ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is facing a critical environmental tipping point with a drastic 18 per cent decline in forest cover, jeopardizing its environment, economy, and national security.
According to experts, the degradation of forests, rangelands, and worsening climate change effects are directly contributing to catastrophic floods, landslides, and cloudbursts, threatening agricultural productivity, infrastructure, and local livelihoods.
Since 1992, the country has lost 18 per cent of its forest area, with rangelands producing only 20-30 per cent of their potential biomass. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has seen the largest share of this decline. The catastrophic floods of 1992, 2010, and 2025 are evidence that the destruction of forests and rangelands is transforming the upper regions into “flood factories.”
Experts argue that forests play an essential role in stabilizing Pakistan’s environment by preventing flash floods, recharging groundwater, and protecting agricultural land from erosion.
They also contribute to soil fertility, balance the climate, and offer a source of fuel, fodder, fruits, medicines, and tourism opportunities. Without urgent restoration efforts, experts warn that the country faces severe environmental and economic risks.
The destruction of forest cover has dropped from 3.78 million hectares in 1992 to 3.09 million hectares in 2025. Despite government efforts to reduce deforestation, Pakistan continues to lose around 11,000 hectares of forest annually. Additionally, the decline in rangeland area, from 60 per cent to 58 per cent, and a dramatic fall in rangeland biomass production (from 100pc to just 20pc) is exacerbating the environmental crisis.
In regions like Chitral, Swat, and Kalam, deforestation and illegal logging have caused long-lasting damage to the ecosystem. The August 2025 cloudburst in Buner, landslides in Battagram, and floods in Bajaur are reminders of the deadly consequences of environmental degradation.
Dr. Adil Zareef, Convener of Sarhad Conservation Net, stresses the importance of forests in regulating rainfall, stabilizing slopes, and reducing the risk of landslides and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). He warned that without these protective functions, the region is vulnerable to more severe weather events.
KP, which heavily relies on livestock, is seeing its rangeland productivity collapse due to overgrazing and mismanagement. Families that once depended on forests for resources are now turning to unsustainable alternatives, further straining the environment.
Experts have called for a national emergency to address the destruction of forests and rangelands. They advocate for comprehensive policies involving watershed management, grazing control, wildfire management, and community-based restoration efforts. It is also critical to combat illegal timber mafias and hold officials accountable for their role in this environmental crisis.
The experts’ recommendations include implementing environmental monitoring systems using satellite and local data, promoting alternative fuel sources, and establishing dedicated units to fight forest fires in vulnerable mountain districts.
