SPFC, UAF celebrate International Day of Forests

South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC), Hashoo Foundation and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) celebrated the International Day of Forests (IDF) 2018 by organizing a panel discussion to sensitize the students on the importance of forestry and the need to conserve forests for a sustainable future. The panel discussion was held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and the panelists included Tahir Rasheed, CEO, SPFC; Arif Rahman, Senior Program Manager, Hashoo Foundation and Professor Dr Tahir Siddiqui, Chairman, Department of Forestry and Range Management, UAF, said a SPFC's spokesperson on Wednesday.
SPFC CEO Tahir Rasheed sensitized the students to devote themselves to promoting sustainability in their daily lives which holds the key to a greener future. While informing the participants on the benefits of planting trees in cities, he said, "The strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 8 degrees Celsius, thus protecting cities from the impacts of heat-waves and increasing temperatures."
He shed light on SPFC's initiative to improving the environment and contributing towards the economy of Punjab. According to him, the Punjab government's initiative to protect environment will lead to afforestation of 130 million trees in south Punjab, sequester carbon emissions up to 25 million tons, create 15,000 green jobs, up to 75 percent of SPFC's share in the form of trees to be conserved, circulation of Rs 240 billion in the economy and the government to earn Rs 20 billion during the project duration of 15 years.
Arif Rahman, senior program manager of Hashoo Foundation, elaborated the role of Hashoo Foundation in helping various sections of the society, particularly the students and community members. He also highlighted the importance of urban forests to tackle the issue of urban heat islands. He also stressed on the importance of public-private partnerships to help raise awareness and introducing solutions towards creating urban forests.
Professor Dr Tahir Siddiqui, Chairman of Department of Forestry and Range Management, UAF, and Professor Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha, Program Chair, Climate Change, UAF, said that environmental degradation is posing a serious threat to life on earth with deforestation, industrialization and urbanization among the major culprits of ecosystem degradation and deterioration. Both the experts emphasized upon the role of forests, especially urban forestry in the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. A walk was also arranged along with a plantation drive by representatives of SPFC, Hashoo Foundation, and faculty and students of University of Agriculture Faisalabad for awareness on campus, which concluded at Iqbal auditorium.