Forest ManagementForestrypediaGeneral Silviculture

National Definition of Forest

Spread the love

National Definition of Forest | Notification – Government of Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change






National Definition of Forest

A minimum area of Land of 0.5 ha with a tree crown cover of more than 10% comprising trees with the potential to reach a minimum height of 2 meters.

This will also include existing irrigated plantations as well as areas those have already been defined as Forests in respective legal documents and expected to meet the required thresholds as defined in the National Forest Definition of Pakistan.

National Definition of Forest - Forestrypedia
Notification of National Definition of Forest

Let me know in comments below what do you think of the said notificatin. To which extent you agree with it. Also, if any updated notification has been issued, please send me here.

Check out the Lexicon of Forestry – The Largest Dictionary of Forestry







What is definition of National Forest?

A minimum area of Land of 0.5 ha with a tree crown cover of more than 10% comprising trees with the potential to reach a minimum height of 2 meters.
 

What is Forest Management?

Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with overall administrative, legal, economic, and social aspects, as well as scientific and technical aspects, such as silviculture, protection, and forest regulation.

What is Forest in plain words?

forest is a piece of land with many trees. Many animals need forests to live and survive. Forests are very important and grow in many places around the world. They are an ecosystem which includes many plants and animals.

What is the purpose of Forestry?

We depend on forests for our survival, from the air we breathe to the wood we use. Besides providing habitats for animals and livelihoods for humans, forests also offer watershed protection, prevent soil erosion and mitigate climate change.

Who is the Father of Forestry?

Gifford Pinchot is known as the Father of Forestry. He was an important figure in the American conservation movement. As the first chief of the US Forest Service, Pinchot tripled the nation’s forest reserves, protecting their long term health for both conservation and recreational use.

Who is the Father of Forestry in Pakistan?

Dr GM Khattak - The father of Forestry - forestrypedia.com

Dr. G.M. Khattak, one of Pakistan’s most respected intellectuals, natural scientists, and educationists. Dr. Khattak joined Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, in 1952, and obtained MS (1966) & PhD (1967) in Forestry from Michigan State University, USA. He served as Chief Conservator of Forests, Director General, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Chairman, University Grants Commission of Pakistan, earned the mega-project TIPAN (Transformation and Integration of Provincial Agricultural Network), worked as Consultant Sustainable Development of Renewable Resources. His services for higher education, natural sciences (especially Forestry) and environmental conservation were acknowledged by the Government of Pakistan through the award of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (2001).

Naeem Javid Muhammad Hassani is working as Conservator of Forests in Balochistan Forest & Wildlife Department (BFWD). He is the CEO of Tech Urdu (techurdu.net) Forestrypedia (forestrypedia.com), All Pak Notifications (allpaknotifications.com), Essayspedia, etc & their YouTube Channels). He is an Environmentalist, Blogger, YouTuber, Developer & Vlogger.

14 thoughts on “National Definition of Forest

  • Its a good way to increase the tree cover in country. By this definition if you have two trees in half hectare it will be considered as forest? so, by this definition just by changing definition of forest Pak gov increased forest cover in pakistan from less than 5 perecent to 15 percent or more without planting a Tree. What a shrude nation we are.

    Reply
    • This definition was not finalized at once. A number of seminars/workshops held in each province and ultimately this definition was finalized.

      Reply
    • If the crown of two trees in half ha wont have 10% canopy cover it cant be called a forest. There are standards set by UNFCCC Pakistan has just adopted as per its own national circunstances.

      Reply
      • In this context how can you differentiate a forest; an IP and an orchard (fruit gardens)?

        Reply
    • Irfan Akhtar Iqbal

      Hi Ishfaq,
      You have got some valid points there. Allow me to explain.
      1. Two trees in 0.5 ha BUT with a tree crown cover of more than 10% (of the 0.5 ha area). That means the crown cover of those two tree should be more than 0.05 ha (22 m x 22 m or a diameter of 25 m (approx.)). IF only two trees are that big, then they do qualify to be called a forest. Forest is not just the number of standing stems, it is the also the area covered by the crown projection.
      2. If some official tried to use that trick and reported that the forest cover in Pakistan has increased from 5% to 15%, I don’t think people will let him/her go away with that. That will be a gross statistical error! The yardstick of measurement, which is the forest definition in this case, should be the same when comparing two numbers. We cannot compare apples with oranges.
      For example, if the forest cover in year 2010 was 5%, the government didn’t plant a single tree, changed the definition of forest in 2018 and claimed a 10% increase (total 15%) in 2018. Then, satellite imagery (archives available for free) from 2010 and 2018 can be used to work out forest cover, using the new definition, for both years and we can find out whether or not there was a 10% increase in those 08 years.
      So, my guess would be that if the government didn’t plant a single tree between 2010 and 2018 and we did some image analysis, we may find the following:
      a) With previous definition, 5% in 2010; whereas, 5%±2% (allowing for some error) in 2018
      b) With the new definition, 15% in 2018; whereas, 15%±2% (allowing for some error) in 2010
      And I can’t agree more, yes, we are a shrewd nation 🙂
      Kind regards,
      Irfan Akhtar Iqbal

      Reply
      • Thanks, Irfan Akhtar Iqbal sb.! 🙂

        Reply
      • Thanks Irfan Akhtar. I would like to add that this is the particular reason this time a historical assessment has been conducted using years of 1996-2000-2004-2008-2012 and 2016. So Oranges will be compared with Oranges only 🙂 Great to know all the colleagues are taking interest.

        Reply
        • it would be great if such findings are shared with us.

          Reply
  • This definition makes only sense for developed countries where more advanced remote sensing technology ( i.e. airborne laser scanning LiDAR) are available for an entire country, from which trees height, forest cover, and the area can be easily estimated. It is extremely difficult to estimate trees height as mentioned 2 m, trees cover, and forest area for large geographical forest area like northern Pakistan. Better to first introduce more advanced remote sensing technology in Pakistan, and than to think about adopting this kind of definition. At the moment this definition is highly questionable in Pakistan.

    Reply
    • a great analysis of the definition. though much has been stated over this definition yet the concern shown by yourself are worth considering.

      Reply
    • Its only a matter of understanding. Redd+ is for developing countries and all the redd countries have adopted a definition irrespective of availability of advanced remote sensing techniques. Definition is afoundation of every measurement and nobody is stopping you to introduce LIDAR in Pakistan. Please do not undermine the achievement of a country who never had a definition of international standard.

      Reply
      • The definition has been finalized, surely, based on some sound grounds. Can you share some details in this regards?

        Reply
  • Irfan Akhtar Iqbal

    That’s true! ‘The right man for the right job’ should be the idea. The Ministry of Climate Change gave us a definition, now the remote sensing community will help us introduce advanced sensors.
    On a lighter note, technologies are there to fulfil our needs/requirements, not that we should mould our requirements to suit technology.
    Kind regards,
    Irfan Akhtar Iqbal
    (PS: We all know each other very well. Let’s join hands, work together and try to make something better out of it. Naeem Javid sb is providing a platform. Well done Naeem sb!)

    Reply
    • Much obliged and honored! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate »