FATA's 4200ha Forest Cover Declined Since 2000, Says Global Forest Watch Report
Sumaira FH Published January 26, 2020 | 04:00 PM
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2020 ) :The erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) now the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have seen a decline of 4200 hectares (ha) in the forest cover.
This was revealed in a report issued by the Global Forest Watch highlighting the loss of forest cover in the world.
The research claimed that from 2001 to 2018 FATA lost its 4200ha of tree cover equivalent to 4.1 percent decrease in tree cover since 2000 and 9,60,000 tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (as the trees lost would have absorbed these CO2 emissions released freely in the year).
Moreover, the Global Forest Watch data showed 36ha increase in tree cover gained by the FATA from 2001 to 2002 which was equal to 100 percent of all tree cover gained in FATA.
"In 2010, the former FATA had 43,900ha of tree cover, extending over 1.8 percent of its land where as in 2018, it lost 25,700ha of tree cover equivalent to 5,660 tonnes of CO2 emissions," it added.
It merits mention here that the report says, "Tree cover loss is not the same as deforestation-tree cover loss includes change in both natural and planted forest and does not need to human caused." The data sources for the report were satellite images collected through Hansen, University of Maryland, Google Earth, United States Geological Survey and NASA technologies.
In order to detect forest fires in the area, the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) technology was employed to get real time and accurate data.
"There were 1VIIRS fire alert reported in 17 October, 2018 which was low compared to the same week in previous year. However, 26 VIIRS fire alerts were reported in 21 November, 2018 which was also low compared to the same week in the previous year. Interestingly, there were 53 VIIRS fire alerts reported in the week of 19 December, 2018. This was average compared to the same week in previous year.
However, there were 9 VIIRS reported fire alerts in the week of 3 January, 2019 which was unusually less compared to the same week in previous year. The fire alerts as per VIIRS was one this year in 3 January, 2020 and was usually low as compared to the same week in previous year," it added.
When contacted the project director billion Tree Afforestation Project Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Tehmasib told APP that the land in the newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA was private one and not under the state's control.
Therefore, there had been massive forest cutting done by the locals in the area where the timber was exported to Afghanistan. There was no law applicable in this region owing to its special status and private ownership of the forest areas.
He went to mention that after the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 47 percent of the trees out of the total target set for the province under 10 Billion Tree Afforestation Project would be planted in the former FATA. This would help to not only revive rather further boost its depleted forest cover as the number of trees was huge, he added.
/778
Related Topics
Recent Stories
50MP is Better than 200MP?
Mohammad Amir’s participation in T20I series against Ireland, England hangs in ..
Police arrest some lawyers after clash outside LHC
US wants basic human rights for Imran Khan, all other prisoners
Hajj season begins: Karachi Airport Set for Inaugural Flight
IHC orders Jail officials to shift Bushra Bibi to Adiala Jail from Bani Gala
Projects of worth $25b being implemented in Pakistan under CPEC framework: Ahsan
Saudi investors evince special interest in diverse fields
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 8 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 08 May 2024
Delegation of international investors meets Finance Minister
Federal Govt stands with Balochistan for its development: Naqvi
More Stories From Pakistan
-
Wheat procurement drive launched in KP
8 minutes ago -
Federal Ombudsman team inspects services at Bacha Khan airport
8 minutes ago -
Governor visits mausoleum of Bhutto family during Sind visit
8 minutes ago -
Six cattle markets for sacrificial animals on the cards
8 minutes ago -
FUUAST students visit PTV Karachi Centre
9 minutes ago -
Simplification of tax collection, better liaison between businessmen-tax officials stressed
18 minutes ago
-
Robber arrested
18 minutes ago -
Over 14,000 Livestock Department employees’ profiles digitized
18 minutes ago -
Cop among seven accused arrested in two gang rape cases
19 minutes ago -
CM's directive prompts relocation of mother and children to welfare center
28 minutes ago -
SCCI demands establishment of state of art lab for gemstone certification
29 minutes ago -
Dera, Bandkorai to witness 5-hour power suspension
38 minutes ago