LAHORE, (MILLAT/APP): The South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC)
has urged the environmental reporters to create awareness among
people about the importance of conserving forests for a greener
Pakistan.
The company held a briefing for the environmental journalists
here on Monday in connection with the International Day of Forests
celebrations and to sensitise the media persons about the importance
of forestry.
SPFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tahir Rasheed briefed
the media about the state of forests and forestry initiatives in
Pakistan and how the company was playing a role to save the existing forests of Pakistan.
This year’s theme of the International Day of Forests is
“Forests and Energy”, as wood fuel provides 40 per cent of
today’s global renewable energy supply and almost 900 million
people, mostly in developing countries, are engaged in the
wood-energy sector on a part or full-time basis.
Tahir Rasheed said: “Strategically placed trees in urban areas
can cool the air by two to eight degrees Celsius. Since Pakistan
is among the top 10 countries vulnerable to climate change according
to Germanwatch’s latest Global Climate Risk Index 2017, it is
imperative to improve forest cover so that its vulnerability to extreme weather events can reduce.”
Tahir Rasheed, referring to the World Bank data, said that
Pakistan’s forest cover in 1990 was 3.3 per cent, which has reduced
to 1.9 per cent in 2015.
The UN General Assembly (GA) declared March 21 the International
Day of Forests in 2012. The day observance aims at raising awareness
about forestry across the world for a sustainable future.