Six percent forest covered area: government to take initiatives for achieving target

Government would take appropriate initiatives for achieving the target of 6 percent of forest covered area of the country till year 2015, which is vital for preventing land-erosion, drought and flood situations, said Federal Minister for Environment Samina Khalid Ghurki.
Forestry is an important sector and special initiatives are being taken to encourage the relevant education and research activities in the country, said Samina Khalid, while chairing a meeting with the forestry wing of the Environment Ministry here on Friday.
Federal Minister further said that forests are the national asset and their conservation and preservation is needed through national spirit, adding that forests are blessings of the nature and their covered area may be increased by the involvement of all segments of the society.
She said that there is dire need for increasing forestry area to manage the increasing level of the pollution in the environment, urging that all possible resources would be utilised for achieving the targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Ghurki said that forests are also imperative for wildlife, therefore, there is need for maintaining ecosystem to save the environment. Wetlands are beauty of the nature that can be maintained through increasing the number of trees around them.
Environment Minister said that trees are the natural factory to release oxygen for the survival of all living things on this earth. Likewise trees play vital role for preventing land-erosion, drought and flood situations so, national spirit is required for this cause.
She said that co-operation of international organisations should be enhanced so that efficiency of forestry wing may further improve through transfer of related technology and latest information. She said that there is core need to encourage research and education process in forestry sector and government would provide all possible co-operation in this regard. Government is committed to provide clean and healthy environment for the better future of present and coming generations.