Overpopulation: A Growing Threat to Ecological Stability in KP

News Desk 

Peshawar: Highly vulnerable to climate change, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) faces a looming threat to its ecological balance, exacerbated by overpopulation, poverty, and unemployment.

The rapid population growth in KP, driven by poverty and unemployment, is having a detrimental impact on forests, wildlife, fisheries, the environment, agriculture, and the overall ecological balance, particularly in regions like Kohistan, Chitral, Battagram, Dir, Shangla, and Swat.

With Pakistan’s population surging past 241 million this year, growing at an annual rate of about two percent, the pressure on forests, biodiversity, and wildlife is mounting—especially in KP and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The strain is evident along major roads, such as the GT Road between Tarnab Peshawar and Azakhel Nowshera, where deforestation is rampant. The sight of cut timbers and uprooted tree trunks serves as a stark reminder of the high rate of forest loss.

The 2015 National Forest Policy highlighted that Pakistan’s forest cover has dwindled to approximately five percent, with an annual loss of around 27,000 hectares.

This deforestation is predominantly occurring in private and community-owned forests, particularly in KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, where the timber mafia’s relentless exploitation of communal lands and privately owned forests further exacerbates the situation.

Similarly, agriculture in KP is suffering due to the rapid melting of glaciers—a consequence of rising temperatures and global warming.

The National Forest Policy warns that deforestation in watershed areas can trigger land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and harm to marine life, in addition to negatively impacting wildlife and aquatic resources if solid measures are not taken.

In riparian and coastal areas, especially in KP, Sindh, and Balochistan, deforestation amplifies floods and facilitates seawater intrusion, thereby increasing the chances of economic losses to the government, as evidenced by the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022.

The floods demolished several expensive hotels illegally constructed in the riverbeds of Swat in 2022.

Gulzar Rehman, former Conservator of Forests KP, compared Pakistan’s deforestation rate with the global rate, stating that around 10 million hectares of forest are deforested annually—equivalent to the area of Portugal. Although about half of this deforestation is offset by forest regrowth, approximately five million hectares of forests are lost globally each year.

He identified overpopulation, poverty, and unnecessary tree logging as major causes of deforestation in developing countries like Pakistan.

With the population of Pakistan soaring from 37 million in 1947 to 223 million in 2022 and 241 million in 2023, and if it continues growing at this rate, it is expected to reach 260.3 million by 2030 and 330.8 million by 2050.

The resulting loss of forests, wildlife, and bee populations will further exacerbate food security challenges, leading to hunger and starvation in the country.

He warned that about 60 percent of forests are used as firewood in Pakistan, 25 percent for furniture, and 15 percent are lost due to urbanization and community-driven demands.

If green sector policies are not revised and alternative energy sources like solar, hydroelectric, biomass, and wind are not adopted, there is a real possibility of losing the existing forests in the next few decades, along with experiencing frequent climate change-related disasters, including floods.

“Deforestation is a national challenge, and it is the right time to declare a ‘green emergency’ to conserve and protect our forests for future generations,” Gulzar urged. He also suggested an agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to control timber smuggling.

Wajid Ali Khan, former Minister for Environment and Forests, claimed that thousands of trees planted under the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) were prematurely cut in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, violating the agreement signed between the KP forest department and farmers.

He further claimed that improper planning led to the loss of several plantation sites in northern KP due to the 2022 floods, inflicting significant financial losses on the government.

A spokesman for the KP Forest Department stated that under the KP Forest Ordinance 2002, a Forest Force has been established with powers akin to the police to protect forests and conduct operations against the timber mafia.

The KP Forest Force has been equipped with necessary weaponry, ammunition, vehicles, and a communication system, with the power to shoot offenders in self-defense if forest laws are violated.

Forest officers can arrest, detain, or take accused individuals into custody, as well as search any vehicle, boat, railway wagon, or pack animal and seize smuggled timber.

Additionally, DFOs and RFOs can enter any depot, wood/saw cutting unit, building, or premises to search and seize timber, arrest offenders, and conduct investigations without a warrant.

The Forest Force’s jurisdiction has been extended to the merged areas, where checkpoints have also been established on national and regional highways and roads to curb timber smuggling.

He suggested the establishment of special forest courts for the speedy trial of accused individuals, along with an increase in lockups, modern wireless systems, and mobility vehicles to effectively curb timber smuggling.