Daily Times
Published Date: Aug 24, 2015
Experts for use of modern techniques to prevent eco-degradation
ISLAMABAD: Environmental and climate experts have suggested for adopting modern techniques and ways to discourage eco-degradation and deforestation in the country in relation to fast climate changes hitting the country in the last few decades.
The experts stressed the need for improving environment by avoiding woodcutting in the capital. The experts said that the impact of Energy Sufficient Technologies (EST) and environment friendly technologies were contributing to improve the situation.
Dr Fahad of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) said that forests are vital for life and stressed for more vigorous tree plantation campaigns throughout the country.
Dr Fahad said that climate change adaptation was causing a major reduction in tree cutting. He said that by the efforts of various segments of the society, during last two years, tree plantation has increased in the capital.
Trees protect soil from erosion, producing oxygen, storing carbon dioxide and help control climate. Moreover, they also play their role in purifying air and water, he informed.
Another expert from SDPI, Kashif Salik said that cutting of trees do not only result in decreasing of carbon absorption, but also release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could prove fatal for the environment. He said that during the latest heat wave in Karachi and other areas of the country, lack of trees was the main reason behind it.
Dr Mehmood Khalid Qamar stressed the need to plant more trees across the country. Qamar said, that around the globe, due to shortage of trees, summers are becoming hotter, monsoons are more irregular, heavy rainfall occurs over a short period which was causing severe flash floods and landslides.
He said that the government was formulating effective policies by encouraging research on the climate change issues and by streamlining disaster management into routine planning processes.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/24-Aug-2015/experts-for-use-of-modern-techniques-to-prevent-eco-degradation