Forest Policies of Pakistan

POLICY

o Generally, Policy is “a program of actions adopted by a person, group, or government, or the

set of principles on which they are based.” (E_ Encyclopedia) OR

o A pre-determined course of action.

o To sum up, Policy is a scheme of thinking about a given subject that sets goals and identifies
the means of achieving such goals.
PRINCIPLES OF FORMULATION OF POLICY

 A policy should be based on a sound rationale of logic. That would mean that it has a clear
appeal to common sense and common wisdom of those who will be put responsible to
implement the same.

 It should highlight clearly the goals.

 The goals should be convertible (capable of being changed) to action and achievable.

 A policy should be related to ground realities and should not be based on wishful thinking.

 A policy should be in writing and approved by the competent authority.

 A policy should have a unity of thought and should not be a mixture of contradictory
(opposing) ideas. It should be optimistic and should inspire the confidence of the interested
parties.
PRINCIPLES OF FORMULATION OF POLICY

 A policy should be dynamic and flexible so as to adapt itself to changing circumstances and technology.

 Policy formulation must go through a genuine process of wide consultation and dialogue with all
interested parties and stakeholders.

 Inbuilt mechanism of review and monitoring is provided for in the policy.

 NATIONAL FOREST POLICY

It is a scheme of thinking about the forestry of Pakistan that sets goals and identifies means
of achieving such goals.

REQUIREMENTS OF SOUND NATIONAL FOREST POLICY

• The policy should promote sustainable mgmt. and development of forest resource in the country.

• It should contribute in the broader sense, to the sustainable mgmt. of the land, which in any case
is the basic asset of any nation.

• It should ensure coordination amongst various govt agencies, and with private agencies having
land-use responsibilities.

• Forest area of 5.4% of the total land area of the country is extremely inadequate. Forest policy
should concentrate on increasing this area.
 REQUIREMENTS OF SOUND NATIONAL FOREST POLICY

• The country is heavily populated and faces energy crises. Since there is a little scope of increasing the
area of state forests, agroforestry should be given priority.

• It should promote social benefits, and enhance livelihood opportunities of the local poor, the women,
and other marginalized segments of the society.

• It must take into account the conservation of eco-system, improvement of wildlife habitats, and
compliance with international treaties.

• It must promote recreational and touristic values of the forests.

• It should be dynamic and flexible so as to cope with the changing circumstances and advances in
technology
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

1. Indian Forest Policy of 1894

History and Background

• People in general thought that forests are an unlimited and everlasting resource; therefore
conversion of forests into agriculture and grazing lands were occurring unchecked.

• Land settlement and forest demarcation had not been carried out

• Life was of pastoral (rural) nature that interfered with forest regeneration

• Forests were not managed under any plan. Random cutting of valuable trees in accessible areas
was going on

• The British ruler realized that conservancy measure by adopted to arrest degradation of forests
and maintain their productivity. Hence they issued forest policy directing of 1894.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

1. Indian Forest Policy of 1894

Important Features

• Forest be conserved and their area productivity may not be allowed to reduce

• Forest working plan be developed and implemented

• Land settlement and forest demarcation be carried out

• Cooperation of local communities in forest areas be enlisted

NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

1. Indian Forest Policy of 1894

Implementation

• The land settlement was initiated into Reserved, Protected, and Guzara forests. Their
demarcation and mapping were completed.

• Working plans for major forests were completed and their implementation was started.

• Indian Forest Act 1927 was promulgated (declare officially) and implemented.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

2. Forest Policy of 1955

History and Background

• Pakistan came into being in 1947 and the earlier forest policy of Indian Govt (1984) was
not very well suited to limited forest base.

• New govt of Pakistan must have initiated new policies in other sectors as well. Also, the
need was in forestry.

• Professionals at the helm of affairs changed and they must have thought to express their
will through a new forest policy.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

2. Forest Policy of 1955

Important features
• Forestry should be assigned higher priority and more funds should be allocated for increasing
areas under forests.

• Forests should be classified on basis of their utility

• Intangible benefits of forestry should get preference over tangible benefits.

• All forests should be scientifically managed under approved working plans.

NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

2. Forest Policy of 1955

Important features

• Forests area should be increased by reserving 10% of land and water in colony areas for raising
irrigated plantations i.e. Social Forestry

• Timber and fuelwood yields should be increased by growing trees along roads and canals.

•Necessary powers should be obtained to control land use and conserve soil under a coordinated
program.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

2. Forest Policy of 1955

Implementation

• Higher priority to forestry was not given in 5-years plan and adequate funds were not provided

• Working plans for scientific mgmt. of forests were initiated.

• Higher priority to forestry was not given in 5-years plan and adequate funds were not provided.

• 10% of land in newly irrigated areas was not allocated to the plantation. Only 3% was.

• Trees along roads and canals were partly raised.

• Sound mgmt. in private forests was initiated.

• Control on general land use was not obtained.

NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

3. Forest Policy of 1962

History and Background

• Several developments took place b/w 1955 and 1962 which influenced the land use, economy, and
forestry.

• Several dams and barrages were constructed in Punjab and Sind, therefore, the attention of
policymakers shifted to the catchment area of important rivers.

• Control of Forest Departments was extended to the forests of princely states of Dir, Swat, Chitral,
and logging operations in Chilas valley of Northern Areas.

• The gap b/w supply and demand increased resulting in a staggering bill for the import of wood and
wood products.

• A new martial law govt of president Ayub Khan was in place and was interested in enunciating new
policies of all kinds of subjects.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

3. Forest Policy of 1962

Important features
 Forests

• Forest Department should undertake a research study so that the present period of exploitation is
shortened.

• Provincial govt should transfer wastelands to forest dept. in West Pakistan. All lands along
canals, roads, and railways are properly afforested and exploited under working plans.

• Irrigated plantations may be included in new colonization plans.

• Provincial govt should progressively undertake the acquisition of rights of grazing, removal of
trees and breaking of land in govt and Guzara forests.

• The provincial govt in consultation with flood commission, should survey in the riverain lands of
West Pakistan, and prepare programs for mgmt. of river banks and forests on behalf of owners.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

3. Forest Policy of 1962

 Watershed Mgt

• Forest Dept. should assume direct responsibility for soil conservation within govt owned
forests.
• A watershed mgmt. and rehabilitation program should be drawn.
• All goats should be eliminated from the hills areas within three years.
• A gradual shift of hill-population to new colonies in plains.

 Farm Forestry
• Farm Forestry should be the concern of the existing Agriculture dept. in non-project areas and
the Agriculture development corporation in project areas
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

3. Forest Policy of 1962

Implementation
• Low input, low output remained operative in forests and converting forests into commercial
concerns were not initiated.
• Canals, roads and railway lands were transferred to Forest dept. and afforestation over such areas
was initiated.
• Against policy provision of 15%, only 3% newly irrigated lands were transferred to forest dept. for
plantation.
• Acquisition of rights over forests was not done.
• Riverbanks were not given for Afforestation because owners preferred agriculture over there.

• For watershed mgmt., pilot projects were started in NWFP and Punjab.
• Shifting of the hill population was not possible and was not done.

• Though goat restriction ordinance 1962 was passed, it was never implemented.
• Farm forestry was not started by Agriculture dept. or ADC
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

4. Forest Policy of 1980

History and Background

• The policy of 1962 did not produce significant results.

• It was recognized that farmlands provided 90% of fuelwood and 50% of timber consume in the
country, whereas public forests produced only 10% firewood and 50% of timber. Therefore it was
felt that the potential of farm-lands could be further developed.

• The new martial law of General Zia ul Haq held govt and it was interested in new policies.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

4. Forest Policy of 1980

Important features
• A bigger thrust on the planting of growing tree outside forests.

• Development of compact fuelwood plantations in an area of wood scarcity and w-shed through
public motivation and incentives.

• Making effective motivational arrangements to involve people in mass-scale tree planting

activities and nature-conservation.

• Mgt of wild lands in accordance with their potential for optimum utilization in various forms,
including recreation and wildlife.

• Forest harvesting on scientific lines departmentally or through public sector corporations to avoid
waste and to improve utilization.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

4. Forest Policy of 1980

Important features
• Increased production of industrial wood to gradually meet full requirements of wood-based
industries.

• Coordinated/ integrated development of forestry and wood-based industries.

• Well planned, integrated and coordinated forestry development at provincial levels.

• Promoting wildlife conservation consistent with other land uses and ensuring that wildlife values
are preserved and enhanced.

• A scientific approach to the mgmt. of wildlife through wildlife surveys, research, and mgt plans.
• Encouraging the creation and development of national parks.

• Production of medicinal herbs in wild lands.

NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

4. Forest Policy of 1980

Implementation
• Farm forestry and social forestry programs were initiated in NWFP and Punjab.

• Motivational programs were started on a nominal scale.

• For forest harvesting, FDC was established in NWFP, AKLASC continued in AJK, and departmental
extraction started in Punjab.

• To prepare forest development plans, the forestry sector master plan was initiated through the donor’s
assistance and was completed in 1991.

• Large-scale w-shed mgmt. programs were initiated in NWFP and AJK with the assistance of WFP.

• Wildlife got the impetus. This dept. was re-organized and strengthened in all the provinces, 10 National
parks, 84 wildlife sanctuaries, and was 76 game reserves, were established.

• No significant work was done on medicinal plants.

NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

5. Forest Policy of 1991

History and Background

• Forest policy guidelines 1980 were not considered comprehensive enough by policymakers and
a wholesome independent forest policy was felt to be necessary.

• A newly elected govt was in place and it winter to break new grounds in every field including
forestry.

• Siltation of multi-purpose dams was in progress and this apprehension was at the back of minds
of policy-makers. Hence attention was to be focused on the catchment areas of important rivers.

• The country faced energy crises. Therefore emphasis was to be placed on energy plantations
and farm-forestry.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

5. Forest Policy of 1991

Important features

Objectives
• Meet country’s requirements of timber, fuelwood, fodder and other products and environmental needs by
increasing the forest area from 5.4% to 10% during the next 15 years.

• Conserve the existing forest, w-shed, rangeland and wildlife resources by sustainable utilization

• Encourage planting of multipurpose trees in irrigated plantations, riverain forests, and private farmlands to
meet the industrial and domestic demands.

• Conserve biological diversity and maintain ecological balance

• Control environmental degradation in catchment areas of rivers to check soil erosion and addition of silt in
water-reservoirs.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

5. Forest Policy of 1991

Important features

Objectives
• Take anti-desertification measures and rehabilitate water-logged, saline and degraded lands through
vegetation treatment.

• Generate opportunities for income and self-employment for the local population.

• Promote NGOs and private voluntary orgs (PVOs) to educate masses and create public awareness
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

5. Forest Policy of 1991

Important features

Plan of action
• Forest mgmt.
• Land use
• Hill forests
• Degraded w-sheds
• Rangelands
• Wildlife protected areas
• Private forestry
• Forest extension
• Research and education
• Environmental forestry
• Resource surveys
• Incentives
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

5. Forest Policy of 1991

Implementation
• The policy has been taken over by a general ban on commercial harvesting of forests imposed
by Federal govt in 1993.

• Policy document has not been taken seriously by planners in federal as well as provincial govt.

• Large-scale projects were launched on various subjects mentioned in the policy document both
at federal and provincial levels. Significant works have been done on these programs like social
forestry projects in NWFP and Sind, Forestry sector projects in NWFP and Punjab, etc.

• In particular, work on protected areas, and wildlife parks were given full attention.

• Institutional, financial, legal, and other physical resources for successful materialization of the
policy were neither identified nor were sources for this purpose lined up in the said policy.
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

6. Forest Policy of 2015

Goal

Expansion of national coverage of forests,

protected areas, natural habitats and green areas
for restoration of ecological functions and
maximizing economic benefits while meeting
Pakistan’s obligations to international agreements
related to forests
NATIONAL FOREST POLICIES

6. Forest Policy of 2015

Policy Objectives

• Enhancing public awareness on economic, social, ecological and cultural values of forests
• Implementing a national level mass afforestation program to expand and maintain forest
coverage to meet international standards
• Controlling deforestation through regulating movement of timber and inter-provincial trade
of timber
• Establishing and managing protected areas and networking through ecological corridors
• Reducing carbon footprints of energy and economic sector programs
• Facilitating implementation of international conventions and agreements related to forestry,
biodiversity and climate change
• Promoting standardized and harmonized scientific planning of forests, research and
education
Thank you