)

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500 Fruit Trees (Louqat) have been planted in Ankara Park by CDA.
As part of plantation strategy, CDA is planting local/indigenous plants that support local eco system and environment.

 

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Paper Mulberry trees are being removed from F-9 Park because they cause allergies. 12,000 Mulberry trees are being removed and 36,000 indigenous trees will be planted as replacements in F9 Park.

The target for planting these native trees is set to be completed by March 31, 2024, promoting a healthier and more sustainable environment.

The following large size (12’ to 15’) indigenous trees are being planted in F9 Park as replacement.

(1) Chir Pine
(2) Kachnar
(3)Jacaranda
(4)Amaltas
(5)Pilkhan
(6)Sukhchain
(7)Sapium
(8)Fiddle Wood
(9)Arjan

Source,,,,,,,: CDA

 

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3rd China-Pak non-wood forest S&T exchange conference to be held this month​

By Mia Shah | China Economic Net
Nov 21, 2023

ZHENGZHOU, - The third Science and Technology Exchange Conference on China-Pakistan Tropical Arid Non-wood Forest will be held from October 26 to 28 in Zhengzhou, China, and Gwadar, Pakistan. The conference will take place both online and offline simultaneously.

The event is hosted by the Chinese Society of Forestry (CSF) and Central South University of Forestry and Technology, and organized by Henan Agricultural University, Henan Forestry Society, Economic Forest Branch of CSF, China Overseas Port Holding Company and Yulin Holdings.

With a focus on medicinal woody plants and their active substances, the organizers will invite experts from both China and Pakistan to discuss the advancements made in improving the efficiency of the non-wood forest industry in arid areas. The conference will specifically highlight the extraction and utilization of these plants and their active substances in arid regions.

The science and technology exchange conference also seeks to facilitate the improvement of ecological environment and people's livelihoods in Pakistan's tropical arid areas. At the same time, its research results will also contribute to the Chinese market and help address the shortage of non-wood forest products in China.

 

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Drive to plant 15m trees launched​

Staff Reporter
May 26, 2023

Milkar Pakistan and Al-Khidmat Foundation (AKF) have launched a countrywide mega tree plantation drive from provincial metropolis targeting to plant 15 million trees across the country.

In the first phase, 15 thousand saplings are being planted in Lahore with the collaboration of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) under the “Smog free Lahore” programme.

The launching of the first phase of the mega tree plantation drive was held near Lahore airport on Wednesday where Project Director of MilKar Pakistan Kashf Shah, AKF vice president Dr Mushtaq Mangat, Director General PHA Tahir Watoo, President AKF Punjab Ikram-ul-Haq, heads of various universities, a large number of students and volunteers and people from different walks of life participated in the ceremony.

The campaign was started by the orphan children who planted saplings in the names of their parents, while other participants also planted saplings in the names of their loved ones. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mushtaq Mangat said that AKF is determined to plant millions of saplings across the country to improve the environment, eco system and health of the countrymen better.

He said PHA has taken the responsibility for maintenance of the saplings being planted while AKF and MilKar Pakistan will conduct awareness campaigns among the masses about making Pakistan green and will play their role in planting more trees across the country. Kashf Shah said "Smog Free Lahore" campaign is a big step in the context of countrywide tree plantation campaign aimed at protecting the country from the dangerous effects of the global climate changes.

Highlighting the importance of planting more and more trees to save the eco system, Kashf Shah hoped that the positive effects of this campaign will be seen in near future and benefit the entire nation in the years to come. PHA DG Tahir Watoo praised the efforts of AKF and Milkar Pakistan for the protection of environment.

 

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Beauties of nature find haven in Clifton urban forest​

Shazia Hasan
May 22, 2023

Flamingos in huge numbers flock together in the artificially created lagoon at the Clifton urban forest. Although flamingos are indigenous birds, it’s a rare occurrence that the migratory flamingos are also arriving here from India on their way back to Europe. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
KARACHI: You turn towards the Clifton Urban Forest and you run into the man responsible for growing this jungle, or rather jungle mein mangal (feast in the forest), briskly marching off somewhere. He doesn’t look happy. He has just been informed about someone trying to trap the flamingos in his artificially created lagoon.

“The lagoon these days is attracting both the migrating greater flamingos and lesser flamingos. The greater flamingos, which are some five-and-a-half feet tall, need a bit of running space before taking off, like an aeroplane. And here we have the kidnappers, who spread kite strings in their strides, to make their long and thin legs buckle as they catch them,” said Masood Lohar, the man behind the urban forest.

