Forests Under Siege: Indigenous Causes of Deforestation in Dir Valley, Pakistan

Abstract

Deforestation is an alarming worldwide issue whereas the government of Pakistan knows the importance of forests and strives for its preservation. In this respect, an afforestation drive has been kicked off in the country. The aim is to increase the forests resources to thwart the country from the forecast environmental degradation. Moreover, these forests are predicted as the resuscitator of economy of the country in the long run. Besides the afforestation drive, the relentless deforestation is observed in the country. This study is conducted in Asban’r Valley, Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan to surface the indigenous causes of deforestation. Data was collected through the qualitative research methods including the rapport building, observation, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. A total of 21 respondents were selected purposively. The descriptive analysis is preferred for the analysis of empirical data. The findings revealed that other causes as highlighted by the various studies and the indigenous causes in the area under study that leads to depletion as reasoned of the political support of timber mafia and locals who cut the trees with collusion of timber mafia and forest officials; and have the competition for the maximization of property among the locals lacking ownership in forest and contumacy of cutting the trees and social disorganization.