ISLAMABAD – Launched in 2015 by Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan’sTehreek-e-Insaf party, the Billion Tree Tsunami aims to turn the tide onland degradation and loss in the mountainous, formerly forested KPKprovince in the Hindu Kush mountain range.
The campaign simultaneously helped KPK province fulfil its 348,400 hectarecommitment to the Bonn Challengelink> – a global effortlink>to bring 150 million hectares of deforestedand degraded land into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by2030. This marks the first Bonn Challenge pledge to reach its restorationgoal.
“The project is naturally restoring a previously deforested landscape,which will assist in meeting present and future needs and offers multiplebenefits for climate adaptation and mitigation in a very climate-vulnerableprovince,” says Muhammad Tehmasip, Project Director of the Billion TreeTsunami.
The project has achieved its restoration target through a combination ofprotected natural regeneration (60%) and planned afforestation (40%).
In addition, it has established 13,000 private tree nurseries, which havealready boosted local incomes, generated thousands of green jobs, andempowered unemployed youth and women in the province.
“IUCN congratulates the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on reaching thismomentous milestone. The Billion Tree Tsunami initiative is a trueconservation success story, one that further demonstrates Pakistan’sleadership role in the international restoration effort and continuedcommitment to the Bonn Challenge,” says Inger Andersen, Director General ofIUCN.
The planted trees are reinforcing riparian embankments in importantcatchment areas, including along the banks of the Indus, Kunhar and Swatrivers. The project has also added tree resources to agricultural landscurrently engaged in farm forestry, improved biodiversity by restoringwildlife shelters, and will contribute to CO₂ sequestration through newtree plantations.
In support of the Billion Tree Tsunami, the KPK government invested US$ 123million in funding and will allocate an additional US$ 100 million tomaintain the project through June 2020.
This support makes the project one of the largest eco-investments ever madein Pakistan.
Restoration is also gaining important national support. In 2016, Pakistan’sPrime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the Green Pakistan Programme, with agoal to plant over 100 million trees in the country. Additionally, Pakistanmade a national pledge to the Bonn Challengelink> in May 2017 tocomplement the existing KPK commitment – pledging 100,000 hectares duringthe first Asia Bonn Challenge High-level Roundtable in South Sumatra,and helpingthe Bonn Challenge cross the 150 million hectare milestonelink>.