Editorial:Â
Every spring, usually between February and March, Balochistan witnesses the launch of tree plantation campaigns. Saplings are planted at official ceremonies, photographs circulate on social media, and hopeful statements are issued about a greener future. While these efforts matter, they fall short of what the province truly needs.
Balochistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in Pakistan and ranks among the hardest-hit areas globally by climate change. Rising temperatures, recurring droughts, shrinking water resources, and disappearing wildlife are no longer distant threats—they are daily realities for communities across the province. In such circumstances, tree plantation cannot remain a symbolic activity limited to headlines and hashtags.
What is required is a serious shift toward sustainable plantation. Planting a sapling is only the first step. Ensuring its survival—through protection, irrigation, monitoring, and community ownership—is what makes a difference. The success of plantation drives should be measured by how many trees survive after one, three, or five years, not by the number of photo sessions held.
The Forest and Wildlife Department must move beyond publicity-driven campaigns and focus on long-term environmental impact. Native and drought-resistant species should be prioritized, while schools, universities, and local communities must be made partners in protecting and nurturing plantations.
At a time when climate change threatens livelihoods, Balochistan does not need unnecessary construction projects or decorative infrastructure. It needs a large-scale, province-wide plantation initiative—similar to a plantation tsunami—with clear targets aimed at reducing the effects of global warming, improving air quality, and restoring ecological balance.
A genuinely sustainable tree plantation campaign can help secure Balochistan’s future. The province’s environment cannot wait for another season of symbolic planting; it needs action that takes root and grows.
