Forest Resources of Pakistan

Forests play a very important role in the economy of a country. There is shortage of forests in Pakistan. Pakistan has 4.01 million hectares covered by forests, which is about 5 percent of the total land area. Eighty-five percent of this is a public forest, which includes 40 percent coniferous and scrub forests on the northern hills and mountains. The balance is made up if irrigated plantations and Riverain forests along major rivers on Indus plains, mangrove forests on the Indus delta and trees planted on farmlands. Though the forest resources are meager, it plays an important role in Pakistan's economy by employing half a million people and fulfills one-third of the nation's energy needs. Forest and Rangelands support about 30 million herds of livestock. Forestry sector plays an important role in soil conservation, regulates flow of water for irrigation and power generation, reduction of sedimentation in water conveyances and reservoirs, employment and maintenance of ecological balance. 
Total forests area of Punjab, NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan is 0.48, 1.33, 0.84 and 1.36 million hectares respectively. Pakistan being an agricultural country relies on sustained supplies of water and fertile soil. This is only possible when our forests and watersheds in the high hills are intact. Pakistan being a forest deficient country is facing timber and fire wood shortage to the tune of about 29 million cubic meters. There is need to increase the area under tree cover, not only to meet material needs of growing population but also to enhance environmental and ecological services being provided by the forests.