Plantation plays pivotal role in economic growth of any country

LAHORE, Jun 02 (APP): Tree plantation played a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has a direct link with the economic growth-engine of any country for development.

Deforestation was directly associated with eco-degradation which was one of the largest threats that were being faced by the world today, noted environmentalist Prof Dr. Sajid Rashid said while talking to APP.

The reason was that an enhanced or improved environmental condition had the potential to promote food security, enhance employment generation and boost income generation, which improves the economic growth engine of any country for development, he said.

Climate change was the major reason of deforestation and had become a major global concern. Pakistan was among the most vulnerable countries to this phenomenon. Change in climate was a major threat to food production in Pakistan, he added.

Prof Dr. Sajid Rashid said that eco-degradation and its related issues were seriously affecting our forest, fisheries and agriculture. It was rapidly increasing our sea level that may submerge many parts of the coastal areas Baluchistan and Sindh, which were very rich in Indus delta and also high productive cropping areas, he asserted.

Currently, climate change and eco-degradation have negative impact on overall crop productivity. It increased the temperatures around one fahrenheit by reducing cereal yield in all countries, located in South Asia, he added.

Meanwhile it may be mentioned here that climate change related disasters, environmental and weather have affected over 75 million Pakistanis during the last three decades in terms of agriculture and bio-diversity damages, with estimated economic-losses of over $29 billion, or roughly $1billion per annum, estimates a latest World Bank report.