Peshawar Gets 'Changa Manga' Like Forest At Ghari Chandan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has raised 'Changa Manga' like forest at Gari Chandan in Peshawar to combat environmental pollution and provide enhanced recreational facilities to the inhabitants of the walled city

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2019 ) :Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has raised 'Changa Manga' like forest at Gari Chandan in Peshawar to combat environmental pollution and provide enhanced recreational facilities to the inhabitants of the walled city.

Located some 10 kilometers towards south from Peshawar City, Ghari Chandan is the first man made forest raised by Forest department during last five years with main focus to offset growing effects of climate change and global warming.

A visit to Gari Chandan forest by APP on Friday revealed that various kinds of species mostly native planted four years ago, have taken a complete shape of a forest.

Gari Chandan where sands piles, rugged mountains, barren lands and deserts were seen everywhere five years ago, was now covered by millions of trees planted under Billions Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP), a mega project of PTI government under which over one billon and 18 crore, saplings were planted.

Conservator South Circle of the Forest Department, Shafqat Munir told APP that over 2.5 million saplings were planted at Ghari Chandan and Azakhel Mathani forests during last five years, turning these barren and rugged areas into lush green.

"Gari Chandan forest is the 'Changa Manga' of Peshawar where over 2,500 hectares land were brought under forestry cover during first phase of BTAP," he said, adding that it was the first man made forest where survival rate of plants are over 90 percent.

"In early days, we had faced the challenge of watering to millions of young plantations especially during hot summer. This challenge was successfully overcome by hiring water tankers besides excessively use of Forest department's own tankers for watering purposes, resultantly young plantations developed roots and now, we have a complete forest there.

" Shafat Munir said similar forests were also raised in DI Khan where millions of plants were raised on Chashma road and other areas, saying plantation on both sides of 80 kilometers Chashma road were made.

These massive activities have not only generated jobs opportunities for thousands of labourers besides alleviate poverty and made positive effects on temperature.

The Conservator said millions of plants were raised on 50,000 hectares in 12 districts came in southern forest circles besides plantations on 20,000 hectares water logged areas. As a result of massive plantations, he said overall covered forests area of KP had crossed the mandatory 25 percent international standard, which is a great achievement for KP.

"We have chalked out an inclusive plan for second phase of BTAP under which one billion trees would be planted during next five years in KP under 'Plant for Pakistan' initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan." The Conservator said BTAP would be extended to tribal districts where vast land is available for new plantations.

Provincial Secretary for Environment, Forests and Wildlife Syed Nazar Hussain Shah and other senior officers of KP Forest Department held important meetings with officials of other federating units including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and offered them full technical support for Plant of Pakistan on basis of our rich experiences gained under BTAP's model.

Awareness environment clubs were setup in major schools for education of students about importance of forests and free plants would be distributed among TMAs and district administrations for success of Clean and Green Pakistan, he concluded.