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Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani launched the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2012, by planting a sapling at Prime Minister’s House here today.
The Prime Minister directed the Secretary Ministry of National Disaster Management and Chairman CDA to make the campaign successful as forestation was critical to offset the impact of climate change which was looming all over the world including Pakistan
Chairman CDA informed the Prime Minister that during the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2012, about 50 million saplings would be planted in the country.
The text of the Message of the Prime Minister is reproduced
“Forests are important component of Pakistan’s natural resources. Our natural forests are amongst the world’s unique ecosystems but they are under persistent threat of depletion due to heavy pressure for wood and other forest products. The rising demand on forest land for housing and other purposes has emerged as another challenge.
Government of Pakistan and provincial governments, continue to make efforts to protect the precious forest resources. However, the achievement of this objective is impacted by factors like poverty, population pressure and high price of timber. Under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs’) Pakistan is committed to increase the forest cover by 1 percent by 2015.
The recognition of the role of forests in climate change mitigation and acceptance of forest carbon trading under the REDD mechanism has added a new dimension to the role of forests as a source of earning for the local and forest dependent communities.
I am happy to note that Pakistan is progressing steadily in bringing the benefits of REDD to the forest dependent communities and in the process conserving biodiversity and promoting carbon sequestration as well.
To check the depletion of natural forests, well-planned and concerted efforts are needed. To rehabilitate these degraded forests and to harness the vast potential there is need to expand tree cover on farmlands that at present meet more than 90% of household fuel wood requirements.
For realizing sustained economic benefits for poverty alleviation and environmental stability in the country the participation of our farmers through a comprehensive national farm forestry programme is imperative.
I realize that water shortage and inadequate funding are the limiting factors in developing forest resources. In this regard we have to opt for non-traditional and innovative ways. Besides introducing new irrigation techniques Forest Departments need to promote native and such other species as require less water for growth: To supplement the funding resources the other channels like REDD need to availed.
On this occasion I would like to appeal to every Pakistani, the farming communities, and elected members to actively participate in the Spring Tree Planting Campaign by planting maximum trees and ensuring the aftercare and protection of the saplings. Let us make our beloved Pakistan green.”
For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
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