Reforestation: Combat Climate Change in Pakistan

Climate change continues to exert unprecedented pressure on ecosystems worldwide and developing nations like Pakistan remain at the frontline of this crisis. With agriculture, water resources, and rural livelihoods deeply intertwined with climatic patterns, Pakistan’s exposure to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and land degradation poses grave socioeconomic challenges. Forests, as a natural defense mechanism, play a crucial role in climate regulation and environmental stability. Globally, they act as massive carbon sinks, absorbing an estimated 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually (IPCC, 2022). However, widespread deforestation and land-use change contribute around 4.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, undermining these benefits and accelerating global warming.

In Pakistan, forest depletion has reached alarming levels, with only 5.7% of total land area under forest cover, one of the lowest rates in South Asia and drastically below the ecologically sustainable threshold of 25% (World Bank, 2023). The consequences of this decline are multifaceted. Reduced canopy cover has disrupted local rainfall patterns, intensified flooding in the north, and increased desertification in southern regions. Moreover, the resulting soil erosion and declining organic matter have led to an estimated 18% reduction in agricultural productivity in key provinces such as Punjab and Sindh (PARC, 2024).

Reforestation and forest management, therefore, must be recognized as both an environmental necessity and an economic strategy. Expanding forest cover can restore degraded lands, enhance carbon sequestration, stabilize water cycles, and create employment through community-based forestry initiatives. Strategic investment in tree planting, sustainable timber production, and agroforestry could transform rural landscapes, contributing simultaneously to climate resilience, poverty alleviation, and national sustainability goals. In essence, forest restoration offers Pakistan a dual dividend, protecting the environment while fostering inclusive economic growth for future generations.

The Deforestation Crisis: Eroding Carbon Sinks and Livelihoods
Deforestation remains a primary driver of environmental degradation in Pakistan. The country has one of the highest annual deforestation rates in South Asia, estimated at 2.7%, contributing nearly 40% of its national greenhouse gas emissions from the forestry and land-use sector (MoCC, 2023). This stands in stark contrast to regional neighbors; India has increased its forest cover to 24.62% and Bangladesh to 14.47%, demonstrating the feasibility of reversal through sustained policy commitment (FSI India, 2023; FAO, 2022).

The carbon sequestration implications are severe. Mature native forests in the Himalayas can sequester between 5 to 7 tons of CO₂ per hectare annually, whereas degraded and deforested lands absorb less than 1 ton (IUCN, 2022). This potential remains largely untapped due to systemic failures. A critical bottleneck is the low survival rate of saplings in government-led campaigns, which is a mere 40-50%, compared to over 80% in community-managed forests (UNDP, 2023). This is exacerbated by the preferential allocation of irrigation, with over 70% directed to agricultural zones versus only 30% for reforestation projects (World Bank, 2023). Furthermore, an over-reliance on exotic species, which constitute up to 80% of planted trees compared to ecologically resilient native species, further depresses long-term survival and biodiversity benefits (Pakistan Forest Institute, 2022).

The socio-economic costs are profound. Deforestation has diminished the availability of non-timber forest products, impacting the livelihoods of an estimated 5 million people in forest-adjacent communities. With only 12% of forest areas under legally recognized community management, local populations have limited incentive for stewardship (MoCC, 2023). Consequently, Pakistan is utilizing only an estimated 35% of its total carbon sequestration potential, a critical gap in its strategy to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Global Lessons and a Strategic Pathway for Pakistan

Global experiences in reforestation and forest restoration offer powerful insights for Pakistan as it seeks to address its severe deforestation crisis and enhance climate resilience. Countries such as China, India, and Ethiopia have demonstrated that large-scale reforestation is possible when environmental goals are aligned with economic incentives and community participation. China’s “Grain for Green” program, one of the world’s largest ecological restoration initiatives, has successfully converted degraded farmland into forest, leading to an increase in national forest cover and the sequestration of approximately 2.5 billion tons of CO₂ annually (UNEP, 2022). Similarly, India’s Green India Mission has effectively merged ecological restoration with poverty alleviation by linking afforestation efforts to rural employment and livelihood programs (NITI Aayog, 2023). Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative exemplifies how mass mobilization and civic engagement can yield extraordinary outcomes, planting hundreds of millions of trees in a single day while ensuring strong community stewardship (World Bank, 2022).

For Pakistan, these examples highlight the need for a holistic, participatory, and science-driven approach. Policy reform should prioritize community rights and gender inclusion, particularly by involving rural women in reforestation programs and decision-making roles. Strengthening legal frameworks under the National Forest Policy to protect native species like Acacia nilotica and Prosopis cineraria would help preserve biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Furthermore, Pakistan must capitalize on emerging climate finance opportunities. Establishing a domestic carbon market and securing funding from the Green Climate Fund or voluntary carbon offset programs could generate a sustainable financial base for long-term forest management. The integration of technologies such as drone-assisted seeding, GIS mapping, and remote sensing would ensure transparency, precision, and efficiency in afforestation efforts. Finally, transitioning from top-down plantation schemes to community-led forest management—supported through Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and carbon credit sharing—would embed sustainability within local economies, ensuring that Pakistan’s forests are not only restored but also protected for generations to come.

Conclusion

Reforestation stands as one of Pakistan’s most powerful yet underutilized strategies for addressing climate change, environmental degradation, and rural poverty. As this analysis reveals, the nation’s dwindling forest cover, now below 6%, is not merely an ecological concern but a threat to national food security, water stability, and long-term economic resilience. Forest ecosystems are natural allies in the fight against global warming, serving as cost-effective carbon sinks while providing essential ecosystem services such as soil conservation, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity protection.

For Pakistan, revitalizing its landscapes through reforestation must evolve from short-term tree-planting campaigns to a comprehensive national movement grounded in science, policy, and community participation. Lessons from China, India, and Ethiopia prove that when environmental goals are tied to economic incentives and social inclusion, transformative outcomes are possible. By investing in native species, recognizing community forest rights, and leveraging climate finance through carbon markets, Pakistan can unlock both ecological and economic gains.

Ultimately, restoring forests is about more than trees, it is about restoring balance between people, nature, and the economy. A nationwide commitment to sustainable forest management can help Pakistan move toward carbon neutrality, strengthen climate resilience, and secure a greener, more prosperous future for generations to come.

References: FAO; FSI; IPCC; IUCN; MoCC; NITI Aayog; PARC; Pakistan Bureau of Statistics; Pakistan Forest Institute; UNDP; UNEP; World Bank.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan

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