Rising temperature: A growing threat to living creatures, ecological balance
PESHAWAR, (APP): As the first light of dawn touches the plains of Nowshera district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a substantial increase in temperature was witnessed these days, carriying negative effects on humans, wildlife and aquatic resources.
The air feels warmer than it once did in Nowshera where river Kabul run thinner, and the rhythms of nature that was once predictable with substantial rains in last days of March are changing in ways that are deeply felt by both humans, fish and wildlife.
Across Pakistan, from the snow-capped peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan to the sun-scorched plains of South Punjab, KP and Sindh, rising temperatures are no longer a distant scientific concern but it is a lived reality.
Prolonged heatwaves, shrinking glaciers and depleting water aquifer, deforestation and shifting rains patterns due to climate change and global warming make negative effects on people lives and ecosystems especially in KP.
The environmental experts attributed this negative trend also to human-driven factors such as fossil fuel consumption, pollution and industrial emissions, which could be eradicated through whopping spring plantations.
For many in KP, these ecological and climate changes are not only negatively impacting humans and wildlife but also aquatic resources having an adverse effects on rural economy.
In Nowshera, 64-year-old Riaz Khan recalled a different time along the banks of the Kabul River when he came for fishing with his father.
“When I was young, mahseer fish were found in abundance in River Kabul,” he said, his gaze fixed on the flowing water. “Now, with rising temperatures, they are harder to find. The fish are moving towards colder waters, leaving local fishermen in hot waters.”
His story signified across communities dependent on natural resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As temperatures climb in KP, wildlife and fish started migration, water sources diminish, and traditional livelihoods begin to fade away.
Farmers also face unpredictable crop cycles, while fishermen struggle with declining catches, exposing them to poverty and unemployment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr Mumtaz Malik, former Wildlife Chief said that ecological imbalance is not limited to land in KP. Warmer waters are altering aquatic life, pushing fish populations away from their natural habitats. Alike, wildlife also migrate to higher alpasture zones for cooler climates to thrive.
He said these environmental shifts ripple through the food chain, affecting biodiversity, wildlife, mammals and human survival alike.
To combate these pressing challenges, on Pakistan Day, the KP government launched an ambitious plantation drive under the banner of Ehsaas-e-Shajar aimed to plant one million saplings in a single day, transforming a moment of national reflection into a powerful act of environmental stewardship.
Latifur Rehman, spokesperson for the KP Environment and Forest Department, described the campaign as more than just a plantation effort. “It was a unified movement,” he said. “A collective expression of responsibility where every citizen played a role in shaping a greener future.”
From schools and universities to remote village lands, communities came together across 285 plantation sites. Young students, volunteers, and local residents planted saplings with hope in their hearts as each tree symbolized resilience against a warming world.
Ahmad Jalil, Chief of the KP Forest Department, confirmed that the ambitious target of one million trees plantation was successfully achieved.
The initiative was designed not only to curb rising temperatures but also to combat desertification, drought and restore ecological balance.
What set this campaign apart was its blend of tradition and technology. With support from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board, plantation activities were geo-tagged and monitored in real time through a dedicated mobile application. A virtual control room tracked progress, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The momentous afforestration effort has also received independent validation from the World Wide Fund for Nature, reinforcing its credibility and impact.
Beyond the impressive numbers lies a deeper truth that planting trees is only the beginning. Their survival and the future they represent depends on sustained care, watering and collective commitment.
As the sun set on March 23, it illuminated more than freshly planted saplings. It revealed a province united in purpose, where smiles and shared efforts told a story of hope and unity against climate change.
In the region grappling with climate change, the message from KP is clear that while rising temperatures threaten the delicate balance of life and ecology, the power to restore it still lies in human hands.
Each sapling planted on Pakistan day is more than a tree but it is a promise of collective will and unity exhibited by people against rising temperature.
A promise that even in the face of a warming planet, communities in KP can come together to protect, preserve, and rebuild the natural world for generations to come.
