Tharparkar’s Battle Against Deforestation

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo

Umarkot: Under the relentless desert sun, the scattered trees of Tharparkar are disappearing at an alarming pace. These green sentinels, which for generations anchored sand dunes, provided fodder for livestock, and sustained local livelihoods, are now being felled faster than they can regenerate. 

Environmentalists warn that unchecked deforestation is accelerating desertification, depleting biodiversity, and worsening the effects of climate change across Pakistan’s largest desert district.

The Scale of the Crisis

Local forest officials and environmental organizations estimate that over 60% of Tharparkar’s natural tree cover has been lost in the last two decades. 

Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) studies indicate that nearly 8,000–10,000 trees are illegally cut each year in Chhachhro, Dahli, and Nagarparkar talukas alone. Satellite imagery from 2000–2020 shows a 25% increase in barren and degraded land across the district.

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The loss is not just ecological; it is deeply social. Trees such as Kumbhat (Acacia senegal), Gugral (Commiphora mukul), Rohiro (Tecomella undulata), Neem (Azadirachta indica), and Kandi (Prosopis cineraria) are vital for fodder, shade, and preventing soil erosion. Their disappearance directly affects livestock survival, water retention, and agricultural productivity in one of Pakistan’s most drought-prone regions.

A Mafia’s Grip on Thar’s Green Lifeline

For decades, a well-organized timber mafia has operated across Thar, cutting and selling rare trees with impunity. Local activists allege that the mafia transports chopped wood to urban markets such as Mithi, Umerkot, and Hyderabad, where it fetches high prices as firewood and charcoal. 

Despite repeated complaints, law enforcement and forest officials have done little to halt the practice.

“This isn’t just about losing trees,” says environmental activist Noor Ahmed. “It’s about losing the very foundation of life in Thar. When these trees vanish, water vanishes — and life follows.”

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Among the hardest-hit species is the Gugral, prized for its medicinal gum resin. Rather than being sustainably tapped, many trees are killed through chemical incisions that burn deep into their trunks to extract maximum resin. 

Environmentalists estimate that more than 30,000 Gugral trees have been fatally damaged since 2018 due to this illegal practice.

Hotspots of Destruction

Veteran campaigner Manzoor Hassan identifies Chhachhro and Dahli talukas as “ground zero” for tree destruction. “Some of these trees are older than our villages—over 100 years old—yet they’re brought down daily without accountability,” he laments. “Each tree lost is a century of ecological stability destroyed.”

Ironically, deforestation continues even as the government promotes plantation campaigns under the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. Environmental writer Nasrullah calls it “a cruel contradiction.”

“In times of drought, Thar’s livestock—the backbone of its economy—survive on tree leaves,” he explains. “When these trees are gone, animals die, and with them, the people’s livelihoods.”

The disappearance of trees has far-reaching consequences. Wind erosion intensifies, sand encroachment expands, and microclimates collapse, further reducing rainfall. Scientists warn that if deforestation continues unchecked, Tharparkar could lose an additional 20% of its vegetative cover by 2030, pushing thousands of families into migration.

Ecological Displacement

A 105-kilometre railway track from the Thar coalfield to Chhor, hailed by officials as a symbol of progress, has brought a different reality for local communities—loss of land, loss of trees, and loss of traditional livelihoods. While development promises jobs and electricity, for many Tharis, it has meant ecological displacement and deeper vulnerability to climate shocks.

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Tharparkar’s development is vital, but it cannot come at the cost of ecological extinction. Experts emphasize the need for sustainable energy and infrastructure planning that protects the desert’s biodiversity and traditional communities.

As the sun sets over the dunes, the stumps of fallen trees stand as silent witnesses to a desert sacrificed in the name of progress. Local grower Ali Ahmed urges immediate action. “Trees on sand dunes and grazing lands are being stripped bare,” he says. “We need the deputy commissioner, forest department, and police to act now, not after Thar turns into a dead zone.”

Activists’ Demands

• Immediate enforcement of Section 144 to ban tree cutting.
• Strict penalties for those using chemicals to extract Gugral gum.
• Community-based forest protection committees to monitor and report illegal felling.
• Investment in alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on firewood.

A Vanishing Shield Against Climate Change

Already on the frontline of climate change, Thar faces rising temperatures of up to 44°C in summer, erratic rainfall, and recurring droughts. Trees are the region’s natural defense—capturing carbon, stabilizing sand, and protecting life. Their removal pushes Thar toward irreversible ecological collapse.

As one local elder warned, “Every conscientious person should be alarmed. If this continues, we won’t just lose trees—we will lose Thar itself.”

The writer is a social development professional based in Umerkot Sindh. He can be contacted on anrahimoo@gmail.com. 

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.