Impact of Urban Expansion on Forest Cover in Pakistan: Analyzing the Role of Housing Societies
At the time of independence in 1947, Pakistan’s forest cover was about 33%. However, this number has decreased significantly over the past few decades due to the effects of deforestation, agricultural expansion and urbanization. Efforts were made by various plantations in the 1970s and 1980s, but these measures faced problems such as lack of funding and lack of community participation. The recent decades marked the transition to sustainable forest management, highlighted by major projects such as the Billion Tree Tsunami (2014-2018), which aimed to restore degraded lands and prevent climate change, and subsequently pursue the “Ten Billion Tree Tsunami” plan. New solutions are being explored to solve these problems. For example, technology that uses satellite imagery and drones to monitor forest health can collect real-time data on deforestation rates and biodiversity. In addition, community forestry projects were encouraged to involve local residents and provide training. Pakista