“I keep getting phone calls from odd people offering me money to get them a pair of flamingos because they want to keep exotic animals at their place. That day I even found a poacher here,” Lohar shared, shaking his head in disbelief.
“We have been seeing some 120 species of migrating birds and nesting birds, insects and animals here on this 220 acres of land that we have turned into an urban forest with an artificial lagoon and mudflats. This is now the largest biodiversity rich lagoon in Pakistan,” he said.

120 species of migrating and nesting birds, insects and animals sighted in the forest

From moving here two-and-a-half years ago and living in a little blue camper’s tent among the lizards and snakes and surrounded by a garbage dump that he dug up as deep as he could to clean, Lohar seems to be doing a little better now on the home front. He has built a little office with an adjoining bedroom.

“I still live here,” he said, pointing to his bedroom behind the office. “The day I leave, I know my own men will be selling the rare birds to the highest bidders,” he added.

The Clifton Urban Forest, started on Jan 8, 2021 in close coordination with the Sindh government, is a community-based voluntary initiative of Masood Lohar, the former head of UNDP-GEF SGP, from the platform of Sindh Radiant Organisation (SRO) to restore ecosystem, create urban resilience and conserve the marine ecosystem of Karachi.
It has now become a successful model of ecosystem restoration and covers Sustainable Development Goals such as eliminating hunger, providing good health and well-being, building sustainable cities and communities, taking climate action, helping life below water and life on land.

Lohar has really created what he had set out to do. Back in 2021, when he was living in the tent while clean up work and planting saplings was going on here, he had counted 42 different bird species and noticed three types of lizards. Today, he talks about moorhens, cavendish plovers, lesser sand plovers, swallows, little stilts and black stilts. He tells you about the 12 species of butterflies, three species of honeybees and the lots of beetles, all marvels of biodiversity. “You won’t even find so many species at Haleji Lake,” he beamed.

Masood Lohar, the man behind the urban forest, in sync with nature he recreated around himself.—White Star

“A bird photographer also spotted and photographed two internationally near threatened birds, the black tailed godwit and the Eurasian curlew and also made a record of the first-ever sighting of the crab plover in the lagoon,” he shared.

In the 26 to 27 months that he has been here, Lohar has planted some 700,000 trees here of some 83 species, which include mangroves, water lilies and lotus out in the open sea to create the artificial lagoon and mudflats.

He takes you to his forest with all the trees, bushes and long grass allowed to grow wildly. “Watch me walk in the grass,” he says. So many insects fly up or hop out of his way as some bigger insect like the cricket or praying mantis gobble up the smaller insects. “It is not a park, it is wilderness with a food chain. The insects in the garden are food for the bigger insects and lizards here. We have bee-eating birds nesting here, too,” he informed.

Most conversations with Lohar are about his lovely neighbours. “We have three types of lizards including the monitor lizard and the skink lizard. See this climber here, our honey bees love it,” he added, while also telling you about some “nice non venomous snakes” that come to visit his office and bedroom quite often.

The forest opens into a beautiful lagoon, which connects you to the Arabian Sea. You hear chirping, you hear croaks, you hear whistles. You can see the horizon meet the ebbing tides. And that’s where you see the pink and white flamingos. There are also plenty of ducks afloat on the gentle waves.

“The flamingos require shallow water, the ducks deep water. We have provided for both,” Lohar explained.
Although flamingos are indigenous birds, migratory flamingos are also arriving here from India on their way back to Europe, a rare occurrence as this place had pretty much done away with its ecosystem and biodiversity thanks to so much reclamation around the coastal areas and pollution. “Do you know, this place, from Teen Talwar to Do Talwar and the Mai Kolachi Bypass used to be the largest lagoon with the largest lake? We built over it and finished it all. Now this urban forest is returning to nature only a little bit of what we stole from it,” he concluded.

 

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PHA to plant 600,000 geo-tagged saplings in LHR to combat air pollution

The Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHA) has been directed to plant 600,000 geo-tagged saplings to combat air pollution in Lahore, according to news published in the national dailies on April 27.

As per the details, a strategy has been implemented to combat air pollution by planting 600,000 six-foot saplings in vacant areas in the city. In this regard, a joint committee comprising the Lahore District Administration and Forest Department has been formed to ensure successful implementation. It was revealed that the Lahore Commissioner has requested a list of unused planting sites.

Moreover, the PHA will be planting trees on the routes linking Lahore to other districts. Every sapling will be geotagged and uploaded to a dashboard in order to track the success of the planting initiative. This campaign is a crucial step towards decreasing the detrimental effects of air pollution on the well-being and health of citizens along with promoting the significance of sustainability and environmental conservation for future generations.

