392 / 2024-03-29 04:29:51

Understanding Ecosystem Restoration Efforts and Proposing a Framework for Forest Resources Assessment in Pakistan

Ecosystem,Forest restoration,ecosystem hotspot,Rapid Moniroring,Forest Resourcmes Managment

8、资源能源安全与应急管理 > 2、生态安全与国土整治

Efforts to restore ecosystems on a global scale are crucial for mitigating climate change. In Pakistan, the historical exploitation of forest resources prompted the launch of the Green Pakistan project. This initiative aims to rejuvenate depleted forest ecosystems and combat climate change through extensive afforestation and reforestation efforts. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of historical deforestation patterns in Pakistan using bi-temporal change analysis spanning from 1990 to 2010. Additionally, it assesses the effectiveness of recent forest ecosystem restoration efforts by analyzing satellite imagery. The investigation focuses on developing a framework to examine vegetation growth and signs of ecosystem restoration from 2014 to 2021, specifically looking at the 226 afforestation sites of the Billion Tree Afforestation Program - Phase I. The findings reveal that the three forest regions collectively experienced a 3.2% loss in forest cover during 1990–2010. However, considering conservative figures validated from satellite data, interventions under the Billion Tree Afforestation Program between 2014 and 2018 contributed to an overall improvement in forest cover from 14.5% to 16.5% in these regions. Based on the historic dynamics and new intervention policies, this study develops design criteria for the state of the forest report in Pakistan by integrating smart digital technologies and satellite remote sensing. The framework developed in this study, along with the derived results, serves as a valuable tool for formulating an evidence-based assessment of indicators for ecological restoration and nature-based solutions.