Islamabad: Pakistan is losing nearly 11,000 hectares of forest cover every year, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2026. The report states that the country’s total forest area has declined to approximately 4.11 million hectares, accounting for only 4.7% of the national land area. Coniferous forests remain the largest forest category, followed by scrub, riverine, mangrove, and plantation forests. Despite large-scale plantation efforts under initiatives such as the Green Pakistan Program, climate experts continue to warn about the long-term consequences of deforestation. Reduced forest cover can increase environmental vulnerability, affect water resources, and impact sustainable development. Can Pakistan reverse this trend before environmental pressures intensify further?