 

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Although we Pakistanis plant trees, there is no maintenance. The Germans have been celebrating national festival of trees since 1952. In Israel, the Jewish calendar has set aside the 19th day of January as festival of the trees.

In Japan, the national tree festival is celebrated in the first week of April, known as ‘Greening Week’. This programme is undertaken with great zeal. Sweden has already plentiful of forests and the ‘Week of Forest’ is celebrated to remind people of their obligation to the spread of forest.

Similarly, India annually celebrates a tree festival called ‘Vana Mahot Sava’ on a very large scale. Although in Pakistan our forest department is doing its best to spread greenery, this dream of a ‘Green Pakistan’ can come true only when all segments of society — NGOs, activists, and the forest department — join hands to make this campaign a success. Japan has 63pc of its area under trees, Sweden 53pc and India 22pc, Pakistan has only five per cent area under forest. The Chinese after suffering greatly on this count started planting trees in 1957.

Then ‘Great Green Wall’ which is a huge shelter belt extending over 1.6m hectares serving as a barrier against the Gobi desert. This is an eye-opener for Pakistan.

Pine tree saplings being brought to Islamabad for planting in order to make Islamabad the 'City of Pines'

Pakistan makes it to the Guinness World Records by planting 847,275 mangrove saplings in a day

“The Sindh Forest Department has set a Guinness World Record for planting a maximum number of mangroves saplings at Keti Bunder”, informed by Sindh Forest and Wildlife Department here at Keti Bunder.

The announcement was made, shortly after 300 coastal community volunteers had planted 8,47,275 saplings, breaking an earlier record of 6,11,000 saplings planted by India in 2010. While congratulating the nation, he thanked the forest department employees, coastal community volunteers and the coastal experts for their tireless efforts in achieving this goal.

He also informed the media that the Asian Development Bank has announced Rs.5,000 as a special reward for each of the volunteer. ADB has funded a 5-year long Sindh Coastal Community Development Project in the area in partnership with the Sindh Forest Department. A special shield was awarded to Mr. Tahir Qureshi for his exceptional conservation work in the Indus Delta over the last few years.

While congratulating the efforts of the Sindh Forest Department, Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema said that there have been competitions between Pakistan and Indian in sports but a competition in the field of environment is even healthier, as in the end it will only lead to healthy ecology in both the countries.

 

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February 13, 2024: Chairman WAPDA Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) visited Mohmand Dam, being constructed across River Swat in Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Planted a sapling.

 

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Attock Refinery, EPA launch Spring Plantation Drive​

Press Release
February 24, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Attock Refinery Limited in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Rawalpindi, Punjab launched Spring Plantation Drive-2024 at ARL’s Nature Reserve at Shahpur, said a press release.

The primary objective of this event was to raise awareness about deforestation and various ecological concerns linked with it.

The chief guest, Deputy Director EPA Rawalpindi inaugurated the plantation drive. Officials from EPA Rawalpindi, Punjab and ARL’s Management participated in the event.

This is a step forward of ARL’s commitment regarding environmental protection and biodiversity. Ten to twelve thousand healthy plant saplings are being planted by ARL each year. Representatives of EPA appreciated the ARL’s endeavours and have assured their full support for such activities.

 

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Pakistanis plant trees to provide relief from scorching sun

REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Mulazim Hussain is proud of the trees he has planted.

Surrounded by neem saplings and vegetables sprouting up from scrubland in the Clifton district of Pakistan's largest city Karachi, the 61-year-old recalls a time a few years ago when the area was a giant, informal rubbish tip.

"Now there is greenery and happiness, children come in the evening to play, people come to walk," he said, speaking near a patch of trees amid a barren expanse bordered by the sea on one side and tower blocks and offices in the distance on the other.

"I have raised these plants like my children over the last four years," he added, taking a break from his labours amid a fierce summer heatwave.

Mulazim Hussain collects dry grass in his electric rickshaw in Karachi, July 9, 2021. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Mulazim Hussain waters plants near the reservoir at the Clifton Urban Forest project in Karachi, July 2, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Wearing a white and brown scarf around his head and a loose, cream-coloured shirt, Hussain collected dry grass from the ground and watered his cherished trees during a recent visit by Reuters reporters to the urban forest plantation project.

At the end of the day, he turned the hose on himself to cool off and clean up before heading home on his motorcycle.

The father of two is employed by an urban afforestation project in a government-owned park in Karachi's upmarket Clifton area that is run by Shahzad Qureshi, who has worked on similar projects in other Pakistani cities and overseas.

Before: Lakshman, 40, pushes a stick used to support a seedling at Clifton Urban Forest in Karachi, May 26, 2021.
After: The same location is seen a year later on June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

It is one of dozens of state-owned and private planting initiatives in Pakistan, where forest cover lags far behind average levels across South Asia. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, emissions of which contribute to warming global temperatures.

