Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Wildlife and Biodiversity Board has announced a 5% increase in provincial protected areas land coverage over the last few years, news sources reported on March 13. The province has now 15% forest cover spanning over an area of 1,564,000 hectares of land.
Reportedly, During a meeting, the wildlife department informed KP Chief Minister (CM) Mehmood Khan that forest cover has increased to sustainable levels as a consequence of continued monitoring and policy reforms. This growth will aid in increasing the province’s biodiversity. The meeting was also informed that the province now has nine national parks, 87 community game reserves, 38 public game reserves, five conservancies, three wildlife sanctuaries, two wildlife refuges, and four areas of special scientific interest.
In addition, the wildlife board is taking steps to make progress in establishing certain other suitable sites of the province as protected areas, including Rakh Topi National Park, Gusarrh National Park, Bashkar Gol Biosphere Reserve, and Koh-i-Suleman Conservancy. The KP provincial cabinet recently approved a policy for developing road infrastructure in protected areas in order to make it more feasible and ecologically beneficial.
Nauman Ahmad is an imaginative Pisces whose love for literature and nature is unparalleled. When he's not reading or hiking, he's sleeping and eating, which gives him plenty of energy for his next adventure.
