Over 0.5m trees to be planted under peri-urban forestry initiative in KP

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forestry department is undertaking a massive tree planting initiative in the Spin Khak area of Nowshera district, with over 500,000 trees to be planted across 10,000 kanals of land, according to a department official. The program, launched by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on August 14, will continue until March of the following year, with the local community providing their land and being handed the responsibility for the maintenance of the trees four years later.

On September 6, an additional 50,000 plants were planted in Peshawar's forest division as part of a Defence Day Plantation drive. The Spin Khak plantation initiative is part of the Peshawar Revitalisation Plan, aiming to cover the designated land with indigenous species such as kikar, sheesham, and beri trees. Additionally, 20,000 olive and black pepper plants will be introduced to ensure the financial incentives for the community's involvement in sustainability efforts.

The department is also constructing two reservoirs to harvest rainwater and two solar tubewells to provide water for the plantations. These measures are expected to help raise the water table in the area and promote plant survival in natural conditions. While the community has signed an agreement to provide the land, they will actively participate as laborers and contribute to other aspects of the project.

Local residents expressed their support for the initiative, noting that it would benefit the area by improving weather conditions and providing economic opportunities through the cultivation of olive trees. The forestry department highlighted the success of their previous tree-planting efforts in Jabori Khattak, which have generated significant financial dividends for the local community through tree coppicing.

Forestry officials anticipate a similar positive outcome for the Spin Khak initiative, with 80% of the funds from coppicing going to the community and the remaining portion used for further tree planting and hiring forest guards.