The aim in Clifton is to counterbalance rapid urbanisation in Karachi, a sprawling port city of some 17 million people where breakneck expansion of roads and buildings means there is less and less space for trees and parkland.

Qureshi wanted to provide shade for residents seeking escape from rising temperatures - a heatwave in 2015 killed more than 400 people in the city in three days, and temperatures in the surrounding Sindh region reached record highs this year.

 

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A worker waters a portion of urban forest at Kidney Hill park in Karachi, June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
The trees can also attract local wildlife, mitigate urban flooding and provide new sources of food.

"The bigger the tree cover of the city the more the cooling, with a difference of up to 10 (degrees) Celsius when you are surrounded by trees," he told Reuters, adding that the project only used native species.

"As you plant ... it attracts insects, and varieties of birds start coming. Presently mongoose are roaming around in the park, and four or five varieties of chameleon.

"You give them a home, you give them food and let it happen. Nature is so beautiful."

A worker prepares planting bags for seedling plants to be used for urban forest projects, at the Sindh Forestry Public Nursery in Karachi, May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Masood Lohar, 54, a development expert who has overseen Clifton Urban Forest, checks the soil in Karachi, May 26, 2021. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

DOES PLANTING HELP?

Overall forest cover in Pakistan, home to more than 220 million people, is around 5.4%, according to Syed Kamran Hussain, manager for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at the World Wide Fund for Nature's national branch.

That compares with 24% in neighbouring India and 14.5% in Bangladesh, and the previous government announced a mass forestation programme that envisaged planting 10 billion trees between 2019 and 2023.

"Pakistan is among the top 10 most vulnerable countries affected by global warming," Hussain said. "After oceans, trees are the second largest sink of carbon."

Some climate change experts question the impact of afforestation projects - the planting of trees where there were none before - in urban settings.



An aerial view shows a green patch of Azadirachta Indica trees over a graveyard with the city in the background in Karachi, Pakistan June 6, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Stringer

The choice of species is important, because it affects the amount saplings may need to be watered - a major factor in Pakistan where water is generally scarce.

And whether to plant trees at all is not a simple question: the benefits are not always clear and significant investment is needed to nurture saplings into fully grown trees.

"What is missing from urban forestry is a holistic approach to the environment," said Usman Ashraf, a doctoral researcher in development studies at the University of Helsinki. He was not commenting specifically on the Karachi project.

"It's about visual success, the numbers, small patches here and there," he said. "It won't even make a dent on any of the environmental harm in these cities."

Masood Lohar, who founded the Clifton Urban Forest that has planted trees on the beach front not far from Qureshi's project, said afforestation could help make Karachi more resilient against natural disasters and encourage wildlife to settle.

Experts say it can also provide relief from heatwaves, with the sea breeze getting hotter as it passes through concrete structures while roadways and rooftops absorb heat. Where to plant is a key question, with wealthier urban areas often better off in terms of tree cover.

In the absence of more trees, "we are turning the city into hell", Lohar said.

Pink flamingos fly past the new palm tree plantation at the Clifton Urban Forest, June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

A person rides on a camel as he passes through the new plantation of palm trees at the Clifton Urban Forest, July 15, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

In the Sakhi Hassan Graveyard in the centre of the city, small saplings grow among uneven tombstones crammed close together, while larger trees offer shade from the midday sun.

Mohammad Jahangir, 35, is a caretaker there who waters the plants for a small cash donation from relatives who seeded them. Viewed from above, the graveyard is a sea of green that stands out against a low-rise neighbourhood.

"We don't feel the heat here in the graveyard, while the city sizzles," said Jahangir. "These trees are a blessing."

A man reads a prayer on a phone as he sits at Sakhi Hassan Graveyard, which is filled with plants seeded by relatives of the dead, in Karachi, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

 

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Which tree is most profitable in Pakistan?

Paulownia tree plantation can be a preferred choice for Pakistan in promoting agroforestry as the international market of solid paulownia wood is $650 to $880 per cubic meter. More than 15 varieties of this tree are found in the world, some of which are used for both timber and ornamental purposes.

There are some compelling reasons to plant Paulownia. The tree has some of the best soil, water, and nutrient retaining properties. It can be made into forest products. At first blush, it makes sense to plant Paulownia, watch it grow, improve the environment, and make a fortune at the end of ten to twelve years. But is it really that simple?

