Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan needs to restore and conserve its forest watersheds to fight the adverse impacts of climate change, ensuring food security and stabilizing the economy, opined Muhammad Niaz Khan Kakar, Conservator of Forests Quetta, while talking to WealthPK.

“Conserving and managing forested watersheds entails riparian protection (a safeguard for streamside forests to filter runoff, maintain habitat, and prevent erosion) and agroforestry adoption, which integrates sustainable tree‑crop arrangements to boost productivity and resilience,” he said.

He said watersheds provide active reforestation to restore degraded areas using native or nitrogen-fixing species to rebuild ecological functions, and hydrological monitoring, which is important to track flow regimes, sediment loads, soil organic carbon, and water chemistry to guide adaptive management.

“Forest watersheds underpin agriculture by maintaining soil fertility, moisture, and ecology. Organic matter and nutrient-rich soil coming downstream from forested landscapes aid crop growth. Forests play a crucial role in direct food provision. They are also a nutritional safety net during times of scarcity,” he explained.

He said forests deliver both tangible and intangible economic benefits. They support local incomes through both timber and nontimber forest products (NTFPs), including resins, honey, wild food, and medicinal plants.

In agro-forestry systems, tree-crop integration on watershed margins enhances crop yields, diversifies food sources (fruits, nuts, mushrooms, medicinal plants), and improves resilience against climate shocks.

He said, “Forest canopies intercept rainfall, slow and stabilize streamflow, enhance soil infiltration, and reduce flood peaks. Dense root systems in forests act as soil and organic matter binders. They significantly lower nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) and sediment delivery to waterways.”

Niaz said, “Clean water from forested catchments reduces water treatment costs. A study shows that 1% increase in forest cover leads to 1% decrease in nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediments in public water systems.”

Proper watershed conservation and restoration, and involvement of all stakeholders, including the local communities, is necessary. Their participation in decision-making and equitable benefit sharing will enhance ecosystem stewardship. It is important for future safety and green economy, he emphasized.

Integrating forest watershed protection into national climate and food security strategies is the need of the hour. Naturally existing forest watersheds are far better to look after than the costly engineered artificial infrastructures. Incentivized watershed stewardship through payments for ecosystem services is also necessary to plan, he added.

Talking to WealthPK about the importance of watershed protection, environmentalist Dr. Muhammad Akbar said, “Forest watershed conservation is not a mere environmental imperative, but it is a strategic necessity to meet national and global sustainability goals.”

He said sustained water flow from healthy forest watersheds supports key economic sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, hydropower, and tourism. These sectors play a vital role in enhancing GDP and employment in the country.

“Forest watersheds play a vital role in maintaining a stable water table, preventing floods, enriching soil fertility, and safeguarding ecosystems. The policymakers must immediately weave policies to protect the watersheds. A public awareness campaign should also be a part of the relevant policies,” said Akbar.

Credit: INP-WealthPk