TREES are not merely a part of our natural surroundings; they are the very backbone of life on earth. They provide the oxygen we breathe, absorb carbon dioxide, and cleanse the air of pollutants, thereby sustaining human health and ecological balance. Trees regulate temperature, reduce the intensity of heat, and create microclimates that make life possible even in harsh terrains. Their presence transforms barren land into living landscapes and ensures continuity of life for generations.
In an ecologically fragile and forest-starved region like Gilgit-Baltistan, the importance of trees assumes a far greater, almost existential, significance. This region hosts the bulk of Pakistan’s glaciers—the country’s true lifeline—feeding major river systems that sustain agriculture, drinking water supplies, and hydropower far downstream. Forests and tree cover help moderate local climates, reduce temperature extremes, and indirectly slow the accelerated melting of glaciers caused by climate change. Without trees, the delicate equilibrium between snow, ice, soil, and water stands severely compromised.
Trees are also nature’s most effective defense against soil erosion and land degradation. In mountainous areas prone to landslides, flash floods, and glacial lake outburst floods, tree roots bind the soil firmly, stabilize slopes, and absorb excess water. Forest cover reduces the destructive force of runoff, protects fertile topsoil, and safeguards roads, settlements, and agricultural terraces that are the backbone of mountain livelihoods.
Beyond their environmental role, trees are generous providers. They yield fruits, nuts, fuelwood, timber, fodder, and medicinal products that support local economies and traditional lifestyles. They offer shade from the scorching summer sun and protection from icy winter winds. Moreover, trees provide habitats for birds, animals, and insects, ensuring biodiversity and maintaining the intricate web of life upon which ecosystems depend.
The cultural, aesthetic, and psychological value of trees is equally profound. Green landscapes instill a sense of peace, belonging, and continuity, while forests shape the cultural memory and identity of mountain communities. A treeless landscape, by contrast, would be stark, vulnerable, and inhospitable—making life on this planet exceedingly difficult. Indeed, without trees, the very idea of sustainable human existence becomes untenable.
It is in this context that the contributions of visionary agro-foresters assume historic importance. The late Ghulam Rasul, through his seminal handbook Drakht Oogayain (Grow Trees), so aptly highlighted the immense significance of trees and forests in Gilgit-Baltistan. In a region acutely deficient in forest cover, his work served as both a guide and a call to action. He meticulously documented around sixteen tree species and subspecies suitable for local conditions, offering practical knowledge to farmers, foresters, and policymakers alike.
This invaluable contribution is rightly attributed to the pioneering efforts of the late Raja Mahboob Wali Khan, a true trailblazer in the field of agro-forestry. In the early 1950s, he boldly introduced the transplantation of select tree species from the Hazara Division, while simultaneously experimenting with the intra-regional plantation of indigenous species across Gilgit-Baltistan. At a time when scientific forestry was virtually nonexistent in the region, his initiatives laid the groundwork for planned afforestation and sustainable land management.
In this context, a detailed four-part series titled Agro-Foresters of Gilgit-Baltistan was published by Pamir Times on 14 July 2018, 19 June 2018, 5 July 2018, and 30 September 2018, and was subsequently republished on windowtogb.com.
Accolades are due to both these stalwarts whose foresight, dedication, and practical wisdom continue to guide present and future generations. Their legacy reminds us that tree plantation is not a ceremonial act but a long-term investment in environmental security, economic resilience, and social well-being.
Given the immense and irreplaceable benefits of trees, the way forward is clear. More trees must be planted, and existing ones must be protected, nurtured, and managed responsibly. Community participation, institutional support, and informed policy interventions are indispensable. In a glacier-dependent region like Gilgit-Baltistan, safeguarding trees is not merely an environmental obligation—it is a matter of survival, stewardship, and moral responsibility towards generations yet to come.
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