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Pakistan’s Forestry Sector Contribution to the Economy is the Lowest in the Region

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Pakistan’s Forests’ economic contribution stands at 0.43 per cent to the GDP which is the lowest in the region.







Pakistan’s Forestry Sector Contribution to the Economy


According to the World Bank’s Report Forests For Green Pakistan, Pakistan’s Forests’ economic contribution stands at 0.43 per cent to the GDP which is the lowest in the region.


Forestry Sector Contribution of Neighbouring Countries Vs Pakistan


When comparing to other neighbouring counties in the region like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, etc, Pakistan comes at the bottom:


  • Nepal has a massive 9.45 per cent share in the GDP.
  • Forests in Bhutan have a contribution of over 3 per cent.
  • The forests in Bangladesh have a contribution of 1.73 per cent.
  • India’s forests contribute 0.67 per cent to GDP.


Status of Forests in Pakistan


Forest Area of Pakistan


According to the latest estimates, Pakistan contains 4.47 million hectares of total forest area or 5.1 per cent of the total land area by 2011 but it is estimated to have fallen to 4% by now. The total number of forest (timber or non-timber decreased to 2,237 by end of 2015 from 2,648 in 1995.


Distribution of Forests


Distribution of forests varies by province and other administrative areas. It is highest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed by Sindh, Punjab, FATA. The share of forests stands lower in Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.







Importance of Pakistan’s Forestry Sector


Forestry Sector and Economic Development


There is no denying the fact that Forests play a very important role. The forestry sector contributes to Pakistan’s national economy by creating employment opportunities and generating taxes and revenues.


According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO 2009), 68 per cent of the country’s population depends on firewood as a major source of household energy and about 100,000 people are involved in the fuelwood trade, generating about Rs. 11.3 billion ($113 million) annually.


In addition to it, more than 500,000 workers are employed by forest-products industries such as furniture, village carpentry, matches, particleboard, plywood, fiberboard, boats, crates, boxes, paper, pulp, and chipboard.


Besides official employment in forest departments, a large number of labours are engaged in either year-round or seasonal forest management activities like raising and maintaining nurseries, preparing sites for planting, protecting planted stocks, weeding, cleaning, thinning, firefighting, and harvesting.


In addition, a large number of people draw their livelihoods from farm forestry, processing of forest-based products, and ecotourism.


Forestry Sector and Industries


As per the World Bank’s report, the major forest-based industries include paper, furniture, construction material, matches, sports goods, packing cases, and wooden articles.


The full potential of small and medium forest-based enterprises has not been realized due to the unavailability of sufficient and quality raw materials.


The limited and depleting forest resources have been insufficient to meet the demand for forest products in the country, which far exceeds the current level of sustainable domestic supplies


Deforestation in Pakistan


Rate of Deforestation in Pakistan


Data shows that Pakistan’s forest resources have been decreasing and degrading over the last few decades due to unsustainable management and exploitation of available forest resources. Deforestation in natural forests is taking place at the rate of 0.75 per cent, or 27,000 hectares per year.


SEE ALSO: The Forests of Pakistan will disappear after 50 Years?


Reasons for Deofrestation in Paksitan


During the last two decades, Pakistan lost 25 per cent of its natural forests. Forest resources continue to deteriorate both qualitatively and quantitatively because of increasing pressure from a rising population and associated needs.


Significant areas of forest lands have been transferred to non-forestry and commercial purposes, including agriculture, infrastructure, defence, and tourism.


The coniferous forests are the most fragile and are rapidly declining because of their high-value timber.







Forestatin is the Only Way Forward


To support effective forest investments, the most urgent thing required in the country is to set up a system for collecting and analyzing data using consistent methods throughout the country.


Farm Forestry


Farm forestry is an important alternative to meet the growing demands for fuelwood and timber. This helps decrease pressure on natural forests and thereby contributes to reducing deforestation and forest degradation of natural forests.


Increasing Forest Cover


Pakistan should make concerted efforts to increase its forest areas through natural regeneration, the reversal of land and forest degradation, agro-forestry, afforestation, and reforestation.


Such activities may include establishing more nurseries in each province; making high-quality seedlings available; and introducing improved techniques and sustainable business models for seed collection, planting, and maintenance.


The afforestation should focus not only on timber production but also on the resilience of landscapes and infrastructures, including roads, railways, and irrigation canals.


Long-Term Forest Investments


Historically, the forestry sector has been a low development priority and has received limited investments. Budget allocations for this important sector are normally less than one per cent of most provincial budgets.


Long-term forest investments are required to harness the huge potential of forest contributions to resilient ecosystems, rural livelihoods, the national economy, and the global environment.


Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Program and Green Pakistan Program


In recent years the government has augmented its attention to forests, as demonstrated by the nationally determined contribution, the Green Pakistan Program, and the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Program.


The launching of the ambitious Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Program ($150 million) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Green Pakistan Program ($36 million), however, show the government’s recognition of the importance of the forestry sector. This is also hopefully the beginning of needed policy shifts for the sector.


Future support is needed to enhance and scale up these new and important initiatives in order to strengthen landscape management, reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, and foster private sector development.


Conclusion


The present government is aggressive to execute a massive forestation and plantation program countrywide as this long-term will not only enhance the economic contribution of forests in the GDP but it will also improve the worsening climate change situation in the country. Besides, mass-scaled jobs along with the business of different sized are likely to be generated through these projects.


It is high time for the masses and corporate sectors to contribute to the plantation and forestation drive of the government being the stakeholders of the country.


Via


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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.

2 thoughts on “Pakistan’s Forestry Sector Contribution to the Economy is the Lowest in the Region

  • “Plant a Tree; it is continuous charity” – Hadith Nabwi SAWW

    Reply
  • Rafiullah

    A.o.a sir what is the contribution of rangelands in GDP of Pakistan …latest

    Reply

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