Arsalan Ali

Pakistan is making a resolute effort to combat the far-reaching effects of climate change through its Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (TBTTP) and focused restoration of mangroves. These proactive initiatives demonstrate the country’s commitment to addressing the pressing global challenge of climate change, says the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. According to a document available with WealthPK, TBTTP and mangrove forest restoration projects have not only contributed to Pakistan’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions but also opened up a potential revenue stream through the trading of carbon credits on the international voluntary carbon market.

The implementation of TBTTP – upscaling of the Green Pakistan Programme – was initiated in 2019 for four years (2019-2023) to plant/regenerate 3.29 billion saplings. The ministry’s document states that a cumulative total of 1931.52 million saplings were planted, and the trees planted/regenerated under GPP-TBTTP has the potential to sequester 148 million tonnes of carbon equivalent over the period of 10 years, if implemented fully.

One of the highlights of Pakistan’s green initiative is the restoration of the country’s mangrove forests. Current area estimates of Indus Delta are at 667,000 hectares, out of which 240,000 hectares are inhabited by mangroves. The ministry’s document says Pakistan is the only country in the region where mangrove cover is increasing, with an overall 300% increase since 1990, mainly in the Indus Delta.

The Indus Blue Carbon (IDBC) project initiated by the Sindh Forest Department aims to restore 350,000 hectares of mangroves over 60 years in the coastal districts of Thatta and Sujawal through a multi-phase public-private partnership. It states that Phase-1 aims at the restoration of 224,997 hectares of degraded land through large-scale reforestation, of which 75,000 hectares were restored by 2020 with mangrove plantations, with an investment of $50 million from partners.

Pakistan has also completed the essential requirements for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) implementation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The REDD+ concept enables countries to access result-based payments against measured, reported, and verified emissions reduction and removals.

Through its TBTTP and initiatives like IDBC and REDD+, Pakistan is making significant strides in the fight against climate change. Not only is the country reducing its carbon emissions, but it is also paving the way for sustainable development and creating potential revenue streams through carbon credit trading. According to a recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to these climate change impacts.

Pakistan is facing an imminent threat of increased variability in monsoons, receding Himalayan glaciers, and extreme weather events like floods and droughts, which could potentially cause food and water insecurity. However, the Pakistani government is taking swift action to address this pressing issue. In addition to the existing TBTTP, the government has pledged to increase the country’s Protected Areas to 15% by the end of 2023. In 2018, the Protected Areas stood at 12%. This commitment by the government highlights its dedication to combatting climate change and its negative consequences on the environment and people of Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk