1bn Saplings to be Planted By Mid-2021

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said on Tuesday while addressing participants of a press conference, that the government will successfully achieve its target of planting one billion saplings by the middle of this year,

“The biggest weapon to tackle challenges of climate change is the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami (TBTT) initiative. As we restore destroyed forests, in the first phase the plan is to plant 3.2 billion saplings till 2023. We call it the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami because the present government is here to stay. We are on target so far. Numbers of saplings in nurseries across the country have gone from 90 million to 300 million,” he said, adding the first phase of sapling plantation will be completed by June/July 2021.

Pakistan has been listed among the top ten countries, most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the last two decades. This problem must be addressed urgently for the survival of future generations as it affects the economy, water resources, national security and other essentials.

“Scientific study shows that the average temperature in Pakistan has risen by 1°C. This may seem less but the rise can be disastrous especially for agriculture and the economy. The variability of rains has increased by 20pc. This means the timing of rainy seasons have shifted, while summers have extended. Every year an extra day is added to the summer season,” he said.

According to the SAPM, urban flooding such as the one witnessed in Karachi in the previous monsoon was a new threat. “Today Karachi has turned into a heat island. The previous government is responsible for wiping out 70pc trees and greenery in Lahore alone. These phenomena are a reality. The best solution is planting more trees, especially in cities. The numbers of glacial lakes in Pakistan’s North have also increased from 50 to 130, according to estimates, in just three years, which is ‘very’ alarming for us,” he added.

Several projects fall under the TBTT initiative which includes increasing the number of protected areas, bee harvesting and establishment of a wildlife conservation centre in the capital, Islamabad. The premier will soon announce more areas the government intends to protect.

These projects are being monitored by provincial governments, then by the federal government and thirdly by third parties like Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which will provide annual reports, he added.

“The international community, ministers, artists and especially environmental organisations, have recognized the success of the TBTT initiative asking all nations to follow Pakistan’s example. Climate change will remain a challenge, whichever government comes into power. The best solution is planting as many trees as possible,” he added.

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