Here are the attractive reasons for growing the tree:

• Paulownia is a light, air curable wood, that does not warp, twist, or crack. The tree is fire resistant and water repellent. These are very good wood qualities and the tree has all of these.
• Paulownia can be sold for pulp, paper, poles, construction material, plywood, and furniture and at top dollar. You still have to be lucky enough to be growing the trees in an area with a good market.
• Paulownia can be commercially harvested in five to seven years. This is true but only for some products made by companies that may or may not be buying at any given time.
• Paulownia is a beautiful tree and is easily propagated from root cuttings. But it can also become a problem in the landscape because of its messy habits.
• Paulownia is nitrogen rich and makes an excellent livestock fodder and soil amending mulching material.

If all of these statements are true, and for the most part they are, you would be doing yourself a favor to plant the tree. It would, in fact, be a great idea to plant the tree on a good site. Great for the environment, great for shade, great for soil, great for water quality and great for a beautiful landscape. But is it economically sound to plant Paulownia over large areas?

Are Paulownia Plantations Economically Practical?

A recent discussion on a favorite forestry forum was "are Paulownia plantations economic?"

Gordon J. Esplin writes "promoters of Paulownia plantations are claiming incredible growth (4 years to 60', 16" at breast height) and value (eg $800/cubic meter) for Paulownia trees. This seems to be too good to be true. Are there any independent, scientific studies on the species?"

James Lawrence of Toad Gully Growers, a Paulownia propagation company in Australia sums it up completely. "There has, unfortunately, been much over-hyped promotion of Paulownia. It is true, however, that under the right conditions, Paulownia produces valuable timber in a shorter time frame..." Lawrence goes on to say that it usually takes from 10 to 12 years to achieve a size economical to mill and is not construction strong enough to be used as building material. "It is most likely to find its place in moldings, doors, window frames, veneers, and furniture."

He further says that trees in the "cooler regions of Australia may be more slowly grown and consequently of higher timber quality - close growth rings are desired for furniture - than those grown in warmer climates; however, the higher rate of crop rotation in the warmer zones should compensate for any lower returns per m3." Lawrence just indicated, at least to me, that we need to take a deep breath and grow the tree slower for optimum quality.

And what about a little thing called market?

Remembering that the top three things that affect the value of any real property are "location, location, location", I would suggest that the top three things that affect the value of standing timber price are "markets, markets, markets."

Paulownia is no different from any other tree in this regard and you need to find a market before planting and I have found no support for a market on the Internet. The literature suggests that the present US market is extremely under-developed in Paulownia and one source actually suggested that there is "no present market". The future of this tree depends on a future market.

 

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The Pakistan Army has launched a tree planting campaign in the Bang Dar area of Tehsil Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan as spring arrives.

They began by preparing the land for cultivation and then planted fruit trees.

Additionally, the Army distributed saplings to the locals and provided guidelines on plant care for optimal growth.

The community has expressed appreciation for this significant effort, foreseeing positive and lasting impacts on the climate and the lives of the people in North Waziristan.

 

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5 Reasons to Plant an Olive Tree

26 January, 2023
1. Olive trees are hardy and long-lived. They can live for hundreds of years and are able to withstand extreme weather conditions. This makes them ideal for planting in a variety of climates.

2. Olive trees are a source of delicious and healthy oil. The oil produced by olives is high in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, making it a healthy addition to any diet.



olive tapenade

3. Olive trees are also a source of food. The olives themselves can be eaten fresh or cured and are a staple in Mediterranean cuisine.



Cure your Olives, recipe above.

4. Olive trees can provide shade and beauty. The trees are evergreen and have a distinctive, gnarled appearance that can add visual interest to any landscape, garden or patio terrace.



Olive tree in a pot on a hot summer day in front of stone wall



Creating shade is so important in a garden.

5. Olive tree cultivation also helps to preserve biodiversity. The trees provide food and habitat for many species of birds and insects and helps to protect soil and water resources.



Common Starling feeding its nestling

Olive tree history

In addition, planting an olive tree is a great way to connect with history and tradition. Olives have been cultivated for thousands of years. They have played an important role in the economy, culture, and cuisine of the Mediterranean region.
Planting an olive tree can be a way to honour that history and tradition and to feel a sense of connection to sunnier climbs! Furthermore,
Olive trees are drought-tolerant, which is great for regions where water is scarce and a precious resource. They are also capable of growth in poor soil conditions, which makes them versatile and adaptable.



Not only do they offer year long beauty, they are a reminder of sunnier climes.

In conclusion, planting an olive tree has numerous benefits, including being a source of delicious and healthy oil. They also provide shade and beauty and preserve biodiversity. Additionally, it can connect you to history, tradition, and culture. It can also be a great way to make a sustainable and environmentally friendly choice for your garden.

