Bonn Challenge
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in a statement Friday congratulated the Pakistani province on reaching the momentous milestone.
This marks the first Bonn Challenge pledge to reach its restoration goal, the organization noted.
The Bonn Challenge, set up in 2011, calls for the restoration of 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded lands by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
More than 20 countries have so far responded to the challenge, expressing an ambition to restore more than 60 million hectors by 2020 with more commitments expected.
KPKs reforestation campaign made it the only province or subnational entity to be included in the Bonn Challenge.
Nurseries produce 25,
000 saplings
Provincial officials say the campaign has achieved its restoration target through a combination of protected natural regeneration, 60 percent, and planned afforestation, 40 percent.
Many small-scale nurseries, producing up to 25,000 saplings each, have been set up with cash advances and a guaranteed purchase agreement from the provincial government.
The KPK government has invested $123 million to help establish 13,000 private tree nurseries in almost every district of the province, producing hundreds of thousands of saplings of local and imported tree varieties, including pines, walnuts and eucalyptus, officials say
Local economies benefit
This has boosted local incomes, generated thousands of green jobs, and empowered unemployed youth and women in the province. An additional $100 million will be allocated to maintain the project through June 2020.
This support makes the project one of the largest eco-investments ever made in Pakistan, according to the IUCN.
It noted the newly planted trees are reinforcing riverbanks and add tree resources to agricultural lands engaged in farm forestry. They also improve biodiversity by restoring wildlife shelters and contribute to CO2 sequestration through new tree plantations.
But we could not have done it if the local communities were not involved, Khan said. The local communities first grew the nurseries and then amongst them people who then protected the trees, the saplings when they were planted. It is one of the most successful experiments ever, and we have 85 percent survival rate.
PTIs Khan says the provincial government has enforced a complete ban on the cutting and felling of trees in reserved forests across KPK.
Authorities have also curtailed activities of the powerful timber mafia by dismantling hundreds of illegal sawmills and arresting timber cutters.
At least two forest guards have been killed in such encounters while many braved injuries, Khan said.
