In Badin district of
Pakistan, trees are being
indiscriminately chopped
down along canals, distributaries and roads in a display
of utter disregard for the
environment. Besides inflicting heavy economic losses
on the government, the
activity smacks of sheer
callousness. Every year, the
government spends millions
of rupees for its tree
plantation programme,
during which saplings are
planted in the district.
However, their growth and
survival are left to chance
and no follow-up report is
published.
A forest official in Badin
said that more than 124,000
saplings of eucalyptus were
purchased by the irrigation
department for Phuleli and
Akram Wah channels in the
years 1995-96 and 1996-97,
costing about a million
rupees. But there was hardly
any afforestation and at the
same time, the irrigation
department felled several
ancient trees.
A forest expert pointed
out that, as per rules, a
valuation certificate from
the forest department is
required prior to removing
sick, fallen, defective or
dead trees, a formality
seldom observed. He suggested formation of 'plant
protection committees' and
creation of public awareness
on the benefit of tree planting, besides strong penalties
for illegal and indiscriminate
felling.
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