 

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China's Yunnan province sponsored a tree planting project around National Highway - 5 (N-5), popularly known as "Go Green Pakistan, Yunnan Chapter, Page 1." has recently been finalized. 5000 high temperature and drought-resistant tree saplings are now standing along N-5 in southern Sindh.

As Pakistan increasingly faces the challenges of Climate Change, China's Yunnan, a region renowned for its efforts to restore forests and reduce pollution, stepped forward and made the donation via the Yunnan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China Yunnan Sunny Road and Bridge Corporation, which is working on various infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

The project was carried out in Southern Sindh, one of the hardest hit areas of extreme weather, along the central separator and the interchange area of N-5, Pakistan's north-south traffic trunk road. The project is expected to increase green coverage, ease water-soil losses and raise local residents' awareness of environmental protection.

Following that, the Chinese side will care for the saplings for a year to ensure their survival and maximize the project's impact.
The project has received high praise from Pakistan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and the National Highway Authority (NHA)

 

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https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=878263489918630

 

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https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=453949666921762

Salute to them

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1440306813465514

 

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PHA to plant 600,000 geo-tagged saplings in LHR to combat air pollution

The Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHA) has been directed to plant 600,000 geo-tagged saplings to combat air pollution in Lahore, according to news published in the national dailies on April 27.

As per the details, a strategy has been implemented to combat air pollution by planting 600,000 six-foot saplings in vacant areas in the city. In this regard, a joint committee comprising the Lahore District Administration and Forest Department has been formed to ensure successful implementation. It was revealed that the Lahore Commissioner has requested a list of unused planting sites.

Moreover, the PHA will be planting trees on the routes linking Lahore to other districts. Every sapling will be geotagged and uploaded to a dashboard in order to track the success of the planting initiative. This campaign is a crucial step towards decreasing the detrimental effects of air pollution on the well-being and health of citizens along with promoting the significance of sustainability and environmental conservation for future generations.

 

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1518842293482045440

 

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Mangrove cover expands by over 4 times in 2 decades, though experts voice concern on degradation

Anadolu Agency
July 25, 2022


Pakistan's mangrove cover has seen rapid expansion along the Arabian Sea over the past two decades due to coordinated efforts by government agencies and environmental organizations.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the eve of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which is celebrated on July 26 every year, Tahir Rasheed, a regional director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan, said that in Southeast Asia, Pakistan is the only country where mangrove cover has increased dramatically over the last two decades.

Between 1999-2021, the vulnerable mangrove area along Pakistan's 1,050-kilometer (652-mile) coastline has increased to over 200,000 hectares (over 494,000 acres) from 46,000 hectares (over a 113,000 acres).

A colossal chunk of mangrove forest falls in southern Sindh province, whereas southwestern Balochistan province, which boasts a 700-kilometer (435-mile) coastline, shares a meager portion of nearly 4,000 hectares.

"We witnessed a decline of mangrove forest from 600,000 hectares along the Sindh coastline in the early 20th century to merely 46,000 hectares in the mid-1980s. However, the cover area of mangroves has increased to over 200,000 hectares along the Sindh and Balochistan coastline over the past two decades," Rasheed said.

Due to the "well-coordinated" plantation and rehabilitation campaigns by the Sindh Forest Department the federal government, WWF-Pakistan, and civil society organizations, the country's mangrove cover is increasing at a "good pace," he went on to say.

A host of projects by WWF-Pakistan alone have contributed 16,000 hectares to the country's overall mangrove cover, apart from the rehabilitation of 32,000 hectares, he added.

Danger still lurking

Mangroves, a group of trees and shrubs that grow in the intertidal regions of tropical and subtropical coastlines, are significantly important for ecosystems and are considered the first line of defense against cyclones, strong surges, tsunamis, and other natural calamities.

The Sindh coast, particularly the port city of Karachi, has been reeling from a relentless process of morphological changes mainly due to anthropogenic activities including industrial pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and land degradation in addition to natural processes.

Industrial and economic infrastructure development, land-grabbing and inhabitation along the coast, and the construction of huts at beaches have adversely impacted the marine ecosystems and mangroves of the adjoining creeks, say environmentalists.

Making matters worse, some natural phenomena such as high energy waves, tidal currents, and strong winds during monsoons have also influenced changes along the coast.

Acknowledging a "rapid" increase in mangrove cover in the country, Hammad Gilani, a Lahore-based environmentalist, nonetheless observed that the danger is still lurking.

"Mangroves along Pakistan's coastal belt and Indus Delta are still facing two key threats in the form of sea intrusion and degradation," Gilani, a researcher at the International Water Management Institute in Lahore, told Anadolu Agency.

