Pakistan needs to increase its tree and forest cover for the health and livelihood of its people, says Sharmila Faruqui , Adviser to the Chief Minister on Culture and Tourism.

An article in the Daily Times says Faruqui highlighted how more than 25 per cent of the world’s population rely on forest resources for their livelihoods and 1.2 billion people use trees on farms to generate food and cash.

Pakistan, like many other countries, is facing a number of issues relevant to forests, including climate change, declining water quality and increasing demand for wood.

“Pakistan seeks to attain goals of sustainable social and economic development, ensuring water, food, energy and environmental securities, without overexploiting forests and ecosystems,” said Faruqui, adding that agroforestry systems have “tremendous potential to contribute to sustainable development and to a greener economy.”

She said that across the world, forests, trees on farms, and agroforestry systems play a crucial role in the livelihoods of rural people by providing employment, energy, nutritious foods and a wide range of other goods and ecosystem services.

Evidence of agroforestry’ potential is needed to inform policies on forest management and use, and to ensure that the benefits from forests are recognized in the post-2015 development agenda, not only with respect to the environment, but also for their contributions to broader social issues.

Read the full story: Sharmila urges people to grow more trees