Efforts to expand forests in KP shaping higher standards of environmental stewardship: Secretary Forests
PESHAWAR (APP): Secretary Forests Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Junaid Khan, here Thursday said that the KP government will continue to take strong measures to enhance climate resilience, protect key watersheds, empower local communities, and create green employment opportunities, so that the forestry sector remains a strong pillar of sustainable development.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting held regarding climate change and forestry here.
On this occasion, Chief Conservator Forests, Region One, Ahmad Jalil, gave a detailed briefing to Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Forests, Environment and Wildlife, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Junaid Khan. The meeting was attended by Additional Secretaries and Divisional Forest Officers from various circles of Region One. The meeting reaffirmed a joint commitment toward protecting the province’s natural heritage and enhancing climate resilience.
Chief Conservator Forests, Region One, Ahmad Jalil, presented a detailed review of the department’s recent performance, highlighting major milestones and outlining a comprehensive framework for future priority actions.
In his briefing, he covered forest protection, sustainable environmental management, land-use contexts, and the notable successes achieved under the Billion Tree Afforestation Program and the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Program. He also shed light on effective actions taken against illegal logging, ongoing development projects, and an institutional strengthening roadmap.
Reiterating the department’s core mission, Ahmad Jalil emphasized that all efforts of the Forest Department revolve around the protection, development, and sustainable management of forests and renewable natural resources—efforts vital not only for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan but for environmental balance, economic development, and social well-being worldwide.
He said that the foundations of modern forestry management in the region were laid in 1867 during the British era with the establishment of the Imperial Forest Service, which initially focused on supplying timber for railways and cantonments, but has since evolved into a comprehensive institutional framework dedicated to conserving and restoring the province’s natural resources.
Regarding statistical assessments, Ahmad Jalil explained the legal classification of forests in KP. He said that government-owned protected forests cover 0.512 million hectares, constituting 58% of the department’s total forest area, whereas Guzara forests, mostly privately owned, cover 0.239 million hectares (27%).
Speaking about human resources, he shared that the Forest Department has 7,425 approved posts, of which 5,228 are filled while 2,197 remain vacant. There is a significant shortage in the forest guards’ cadre, where 1,462 out of 3,533 posts are vacant—an administrative gap that requires immediate appointments and promotions.
He further informed the meeting that as of October 2025, 42 working plans are in progress—27 approved, 11 under approval, and 4 under preparation.
Highlighting major achievements under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project, Ahmad Jalil reported that 711.35 million saplings have been successfully grown through various plantation campaigns. The department has shown excellent performance in achieving its targets, reaching 98.08% of enclosure targets and 85.53% of farm forestry/free distribution targets—further strengthening the program’s global reputation as a leading restoration initiative.
Secretary Forests, Junaid Khan, appreciated the efforts of Forest Region-1 in expanding forest cover, protecting biodiversity, and contributing actively to one of the world’s largest ecological restoration projects. He emphasized the need for evidence-based decision-making, transparent monitoring systems, and strengthened coordination at regional and divisional levels to ensure sustainable development.
He assured that recruitment for vacant posts would be expedited in accordance with all legal requirements to address the workforce shortage.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to promptly resolving pending promotion cases to enhance institutional performance and boost staff morale.
Secretary Junaid Khan reiterated the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing climate resilience, protecting key watersheds, empowering local communities, and creating green employment opportunities—so that the forestry sector continues to stand as a strong pillar of sustainable development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
