Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Forestry Sector

This factsheet outlines greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation options for Pakistan's forestry sector, identifying five high-priority, cost-effective measures to reverse deforestation and increase carbon sequestration. It projects that forestry sector emissions will rise from approximately 10 MtCO2e in 2012 to 15 MtCO2e by 2030 under a business-as-usual scenario, while highlighting the potential for significant reductions through community management, conifer forest preservation, agroforestry, commercial plantations, and reforestation of degraded land.

• Pakistan's forest cover is declining, with a net loss of over one million hectares between 1990 and 2015, resulting in a carbon stock reduction of more than 100 mega tonnes CO2. The average annual rate of deforestation is widely cited as 2 per cent, driven by population expansion, grazing, illegal harvesting, land use change, and a demand for forest products—primarily fuel wood—that exceeds supply.
• Forestry and land use change accounted for approximately 3 per cent of Pakistan's total GHG emissions in 2008 (about 9 MtCO2e), though this share is expected to drop to 0.36 per cent by 2050. Under a business-as-usual scenario, emissions are projected to grow by 150 per cent between 2012 and 2030, increasing from approximately 10 MtCO2e to 15 MtCO2e.
• Five high-priority mitigation options were identified as cost-effective and immediately implementable: community-based forest management, preservation of conifer forest land, implementation of agroforestry practices, commercial plantations, and reforestation of degraded land. Collectively, these measures could reduce 2030 emissions by 21.7 MtCO2e, with agroforestry offering the highest potential reduction at 8.4 MtCO2e (56% of the sector's BAU emissions).
• Preservation of conifer forests is highlighted as a critical strategy due to their high carbon stock, peatlands, and longer maturity age. While a commercial harvesting ban in the 1990s failed to stop illegal logging, protecting 50 per cent of the 1,473 m ha of conifer forest by 2025 is estimated to reduce emissions by 4,012,171 tCO2e by 2030.
• Commercial plantations are proposed to address a wood product supply gap of at least 30 m m3 per year. By utilizing 2 per cent of arable land (400,000 ha) for fast-growing species like eucalyptus and poplar, Pakistan could achieve an emission reduction of 3,194,400 tCO2e by 2030, while diversifying rural incomes and reducing pressure on native forests.
• Reforestation of degraded land targets the 11 m ha of land degraded by deforestation, which has caused erosion, dam siltation, and increased flood risk. Reforesting 10 per cent of this area (1.1 m ha) is estimated to reduce emissions by 2,882,000 tCO2e by 2030 and help recover economic losses estimated at seven billion rupees (US$ 67 million) per year.
• The forestry sector faces several systemic challenges, including the absence of a national inventory or monitoring system for forest carbon and a disconnect between overarching government policies to halt deforestation and their actual implementation. Additionally, the entrenched illegal timber trade promotes corruption, and the provincial responsibility for environmental management limits federal leverage.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (n.d.). Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Forestry Sector. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Forestry-sector.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Forestry Sector. n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Forestry-sector.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Forestry Sector |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Forestry-sector.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetworkndgreenhouse, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options for Pakistan: Forestry Sector}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/fact-sheet-Pakistan-Forestry-sector.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }