Forests and environment

Forests and trees are an important part of our environment. Forest ecosystems serve as reservoirs of genetic bio-diversity, both flora and fauna.
Sustainable Forest management is considered a key to water resources management in particular and to upland resources development in general.
It is tightly linked to watershed development. Forested catchments supply water for domestic, agricultural, industrial and other needs in downstream areas. Forests and forested watersheds have an essential role in sustaining and protecting water supplies.
Well-managed forests have a direct impact on the quality of water yields from watersheds and on the lower storm flow peaks and volumes for a given in put of rainfall.
They also contribute to soil erosion control and consequently to reducing levels of sediment downstream.
Pakistan has 4.2 million ha covered by forests which make only 4.8 per cent of the total land area. Thus Pakistan is a forest deficient country, with only 0.03 ha of forest per capita of population compared to the world average of 1.0 ha.
The area of public forests (85 per cent of the total forest area) can not keep pace with population and livestock pressure.
Pakistan imports wood pulp and paper products each year which cost more than Rs 8.00 billion. This import burden can be reduced if more trees are grown on private farm lands.
Each year forests meet entire needs of 3.5 million cubic meters industrial wood. Forests provide employment to 500,000 workers in cottage and small wood based industries.
Natural forests meet 10 per cent firewood whereas private farm lands meet 90 per cent firewood requirements in the country. Every year we use 26 million cubic meter of firewood for heating and cooking purpose.
Thus trees planted during tree planting campaigns are utilised for meeting timber and firewood requirements in the country.
Forests protect catchments of Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs. Safeguarding these reservoirs for generating hydropower and supplying water to irrigation networks in the country is of vital importance.
Pakistan's agricultural economy depends on its rivers and canal irrigation system.
Annual loss to the nation resulting from flooding, erosion of fertile soil from degraded upland watersheds and siltation in reservoirs and irrigation works is estimated at Rs 2.3 billion.
Forests and trees are the vital component of our environment. They purify air, protect soil, filter water and provide home to thousands of species, especially birds and insects.
Just think how trees contribute to the quality of life on earth. They are so important, that life, as we all know it, would cease to exist without them.
Trees remove excess carbon dioxide from the air and replenish oxygen for us to breathe. Trees lessen the impact of global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A healthy tree removes between 25 and 45 pounds of carbon from the air every year and plays its role as natural "carbon sinks".
Trees filter water to make our rivers, streams and lakes cleaner. Their roots help to filter groundwater, trapping nutrients and pollutants. Trees hold soil in place and remove water from the ground.
They intercept raindrops with their leaves to protect soil. Trees help to prevent floods by slowing down the movement of rainwater on the ground, allowing it to seep into the soil more slowly.
Trees provide other plants and animals with food, shade, and a place to live. Trees also provide shade to our homes, keeping them cool and help us in conserving energy.
Trees help in beautifying our cities, towns, and rural landscape and provide habitat for songbirds. Trees help in controlling noise pollution by absorbing sound around us.
Trees provide us raw material for hundreds of wood products that we depend on every day. Planting and caring trees can bring people together to improve their environment and help in building environmental stewardship. Trees are not only safeguarding our environment, but they also provide a wide range of economic and social benefits, including leisure and pleasure. They can be source of employment and income, and can help in reducing poverty.
Cutting down trees accelerate the deforestation process, which affects the quality of water, air and soil. It also destroys the habitat of species that live in forests. It is believed that 4 billion trees are cut down every year around the world.
Many of the mountain slopes in northern Pakistan covered earlier with trees now give a deserted look. By failing to plant and protecting trees, we are losing our natural companion in the struggle to fight with global warming, floods, droughts and soil erosion. By not caring for trees, we are wiping out these natural guardians of our freshwater resources and a valuable source of energy, foods, and many other products.
Massive tree plantation will not be successful unless we all as a nation, including farmers, workers, students, professionals, housewives, and more importantly our younger generation, remain involved in these tree-planting campaigns. We have got to plant and save trees for our present and future and to protect our environment.
We should take advantage of the plenty land and water resources n the country, and actively participate in afforestation programmes and tree planting campaigns being launched today. The goal of these campaigns is to help people plant and care for trees as a way to improve the environment and their quality of life.
Planting a tree and caring for it as it grows is one of the positive actions we can take for creating a better environment and prosperous future. Therefore, we all should actively participate in making our environment green by planting at least one tree annually and ensure that it survives.
Let us today pledge on the "environment day" that we avoid from actions that damage our environment. Human well-being and progress are vitally dependent upon improving the management of Earth's ecosystems to ensure their conservation and sustainable use.