Azeem Ahmed Khan

Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI), the country’s premier forestry research and training body, is poised to be upgraded into a degree-awarding institution, which experts believe will transform the nation’s capacity to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Dr. Anwar Ali, Director of Forest Education and Forestry Research at PFI, said the institute was ready to launch a new suite of degree programs aimed at producing a skilled workforce for the country’s green sector.

“We have planned to start three undergraduate programs, including BS in Climate Change and BS in Biodiversity and Wildlife Management, along with higher degrees such as MS, MPhil, and PhD in Forestry, Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Wildlife,” Dr. Anwar revealed. “This expansion will create a new generation of professionals capable of addressing Pakistan’s pressing environmental challenges.”

The planned transformation of PFI into a degree-awarding institution is expected to fill a critical gap in Pakistan’s environmental education. Dr. Anwar highlighted that almost all practicing foresters in the country are PFI graduates. “At PFI, students not only receive classroom education but also hands-on training from researchers. This blend of research and teaching makes our graduates uniquely skilled,” he said.

Encouraging young people to consider a career in forestry, he said, “If you are a true nature lover and have enthusiasm, then the sky is the limit. This is a field where you can contribute directly to the planet’s survival.” “Cities and countries with strong forestry education and policies are always more climate-resilient and economically competitive,” Dr. Anwar remarked. “For Pakistan, investing in forest education today means a healthier environment, stronger disaster resilience, and new opportunities in the global carbon market tomorrow.”

Dr. Anwar emphasized that Pakistan’s forests are not just natural resources but critical shields against disasters. “Forests are essential for our survival and resilience in the face of prolonged droughts, catastrophic floods, rising temperatures, heatwaves, and other extreme weather events,” he cautioned.

He said that Pakistan’s vast rangelands, barren lands, and agroforestry resources could support green projects on a massive scale. “Around 60 percent of the country is rangeland, which makes us unique. With agroforestry systems already in place, the scope for reforestation and afforestation projects is enormous,” he noted.

Highlighting the transformation of forestry as a discipline, Dr. Anwar said it had evolved far beyond timber harvesting. “Our ecosystems play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, watershed and soil protection, and climate change mitigation. Increasingly, private actors are entering the sector to develop projects for carbon and biodiversity credits,” he explained.

Dr. Anwar described carbon credits as a key financial tool for Pakistan to tap into the global carbon market. “There are three main ways to generate carbon credits: carbon removal or sequestration, emission avoidance, and emission reduction. When you remove one tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere, that is counted as one carbon credit,” he said.

He stressed that with proper management of its forests and rangelands, Pakistan could earn significant revenues through carbon credits while also contributing to global climate goals. “Forestry is no longer just about planting trees; it’s about integrating Pakistan into the international green economy,” he added.

Reflecting on his own career, Dr. Anwar said he had worked across all forest types in the country — from the mangroves of the Indus delta to the alpine forests of Gilgit-Baltistan. “I have contributed to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and to carbon assessment projects. These experiences showed me that forests are our strongest line of defense against climate change,” he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk