Forests cover only 2.5 percent of Pakistan’s land and according to the latest findings more than 61,000 hectares of forest land has been converted into the bare land for manly activities.
Lahore High Court (LHC) has observed that Pakistan’s deforestation rate is the highest in the world, which is really alarming. Deforestation poses a threat to the environment.
Pakistan is already facing acute water-shortage and today, people have to purchase water for household purposes and other uses because of the depletion of forests.
Forests result in excessive rains which is stored in dams for the use while much of the rainwater is stored by the roots of the plants and trees.
This absorbed water in large quantities is then transported to the atmosphere via plant transpiration. If there will be no forests, fewer rains will occur and the country will face water scarcity.
The situation in Pakistan is getting worst. The WWF report says that over 99,711 acres of forest land in Punjab and 27,874-acre forests in Sindh have been converted to non-forest uses.
At this time it is really important to preserve the fauna of Pakistan because,
- Trees hold fertile soil in place increasing the amount of soil available for agriculture.
- This rich soil transfers nutrients to food which contributes to human health.
- Forests prevent the temperature from getting too hot.
- They help clean the air because they release oxygen at day time and store carbon dioxide.
- Forest is home to millions of animals. It attracts wildlife and provides them food.
- Trees guide wind direction and speed.
- And the levels of flood, and soil erosion are also controlled by forests.
