NWFP Environment and Forest Minister Wajid Ali Khan has said the provincial government with the assistance of the federal government has launched a mega project 'Carbon Sequestration' worth Rs 3,004 million, which would be completed by 2013.
He said that with the completion of this project, the forest covered area of the country will be increased from 4.8 to 6.17 percent and of NWFP from 17 to 28.86 percent and as a result 70,000 more area will come under forest in the province.
Presiding a meeting at the Sarhad Forest School Thai Abbottabad here, the minister said that due to our unnatural attitude, we produce 20 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) which should be properly disposed of.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Conservator Forest Muhammad Nazir, Conservators Hanif Khan, Noor Afzal Shah, Khurshid Khan, Gul Muhammad, Abdul Qadoos and other officials concerned. The minister said that in this connection, the government has launched "Carbon Sequestration" project which is deemed to capture and securely store CO2 emitted from global energy system and long-term storage of CO2 before it is emitted into the atmosphere, adding that the project would help in preventing global climate change by enhancing carbon storage in and soil, preserving existing taxes and soil carbon by reducing emission of CO2.
"With the completion of the said project; we will be able to achieve the targets set by Medium-Term Development Framework (MTDF) of the Government of Pakistan and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the project will contribute to improving the state of environment, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction in the province", he said.
He said that the project would further contribute to maintaining and conserving biodiversity in NWFP and meet the country obligation udder different multi-lateral environmental agreements.
Wajid Ali Khan said that a comprehensive and co-ordinated system of regular checking has been introduced for the effective implementation of the said project. In this connection different steering committees have been constituted and community participation has also been ensured. He said that besides afforestation, steps would also been taken for conservation, development and sustainable management of non-timber forest products, construction of water storage for agriculture, promotion of different varieties of vegetables to raise the living standard of the local people.
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