A PARADISE IN PERIL
Northern Pakistan, renowned for its majestic mountains, verdant valleys, and rich biodiversity, is confronting an escalating environmental crisis. Once celebrated as the “Switzerland of Pakistan,” the Swat Valley now grapples with soaring temperatures and diminished natural beauty due to rampant deforestation.
BEYOND THE FORESTS: HOW EVERYDAY TREE CUTTING IS HEATING PAKISTAN’S HEARTLAND
In Pakistan, deforestation is usually linked to large forest areas in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. But a quieter, overlooked threat is growing: micro-deforestation—the steady removal of trees from villages, farms, and canal banks, especially in Punjab and Sindh.
Small-scale tree cutting for firewood or farmland may seem minor, but repeated across thousands of communities, it’s triggering local climate shifts: hotter days, longer dry spells, soil erosion, and the loss of traditional crop-supporting microclimates. This form of deforestation escapes satellite tracking, lacks policy attention, and is slowly disconnecting rural communities from tree culture and stewardship. As native trees like Shisham and Kikar disappear, so does the climate balance they helped maintain.
If Pakistan wants to build real climate resilience, micro-deforestation must become part of the national conversation—before more of the country’s green cover silently fades away.
THE STARTLING DEFORESTATION RATE
A concerning tendency has been identified by recent studies: Swat has the highest rate of deforestation in the region, at 1.4% per year, followed by Chitral at 0.71%. Dir, on the other hand, maintains a lower rate of 0.4%, which is explained by the active participation of the community in forest management.
BIODIVERSITY IN DANGER
The region’s distinctive wildlife suffers greatly from the loss of forest cover. Because of conservation initiatives in Deosai National Park, the Himalayan brown bear population has increased from 19 in 1993 to 78 by 2022. Threats still exist, though, because of habitat loss and climate change. In a similar vein, there are only an estimated 718 snow leopards left in the region, making them an endangered species.
CHANGES IN CLIMATE AND THEIR REPERCUSSIONS
Deforestation makes the effects of climate change worse. Residents of Swat said that recently, the temperature has risen by 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, increasing the frequency of natural disasters like floods. The 2022 wildfires in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which devastated approximately 14,430 acres of forests and pastures, serve as another example of how vulnerable these ecosystems are.
COMMUNITY INPUT AND PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES
Locals are speaking out more and more about the damage to the environment. Locals in Swat have staged demonstrations and even petitioned the Peshawar High Court to stop illicit logging. On a positive note, initiatives like the Billion Tree Tsunami have aimed to restore forest cover. Launched in 2014, this project successfully planted over a billion trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, surpassing its targets ahead of schedule.
Pakistan’s Narrative on Climate Change in the North
Pakistan views climate change as a survival-level threat, especially for its northern regions. Key points include:
- “We are not major polluters”: Pakistan contributes less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions but is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change.
- Loss and Damage Advocacy: Pakistan strongly advocates for climate justice, urging wealthy nations to pay for the damage caused by climate change in vulnerable countries like Pakistan.
- Projects & Responses:
Pakistan launched the GLOF II Project (with UNDP and Green Climate Fund) to monitor and reduce the risks of glacial lake floods.
UN Narrative on Climate Change in Northern Pakistan
The United Nations has recognized the vulnerability of northern Pakistan and supports action through:
- Support for GLOF Projects: Through UNDP and the Green Climate Fund, the UN backs early warning systems, emergency response plans, and infrastructure to reduce flood risks.
- Climate Justice and Adaptation: The UN acknowledges that Pakistan, despite being a low emitter, faces extreme climate risks and needs international funding for adaptation.
- Humanitarian Concerns: Climate change is linked with food insecurity, displacement, and poverty—issues the UN highlights in its global climate reports.
CONCLUSION
Northern Pakistan stands at a crossroads. The choices made today will determine whether its natural heritage is preserved for future generations or lost to the annals of history. Collective action, informed policies, and unwavering commitment are imperative to safeguard this ecological treasure.