"Deforestation (of mangroves) is not a big problem. But degradation, which includes some justifiable livestock needs, is really an issue," he argued.

He noted that rising sea levels have long been wreaking havoc on mangroves, especially in the Indus Delta, from where the Indus River flows into the Arabian Sea.

Also, mangroves require a systematic flow of fresh water, which unfortunately does not persist at the moment, he said.

Gilani noted that the South Asian country has seen a rapid augmentation in mangrove cover after the 2010 massive floods, which, although inundating a fifth of Pakistan, made up for a freshwater shortage.

Sharing a similar view, Rasheed said: "To keep the momentum going, we have to create awareness among the masses, and especially the policymakers, about the environmental significance of the mangroves and reinforce how important they are as the threat is not over yet."

Bulwark against sea battering

Thick mangroves have long protected Karachi and its coastal communities from erosion caused by the Arabian Sea's unending waves, observed Shabina Faraz, a Karachi-based expert, who often writes on the environment.

However, she added, the fragile ecosystem faces numerous threats, from coastal development, urbanization, and encroachment to the commercial exploitation of mangroves, reduction of freshwater flows and sedimentation, erosion of coastal areas, chemical dumping, and raw sewage.

"Karachi city alone contributes 500 million gallons of untreated water to the sea. Apart from that, polluted water from 6,000 industries also contributes high-impact pollutants to the Arabian sea that negatively affect the mangrove ecosystem and marine fauna," she maintained, speaking to Anadolu Agency.

Gilani, the Lahore-based expert, said that despite an increasing mangrove cover, satellite imagery has punctuated the need for national-scale carbon sequestration reporting for a performance-based payment mechanism flowing from developed countries to developing ones.

Seconding his view, Faraz said carbon sequestration reporting could add to the national economy "significantly."

 

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Free wild, fruit plants distributed to the locals in Kalash Valley, Chitral..

The Kalash women and children were given around 4500 fruit plants and wild plants.

By Sameer Tahir .

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Thousands of plants of various types were given among the local inhabitants at Kalash Valley Bumburate in order to increase forest cover and offer new livelihood alternatives in Chilghoza Landscape in the Chitral range.

The Kalash women and children were given around 4500 fruit plants as well as wild plants.

The plants were distributed at a ceremony at Bumborat, with Divisional Forest Officer Chitral Farhad Ali as the principal guest.

On the occasion, Ejaz Ahmed, Provincial Coordinator of the GEF Chilghoza Project, Ziaur Rehman, Value Chain Development Specialist, and Shahzad Ahmad, Deputy Forest Manager of Chitral, were also present.

Ejaz Ahmed, speaking at the event, said that the distribution of fruit plants was part of a GEF-funded project called "Reversing Deforestation and Degradation in High Conservation Value Chilgoza Pine Forests in Pakistan," which was carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and the Forest Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The initiatives aim to improve local livelihoods by increasing productivity and improving the services and functions of Pakistan's Chilghoza forests.

Through the active participation of local communities, the project brings roughly 30,000 hectares of Chilghoza woods under sustainable forest management. 3600 hectares will be used for Assisted Natural Regeneration, while 800 hectares will be used for agro-forestry and farm forestry.

 

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Trees Provide Income and Preserve Land in Pakistan

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  Under the ADB-funded Sustainable Livelihood in Barani Areas Project, farmers in Punjab province are growing trees, such as eucalyptus, as a cash crop on rain-fed lands. Photo: Mohammad Ismail Khan/ ADB.

A sustainable livelihood project in Pakistan is boosting poor farmers' income and protecting their land from erosion.

In Rahdari village in Punjab's Khushab district, farmers have taken up growing trees as a cash crop on barani, or rain-fed lands, where yields were often uncertain and usually poor.

"It's like a bank account but with a difference," says a beaming Ramzan, 36, referring to the trees he planted 5 years ago on half a hectare of land. "You water the trees and see them grow every day. And when you need the cash, you cut the tree and sell the wood."

"A friend of mine has bought a car by selling wood and now earns money from the car by using it as a taxi," added Ramzan. "Many other families that I know are now able to send their children to school thanks to the additional income provided by the trees."

This was not always the case. Parts of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, suffer frequent droughts and low crop yields. Not long ago, the Khushab district was a barren land threatened by the advancing desert where wood was a rare commodity. An ADB project, however, has been literally planting seeds of change in the area. The results are now plain for all to see.

Changing the barani landscape

Loss of productive land to water and wind erosion often threatened the food security of villagers in Punjab. Widespread loss of shrub and vegetation in the sandy pastures also made livestock production challenging.

