Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan needs to adopt sustainable forest management (SFM) practices to protect its shrinking water resources.

"Healthy forests not only regulate surface run-off, trap pollutants, stabilise soils, ensure clean water flows downstream, but also act as natural water filters,” said Muhammad Atif Majeed, Deputy Director (Technical) at Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI).  

Speaking to WealthPK, he said: “A well-managed forest absorbs the maximum rainwater, leaving a very low run-off for streams. The absorbed water gradually comes out through springs and ensures the water supply around the year.”

He said SFM should be a national water security strategy as its absence jeopardises sustainable water management, water security and resilience of communities. “Degraded forest ecosystems are directly linked to declining water quality, increased sedimentation and reduced groundwater recharge, particularly in vulnerable upstream regions.”

Majeed said: “Climate-smart forestry or sustainable smart forest management encompasses a range of techniques combined with conventional forestry techniques and a modern data-driven approach to optimise forest health, productivity and carbon sequestration.”

The PFI official emphasised the need for technology-driven forest monitoring that may include satellite-based deforestation tracking, real-time watershed health assessments, and predictive modelling to manage land use impacts on water cycles.

Majeed told WealthPK that deforestation in watershed areas through unchecked logging, encroachment in forested catchments, and poorly planned infrastructure projects near ecologically sensitive forested areas not only reduces groundwater recharge but also accelerates siltation in rivers and reservoirs (Mangla and Terbella dams are crucial for irrigation and hydropower in Pakistan).

He said, “Pakistan lost over 8% of its tree cover between 2001 and 2023 due to a lack of technological integration by provincial forest departments, hindering tracking of the forest loss or assessing watershed health.” He said ensuring access to real-time data, GIS, or satellite monitoring, and strong interdepartmental coordination is critical in this regard.

“Both the federal and provincial governments should implement smart forest zoning and watershed protection frameworks, strengthen the capacity of respective forest departments with GIS, drones and AI tools; revive native vegetation in buffer zones around rivers and springs, and incorporate forest water linkages into national and local water management policies,” Majeed said.

Talking to WealthPK regarding the importance of SFM to maintain the water quality, Muhammad Akbar, an environmentalist, said: “Afforestation and protection of watersheds, particularly those existing at high altitudes, is crucial.” Speaking to WealthPK, he asked for the establishment of forested buffer zones around water bodies.  

Akbar said that enforcement of land use laws is important to ensure ecosystem-based management and watershed service valuation and to curb activities resulting in forest degradation in critical catchments.

He said, “Implementation of protective zoning regulations is also necessary near rivers, springs, and other water reservoirs to protect them from deforestation and encroachment. AI-powered forest surveillance, and hydrological modelling are crucial to monitor the impact of forest changes on water quality in real time.”

Credit: INP-WealthPk