Climate Change and Forestry

By: Sajina Rehmat
Climate Change is a most serious global challenge of this age. However, it’s the most ignored issue as well. Everyone around the globe sees its early warning signals but very few people try to prevent it from occurring. Climate Change directly impacts the long-term sustainability of life on the earth. It increases rapidly due to unfavorable activities of human beings. i.e., unconditional GHG emissions rises the temperature of the earth.
Pakistan contributes less than 2% to global greenhouse gas emissions and is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impact of Climate Change. As compared to the global average temperature, Pakistan is expected to challenge high temperatures. The northern part is expected to be higher than the Southern parts of the country.
“A potential rise of 1.3•C – 4.9•C by the 2090s is the 1806-2005 baseline”.
” According to a study, which also noted that Pakistan had ” some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world, ranked 18 out of 191 countries”.
Each region of Pakistan face the consequences of Climate Change over the past few decades. Karachi faces heat waves, severe drought in Balochistan, chemical particles have polluted the atmosphere in Punjab, heavy rainfall and floods in GB, increase in viral diseases and skin infection in animal and human beings, e.g Chikungunya- mosquito born disease in Pakistan. Pakistan’s economy badly declined due increasing number of refugees.
Every single person is responsible for this crisis but we can minimize it by enhancement of forests. A single tree can absorb tons of carbon per year. We should plant fauna species that are converters and absorbers.
As a natural carbon sink that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis, forests are essential for preventing climate change. Here are some significant ways that forests aid in limiting climate change:

Through photosynthesis, trees pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass and soil. Carbon sequestration is a method that can lessen the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere and lessen the impacts of climate change.

Production of oxygen: Through photosynthesis, forests also create oxygen, a gas necessary for both human and animal life.
Albedo effect: Because of the albedo effect, forests can also cool the climate. Trees reduce the amount of heat received by the Earth’s surface by reflecting sunlight back into the atmosphere.

Biodiversity: Forests are home to a wide range of plant and animal species that are crucial to preserving ecosystem services, such as climate regulation.

However, when forests are burned or deteriorated, they can actually cause climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, lowering oxygen production, and decreasing the albedo effect. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) estimates that 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by deforestation and forest degradation.
In order to combat climate change, it is crucial to preserve and rehabilitate forests. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, including lowering deforestation and forest degradation, raising replanting and afforestation, and enhancing forest management techniques.

Precautions and planning can save many lives on Earth. Some important steps should be taken like water resilience, eco-based adaptation, using nature to minimize climate change, Technologies to detect forest fires conserving resources and wildlife too, and performing activities like awareness sessions.