KARACHI: Sindh Forest Department Chief Conservator Aijaz Ahmed Nizamani, said on Sunday that 145,000 acres of forest area is under forcible encroachment in Sindh, whereas 64,500 acres have been illegally allotted by the Sindh revenue department. “Sindh has a land area of around 14 million hectares, out of which 1.125 million hectares fall under the control of Sindh Forest Department,” said the chief conservator. Speaking about the importance of increasing forest area, he added, “It is not a question of deforestation but of efficient harvesting of forests. Deforestation causes poverty in forest neighbouring communities as poor people depend on forest products for their livelihood. Sindh Forest Department is working on reforms to increase forest areas with the help of local communities,” he concluded.

Source: Pakistan Today December 24, 2017 12:00 UTC