1. :THE UNDERLYING CAUSESOF DEFORESTATION IN AREA OF ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN:
Abstract:
This report is based on the findings of a fieldwork heldin April 2015 to identify the major causes of
deforestationinareaof IslamabadandRawalpindi Pakistan. The purpose of thisreportisto highlight
issuesof deforestationandsystematicallyidentifyitsunderlyingcauses,byincorporatingthe viewsof
all stakeholders,forestrysectorexpertsandpolicymakersfromthe federal,provincialandlocal levels.
The maincauses of deforestationare mountingpopulationpressure,dependence of urbanand rural
householdson fuelwood, suspension of forest management in natural forests, unscientific grazing
beyond carrying capacity and stakeholders' lack of involvement in the process of policy making. In
this report we put our focus on the major cause of deforestationthat is a “METRO BUS PROJECT” in
IslamabadandRawalpindi thepositive andnegative pointsof “Metrobusproject”andthe suggestions
through which we can overcome he problem of deforestation.
I. Introduction:
Pakistanfacesimmenseproblemsof deforestation.Lessthanfivepercentof itstotal areaisunder
forests. The rate of deforestation of 1.5% is very high and alarming. Efforts aimed at combating
deforestationandincreasingthe forestareahave failedtoyieldthe desiredresultsduetogapsin
policymaker'sinformation,financial andsocial constraintsandstakeholders'lackof involvement
in policymaking.
The rest of the report consists of following points:
Section II: The main objectives of this report.
Section III: Methodologies.
Section IV: Conclusion.
Section V: Recommendations.
II. Objectives:
The specific objectives of this study are to:
 Raise awareness of the benefits of forests, and adverse effects of deforestation.
 Raise awareness about the major causes of deforestation.
 Raise awareness about the deforestation causing by “Metro bus project”.
 Raise awareness about the advantages and dis advantages of “Metro bus project”

2.  Suggest possible solutions to overcome the problem of deforestation in area of Rawalpindi
and Islamabad.
III. Methodologies:
Pakistan is a forest deficient country. It has suffered loss of forest biodiversity (conifers, riparian,
thorn, and mangroves) owing to poor management practices of over hundred years. In order to
observe the causesof deforestationwe wenttothe area nearMargalla hillsinIslamabad on 2nd
may
2015. Rawalpindi Islamabad:The twincitiesof Rawalpindi andIslamabadlie againstthe backdrop of
Margalla Hills on the Potohar plateau. On the basis of archaeologists believe that a distinct culture
flourishedonthisplateauas far back as 3,000 years. In the area near the margallahillswe observed
that a large amountof treesare removedinorderto complete the “METRO BUS PROJECT”. It is a 24
km (14.9 mi) bus rapid transit under-construction in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,
Pakistannodoubtthatthisisa beneficialprojectforpeoples butitcause alotof threatsforhumanas
well asanimalslife.One of the mainarteriesleadingintoIslamabadiscloseddownforthe MetroBus
projectpeopleswerefacingalotof difficultiesintravelling.A lotof treeswerecutted downthere and
it effectsthe greeneryof the margallahillswe observedthatthere wasalot of pollutioniteffects the
human beings badly. Most of the peoples were wearing masks while travelling through that road. A
large amountof mountainshavecrushedthere whicheffectsthe beautyof the capitalcityof Pakistan.
Inthe area of twincitiesalarge amountof forestsare removedinordertoconstructbuildings,houses
as well astofulfil the dailyrequirementsof humanbeings.Beforeatleast100 yearsthese areaswere
totally covered with green forests but today a large amount of land in these cities are covered by
buildings and a small quantities of trees are left there. Another cause of deforestation that we
observedthere isthat a large amount of peoplescanmigrate from villagestowardscities that’swhy
we have to construct more houses in order to settle them and for this purpose we have to cut the
trees. Scenes of these cities captured by us are as follow:
Conclusion:
After visiting these places we concluded the following causes of deforestation:
CAUSES:
 There is a wide gap in the production and consumption of wood. A large amountof wood is
usedinorderto fulfil the requirementsof humanbeings. The productionandconsumptionof
wood is one of the main factors of deforestation.
 The ban imposed by the government on cutting trees has not prevented the timber mafia
from their activities because of political interference, theft, corruption and lack of serious
commitmentonthe part of the governmenttobringthe culpritsto book.The timbertraders
are using all possible means to smuggle wood for short-lived gains.
 Poor communities consume available natural resources for their immediate survival.

3.  Increasing population pressure resulting in unsustainable removals, dependence of 90% of
rural & 60% urban households on fuelwood as primary source of energy; developmental
pressure i.e. construction of roads, buildings,and water reservoirs disturbing riparian and
mangrove ecosystems lead to widespread deforestation in Pakistan.
 Stakeholderslackof involvementinthe policymakingprocesshasheldthepolicymakersback
from designing a broad based forest policy.
 “Mero bus project”isalsoone of the majorcause of deforestationwhichbadlyeffectsthe
greenbeltof Islamabad.
Advantages of “Metro bus Project”:
 This service will join the 2 cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad it will help 150000 peoples to
travel with in two cities.
 It will reduce the traffic burden on “Benazir Bhutto road”.
 There isa requirementof urbanbustransportservice tohelpthe peoplestotravel withinthe
two cities.
 It is affordable.
 It will Support local economies.
 It will attract business investments.
 It will Attract tourism
 It will improve pedestrian safety.
 Increase use of public transportation.
 Improve public transport.
 A lotof laboursare workingfor the completionof thisprojecttheycanearnmoneyfromthis
project.
Disadvantages of “Metro bus project”:
This project has also some disadvantages which are as follow:
 The estimated cost for this project is 50 billion which is too expensive.
 It effects the beauty of Islamabad.
 A large amount of trees as well as mountains are crushed in order to complete the project
which causing many environmental problems.
 It causing a lot of pollution in area of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
 It will be overcrowded. Just like Lahore Metro bus.
 The crime rate will be increase.
 Its routes are fixed so you have to make your way to and from the station.

4. Recommendations:
Ourcountryisan agricultural countrybutnow adayswe are facingaproblemof deforestationinlarge
amountwe shouldcontrolitotherwiseitwillgeneratemanyproblemsforusinfuture. Followingsteps
shouldbe taken Inordertoreduce the problemof deforestationinarea of Rawalpindi andIslamabad:
 Government should fulfil their promises to replant the trees anywhere else that can be
uprooted during Metro bus construction.
 Government should take steps to rebuild the green belt of the city of Islamabad.
 Government should provide the facility of suigas to all areas in order to reduce wood
consumption.
 Government should make policies in order to control deforestation.
 Better educational and medical facilities should provide to the villages in order to reduce
migration of peoples from villages towards cities.
 We should construct the buildings in limited quantity in order to reduce deforestation.
 We should grow more trees in order to reduce pollution.
 We should respect forest peoples who can take care of our forests.
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