The Punjab government has allocated Rs 300 million to develop the forestry sector for 2008-09 as part of its efforts to narrow the gap between the existing area in the province under forest and the desirable level. Sources said forestry not only plays an important role in combating environmental degradation but also acts as renewable energy resources.
"The present area under forest is three percent, which is far below the desirable level (25 percent) and there is a need for determined effort to narrow this gap," the sources added. They said that under the new initiatives for development of this sector envisaged are rehabilitation of irrigation system in the major forest plantations to minimise the wastage of precious water resources through seepage and re-introduction of social forestry.
Other steps are increase in compact plantation on private lands under section 38 of the Forest Act, the sources said. Steps have been also for enhancement of tree cover on farmlands, Mulberry plantation for promotion of sericulture to mitigate poverty, planting of blank areas in Muzaffargarh and Murree, the sources added.
The sources also revealed that strengthening of forestry research and education and monitoring and assessment of Forestry resources through GIS have also been underlined.
Strategy developed for improvement of forestry is development of forests through targeted investment and better forest management, the sources added. Poverty alleviation through community-based sericulture and social forestry, environmental protection and prevention of degradation of natural resources, increase in forest cover through farmers participation under section 38 of Forest Act and community based management of range-land for sustainable fodder resources, are in the offing, the sources concluded.