Desertification Risk Reduction Approaches in Pakistan

Abstract

Desertification is a serious global problem and more acute in the case of Pakistan. In Pakistan almost 3/4th of the land is either already affected or likely to be affected by it. Desertification process has been active since historical times in areas now-a-days constituting Pakistan. Amongst the factors affecting desertification in Pakistan, the fundamental factor is population pressure. Other major immediate physical cause of ecological degradation includes: excessive felling of trees, inadequate reforestation activities, inappropriate cultivation practices in hilly and rain fed farming area, uncontrolled and excessive livestock grazing in forest and rangeland. Inadequate efforts with regard to watershed protection and management in the catchments areas of reservoirs lead to sever soil erosion. Irrational irrigation practices also enhance land degradation. As a result of such activities vegetation cover is destroyed, and it also leads to prevent regeneration of grasses and trees etc.

The Desertification occur in both rain fed as well as irrigated lands. Pakistan is mainly a dryland country, where 80 % of its land is arid and semi-arid. Two-third of its human population depends on these drylands to support their livelihood. Like many other developing countries, Pakistan is severely affected by land degradation and desertification. Unsustainable land management practices are causing enormous environmental problems, including soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, flash floods, sedimentation of canals and water courses, deforestation and associated loss of carbon sequestration capacity and biodiversity. In recent years, number of Federal and provincial agencies are engaged to combat desertification. However, the efforts made by the originations and departments along with non-government organizations hardly fill the gap between its increasing intensity and disaster risk reduction measures to control desertification.