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Land grabbers, water scarcity ruining Pai Forest in Sindh

* Forest home to hog deer, partridges, Asiatic jackals, jungle cat, porcupine, wild boar and snakes

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Pai forest in Sindh is under threat from land grabbers and scarcity of water, which ironically is a protected area and part of the Indus eco-region, which has been identified as one of 40 biologically-rich regions in the world.

These were the findings of a delegation of the Forum of Environment Journalist Pakistan (FEJP) during a study tour to Pai forest in Sindh (5 Km away from Sarkand town), organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P).

A WWF-P official at Sarkand site office told the delegation that the forest, spread over 1933 hectares of land, was under pressure from land grabbers. He said a recent survey around 250 acres of the forest has been “encroached by influential people” of the area, for cultivation purposes. “Moreover, the Sindh government has given 140 acres to the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, which violates the spirit of ‘protected area’. The Pai Forest is an island surrounded by arable land, hence its land has become prime target for the surrounding farmers," he added.

There are 23 villages around the forest with an estimated population of 30,000, which adds pressure as the people grab land for cultivating cash crops. Also, cutting of forest for fuel wood by the local communities has significantly contributed to the destruction of the forest ecosystem.

Water is another issue that confronts the forest. It was once known as riverine forest, but after the construction of a flood protection bund on the River Indus, it has now turned into an irrigated forest ecosystem. It has been cut off from the riverine areas and became inland forest that is situated outside the river embankments. Hence, its reliance on regular inundation from the river has been shifted to control supply of water from Rohri Canal.

The WWF-P official said around 30 cusecs of water was needed for the forests a month. “Although it has been sanctioned by the Sindh government, but the forest never receives its full share. In fact, the forest receives one-fourth of 30 cusecs. Over all water shortage in Sindh is another factor that encourages farmers to steal forest’s water," he added.

The agony of water-starved forest is exacerbated by plantation of eucalyptus trees, which are highly water consumption plants. It is indeed an irony on the part of the Sindh Forest Department to plant such trees in a forest where water is scarce. Its number is huge, but according to the WWF-P official, it has been planted to show quick progress of the forest since eucalyptus trees grow fast. The Sindh government seriousness towards one of the import eco-regions of the world can be gauged from the fact that no Sindh Forest Department official can be seen at the site. Abandoned rusty tube wells, partly used for irrigating the forest, is a common sight and reflects the commitment of the Sindh government towards conserving the forests.

Due to its ecological importance, this plantation has been declared as a protected area (game reserve) by the Sindh Wildlife Department for conservation and sustainable management of wildlife and its habitat because it provides abode to different wildlife species. Important wildlife of the area includes hog deer, partridges, Asiatic jackals, jungle cat, porcupine, wild boar and snakes.

To lessen the pressure on the forest from the local communities, the WWF-P introduced community based organisations (CBOs) and presently 14 CBOs, funded by the Dutch government, are working in villages adjacent to the forest. The WWF-Pakistan has helped develop a 50-year vision for the Indus eco-region, in consultation with relevant stakeholders with the aim of establishing a joint action programme. Indus for All Programme is the first five-year phase of the overall Indus Eco-region Conservation Programme developed by the WWF-P in close collaboration with the Sindh government’s Planning and Development Department. The programme has obtained financial support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Pakistan.

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