LOGGING affects the poorest communities the most, while reforestation has become a global necessity.
Forests act as shields against the climate crisis and natural disasters and their destruction disproportionately impacts those who rely on them for basic human needs. Articles 9, 14 and 38(d) of the Constitution of Pakistan (1973) emphasize the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the public’s access to essential natural resources such as water, air and forests.
A landmark ruling in Shehla Zia v. WAPDA (PLD 1994 SC 693) laid the foundation for Pakistan’s environmental constitutional jurisprudence, recognizing that pollution from electric transmission towers posed a risk to life and health under Article 9. This case affirmed the link between environmental protection and fundamental rights.
The escalating climate crisis has led to severe natural disasters—floods, droughts, windstorms—and a relentless rise in global temperatures. Urban expansion, especially for residential and commercial infrastructure, continues to fuel deforestation. Between 1950 and 2012, Pakistan experienced 19 major floods, causing over $39 billion in economic losses and claiming more than 11,000 lives (NDMA).
In rural areas, traditional ecological awareness values snakes for controlling crop-damaging rodents. However, mechanized farming has caused a sharp decline in snake populations. Over the past decade, rat infestations have severely damaged wheat crops, forcing farmers to spend up to Rs. 10,000 per acre on pesticides. Preserving snakes can restore ecological balance, reduce reliance on costly chemicals, and help prevent rodent-borne diseases like leptospirosis and plague.
Pakistan became a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1976. Yet, practical measures to protect biodiversity remain limited. Snakes indirectly protect germinating seeds and enhance crop resilience, highlighting their overlooked ecological value.
Ranked among the top 10 countries most affected by the Climate Risk Index, Pakistan faces intertwined socio-economic and environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss and water scarcity. Agroforestry—a system that integrates trees with crops—offers a sustainable solution. It improves soil fertility, mitigates climate shocks and promotes biodiversity.
India’s implementation of agroforestry under schemes like MGNREGA and the National Agroforestry Policy (2014) serves as a regional example. In Pakistan, a large proportion of arable land remains uncultivated due to water shortages. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), only 17 million hectares (42 million acres) are net sown annually. This indicates untapped agricultural potential.
Agroforestry can transform regions like the Pothohar Plateau, arid zones and deserts. Around 20% of Barani areas depend solely on rainfall. Promoting agroforestry could generate two million green jobs, increase exports of honey, herbs and timber and contribute an estimated $1 trillion annually to Pakistan’s economy, while also addressing critical environmental concerns.
The sooner we act, the better. Agroforestry, biodiversity conservation and reforestation are not optional—they are vital to Pakistan’s survival and prosperity. These approaches offer integrated solutions to the challenges of climate change, rural poverty and ecological imbalance. The time to implement them is now.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Sanghar, Sindh.
