Innovative methods to increase forestation stressed

Speakers at a moot on Monday were of the view to increase area under forest alongwith co-ordinated efforts for its sustainable management, shunning traditional approach and adopting innovative methods and technologies to meet the goal. This was stated at a roundtable moot on "Sustainable Forest Management," which was organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
Leading experts including Dr Babar Shahbaz, Professor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, senior Research Associate, Climate Change Study Centre, Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Talimand Khan, Shah Wazir Khan, Riaz Muhammad, Ameer Muhammad and Tahira Abdullah spoke on the occasion. Speakers also called for co-ordination among various departments for sustainable forest management that can help overcome the challenge of climate change.
They stressed for provision of livelihood opportunities, alternate energy sources and removal of ban on cutting trees necessary for sustainable forest management. They also demanded revision of forest laws addressing landownership and judicious distribution of royalty in forest communities.
Dr Shahbaz emphasised upon collective local action, which, he said was vital for sustainable forest governance. He said that there is no easy way out to overcome the multidimensional problems involved in forest management. Criticising the existing forest management policy, Talimand Khan said it puts responsibility to protect forest communities without imparting any authority to them.
He lamented that these laws are arbitrary, inhumane and give powers of police to forest officials who can even fire and shoot anybody they think suspicious. He called upon the National Assembly to hold debate on Forest Ordinance 2002, what he observed can be helpful for sustainable forest management.
He stressed upon integrated land use planning and co-ordination among stakeholders for sustainable forest management and put forth many recommendations such as review of Joint Forest Management Committees' system (JFMCs), transparent disbursement of royalty, implementation of forests reform agenda, Resolution of ownership issues, shift to fruit orchards in wastelands, innovative approaches to correspond to climate change and incentives for reforestation compatible with climate change.
Another expert, Shakeel Ahmad Ramay said Pakistan is vulnerable to various negative implications of climate change such as droughts, rise in sea level, melting of glaciers and changing weather patterns. He said that experts have predicted that these affects would adversely affect agricultural production and may decrease it up to 30 percent in next 20 years.
He said that this depleting water resources and productivity scenario in contrast with enormous increase in population presents a very gloomy picture. He cited recent SDPI study which shows 48.7 percent food insecurity in Pakistan and urged upon taking immediate measures to cope with situation.
Expressing her concern over the diminishing forest cover in Pakistan, Tahira Abdullah said that use of wood as fuel and its commercial use should be discouraged by imposing taxes. She urged to launch a rigorous campaign for strict enforcement of policies to protect forests and promote sustainable forest management policies. Riaz Muhammad Khan and Amir Muhammad Khan said that timber mafia in compliance with forest officials, is behind massive deforestation and basic hindrance in sustainable forest management.