Against such a dismal backdrop, an ADB project presented a community-based development model, involving the communities and government and non-government organizations as implementers. The goal of the Sustainable Livelihood in Barani Areas Project was to raise the quality of life of the poorest and most vulnerable families in the targeted areas.

"Now every family sets aside a piece of land for planting trees. This practice not only stabilizes the sand dunes, but also gives them cash and food security."
- Ghulam Rasool, regional manager of the National Rural Support Program

"The first time I came here to meet the communities was about 5 years ago. I was astonished to see the barren land except for some bushes and old trees, locally called kagali, here and there. It was like a treeless plateau that came to life once a year when and if it rained," says Ghulam Rasool, regional manager of the National Rural Support Program. Rasool is from the Hunza region in the northern most part of Pakistan, an equally dry but mountainous region where communities religiously plant and protect trees as life-nourishing assets.

"But now every family sets aside a piece of land for planting trees. This practice not only stabilizes the sand dunes, but also gives them cash and food security," he says, pointing to the rows of eucalyptus across the rolling sand dunes.

Villagers along the Chenab-Jhelum link canal in Noorpur Thal, Khushab district benefited in particular from planting eucalyptus. Ground water level had risen after the canal was built about a decade ago in the sandy region. Eucalyptus, a fast-growing and water-consuming plant, helped keep the water table down for over 26,000 farmers in waterlogged areas. The farmers planted saplings on more than 2,000 hectares of sandy fields and shelter beds.

"Planting trees on 1 acre saved 5 acres of land (about 2 hectares). Besides, the income these plants are providing are vital for me and my family," says 82-year-old farmer Allah Yar, who is now sick and unable to work in the fields. His son sold some trees for 29 thousand rupees to buy medicine for Yar and other needs of the family.

The plantations have increased fodder supply for cattle. Many villagers also use the wood as fuel for heating in winter and for cooking purposes. Following the project's success, villagers planted more than 1,000 hectares with their own resources in the Noorpur Thal area alone. Many of these have been leased to the matchstick and pulp industry as captive plantations.

 

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PM Imran launches Pakistan's first smart forest in Sheikhupura

Dawn.com
August 25, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the inauguration ceremony of Pakistan's first smart forest in Sheikhupura. — DawnNewsTV

Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated on Wednesday Pakistan's first smart forest in Rakh Jhok Forest, Sheikhupura as part of Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project, which he said would address a host of issues, contribute an estimated $40 billion to the country's economy and create around one million jobs.
According to Radio Pakistan, the smart forest project will function via sensors and a surveillance system.


Addressing the forest's inauguration ceremony, the premier dubbed the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project "one of the biggest projects in Pakistan's history", and one that would significantly contribute to addressing environmental and other challenges faced by the country.

For this reason, he said, the project held significance for the entire country.

"This will be an exemplary project," the prime minister said. "It will change Pakistan and its environment."
Sharing more details about the smart forest, he said technology would be used to monitor the growth of almost every plant under this scheme and relevant authorities would be intimated via sensors if a tree was being cut down.

"Ten million trees will be planted [in the smart forest] through proper planning for the first time in Pakistan."

He further elaborated that Pakistan's biggest issue was water shortage and since it was among the countries most affected by climate change, planting trees and projects such as the smart forest could help address the issue.

Prime Minister Imran Khan added that the initiative, apart from increasing tree cover, would also help attract tourists.

He added that three barrages would be built on Ravi River under the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project, as a result of which the level of groundwater, which was dropping, would rise and once the construction of the project was started, other related industries would also get a boost.

The premier said the project's execution was quite challenging and had it been easy, the project would have been completed by previous governments.

"But [Chief Minister Usman] Buzdar's team will complete it as they are committed to the purpose," he assured.

Addressing the chief minister, he said, "I know that your team will come across multiple challenges in the execution of this project, but you should remain prepared to address all of them and see through the project."

At the outset of his speech, the prime minister said, "If we want to leave behind a better Pakistan for our future generation, we must make our country green."

"I have seen forests being destroyed in Pakistan before my eyes," he lamented, adding that the country also suffered the loss of wildlife along with disappearing forests.

He recalled that while he was growing up in Lahore, the city's residents would get sweet water and drank tap water.

"But the pollution witnessed today in Lahore is unprecedented, posing health risks to the elderly and children, and all of the city's sewage is dumped in Ravi [River]," he said. "And since the sewage is not treated, it contaminates groundwater."

According to the prime minister, 640 million trees had been planted across Pakistan until 2013.
"Whereas we planted one billion trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between 2013 and 2018, within a span of just five years," he said, adding that his government's target was to plant 10 billion trees in the country.

 

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