Forest conservation: A cornerstone for achieving SDGs
PESHAWAR (APP): As the world inches closer to the 2030 deadline for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the fate of forests is emerging as a decisive factor in humanity’s ability to build a prosperous future.
From stabilizing the climate to sustaining livelihoods, forests are no longer seen as passive landscapes but as living systems essential to development and survival of living creatures on earth.
Covering nearly one-third of the Earth’s land surface, forests act as the planet’s lungs, absorbing carbon dioxide and moderating global temperatures. Yet this vital role is increasingly under threat.
Accelerating deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, illegal logging, mining, and infrastructure development in developing countries including Pakistan is undoing decades of environmental progress and releasing vast amounts of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
“Forest conservation is not just an environmental issue but it is a development issue,” said Niaz Ali, former Chief Conservator of Forests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while speaking to APP.
“Protecting forests supports livelihoods, strengthens food systems, and reduces vulnerability to climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts.”
Forests are central to SDG 13 (Climate Action), but their importance extends far beyond climate regulation. They are the backbone of SDG 15 (Life on Land), hosting more than 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.
“When forests disappear, entire ecosystems collapse, pushing countless species toward extinction and disturbing ecological balance with far-reaching consequences.”
Niaz Ali said globally, an estimated 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests for food, fuel, shelter, and income. In Pakistan’s northern regions especially in Kzp, forests are deeply woven into the social and cultural fabric of communities, particularly Indigenous and rural populations.
“When forests decline, poverty rises,” said Hussain Khan, a forest owner dealing with poplar trees in Nowshera.
“Our survival, our traditions, and our children’s future depend on these forests.”
Forests also play a critical role in achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Healthy forest watersheds regulate water flows, reduce soil erosion, and improve water quality for downstream communities. Their loss often results in water scarcity, floods, and rising costs for disaster recovery.
Despite their importance, forest conservation faces persistent challenges. Weak governance, legal disputes, outdated management plans, and competing economic interests continue to undermine protection efforts.
In an effort to bridge the gap between policy and people, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife recently held an open court (Khuli Kachehri) on forest governance and sustainable forest management in Peshawar. Chaired by Secretary Forests Junaid Khan, the forum aimed to establish direct dialogue between government officials and forest owners, resolve long-standing issues, and raise awareness about the role of forests in achieving the SDGs.
Forest owners voiced concerns over monitoring practices, timber marking, wood lots, expired working plans, and administrative hurdles. Addressing these issues, Secretary Forest Junaid Khan assured participants that transparency, accountability, and swift decision-making would be ensured.
“Monitoring is meant for accountability and system improvement, not harassment,” he said, clarifying that recent measures were corrective in nature.
He acknowledged that the 1992 ban on scientific forest harvesting had severely damaged forest management and provincial revenues. However, he emphasized that sustainable development cannot occur without community participation.
“From plantation to monitoring, from domestic needs to commercial harvesting, local communities are involved at every stage,” he said. “Scientific forest management is essential for ecological balance and has a strong legal basis under the Forest Ordinance 2002.”
The Secretary also addressed the temporary harvesting ban imposed in June 2024, stating it was lifted in November after corrective monitoring. Harvesting and transportation, he said, are now continuing under prescribed laws.
One of the most poignant moments of the session came when Sher Zameen, a resident of Arandu Gol in Chitral, shared a two-decade-long struggle.
“For twenty years, valuable trees have been rotting in our forests,” he said. “We guard them day and night, yet we cannot benefit from them.”
Secretary Junaid Khan assured him that the issue had been forwarded to the provincial cabinet for resolution.
Providing updates on forest planning, the Secretary revealed that out of 24 working plans in Northern Forest Region Two, 13 are operational, while others are under approval or preparation. Since 2015, more than 11.7 million cubic feet of timber has been scientifically marked, with delays largely caused by court cases and local disputes.
To modernize forest governance, the department has initiated digitization and geo-referencing of forest records, alongside reforms under the Forest Development Fund. Community participation through Joint Forest Management Committees, ecotourism initiatives, and sustainable management of non-timber forest products are also being promoted.
At the conclusion of the open court, Secretary Junaid Khan stressed that the forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are more than natural resources.
“They are guardians of our climate, custodians of biodiversity, and protectors of our national heritage,” he said. “Their protection is a shared responsibility.”
As the SDG deadline approaches, the message from Pakistan’s forest communities is clear: saving forests is not a luxury rather it is a necessity for people, planet, and prosperity.
