Forest Department To Celebrate 2023 As Year For Wildlife Protection

Animal breeding resulted in an increase of 381 animals and birds in the Safari Zoo and 287 in the Lahore Zoo.

Forest Department To Celebrate 2023 As Year For Wildlife Protection

The Punjab Forest Department will commemorate 2023 as the year of abundant plantations and wildlife protection, with the goal of setting new goals for the province.

Punjab Forest Minister Syed Abbas Ali Shah made the announcement while chairing a performance meeting here on Thursday. According to the minister, more than 102 million saplings were planted in 2022, with Bahawalpur having the highest plantation at 2 million saplings.

He stated that three development schemes totaling Rs 803 million were completed, including the expansion and renovation of Bhakkar Forest Park, Forest Academy, and Forest Complex.

Animal breeding, on the other hand, resulted in an increase of 381 animals and birds in the Safari Zoo and 287 in the Lahore Zoo.

Abbas Shah stated that significant steps were taken in the last year to ensure the survival of plantations and wildlife. The minister praised the department’s annual performance and directed officials to maintain the same level of performance in the coming year.

Planting trees and other vegetation can help to improve air and water quality, reduce soil erosion, and provide habitat for wildlife. Reforestation projects can also help to combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition, plantations can also provide economic benefits through the production of timber, fruits, and other products.

Wildlife protection is important for maintaining biodiversity, preventing species extinction, and preserving the cultural and economic value of wild animals and their habitats. This can include a variety of activities, such as setting up protected areas, enforcing laws against hunting and poaching, and conducting research to understand and address threats to wildlife populations.

Wildlife protection also often involves working with local communities to educate them about the importance of conservation and to encourage sustainable practices that do not harm wildlife.

Combining both abundant plantations and wildlife protection can create a symbiotic relationship where plantations can provide habitat for wildlife and wildlife can provide natural pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, and other ecosystem services for the plantations.