From desolation to preservation: Investigating longitudinal trends in forest coverage and implications for future environmental strategies

Muhammad Asif Khan; Sajid Ali; Muhammad Khalid Anser; Abdelmohsen A Nassani; Khalid M Al-Aiban; