A fire of unknown origin has devastated 80 acres of forest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Lower Dir district, severely damaging the region's biodiversity and ecosystems.
According to Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Abrar Khan, the fire broke out on the night of May 28 and 29 in multiple areas, including Talash Amlook Dara, Machu, Sarai Payen, Chakdara Ghazo Oski, Maidan Kala Dag, Kamrane, and Islam Dara forests. The fire was eventually brought under control with significant effort from officials across Swat, Malakand, and Upper Dir.
Several Rescue 1122 personnel sustained injuries while navigating difficult terrain and fighting the fire. Despite the challenges, they managed to control the blaze, which had affected pine, deodar, oak, and other tree species.
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Khan explained that reaching the affected forest areas involved trekking through rough paths for several kilometers and then walking for about two and a half hours to the foot of the mountains. The fire, which burned both ground-level and upper-level vegetation, required a helicopter to extinguish the flames at higher altitudes—a resource later provided by the district administration.
This incident highlights a broader trend of increasing forest fires in the Margalla mountains, Balochistan, and Islamabad. Environmental experts have raised concerns about the lack of a comprehensive government strategy to address these fires and their aftermath.
Islamabad-based environmental journalist Asif Mohmand noted that climate change has intensified heat levels over the past 200 years, with 2023 recorded as the hottest year. He attributed forest fires to this increased heat, inadequate government strategies, and a lack of public awareness about maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature.
Mohmand emphasized the need for government training programs for local communities to control forest fires and improve alarm systems. He warned that if humans continue to misuse nature, we will face severe consequences such as floods, earthquakes, and other natural calamities.
The urgency of this issue is underscored by data from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Forests and Wildlife, which reported that 17,000 acres of forests were affected by fires in 2023 alone, resulting in the loss of various valuable tree species.
Peshawar-based environmental journalist Muhammad Daud Khan highlighted that climate change has rendered 30% of arable land barren worldwide over the past two decades, affecting 40% of the global population. He pointed out that forest fires increase flooding, which in turn washes away fertile topsoil, rendering land unusable for many decades.
Khan stressed that forest fires not only destroy vegetation but also displace wildlife and disrupt essential human needs such as oxygen production and carbon dioxide assimilation. He called for an effective government mechanism to promptly address and control such environmental crises.
In summary, the recent forest devastation in Lower Dir underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to protect the environment and combat the devastating effects of climate change.
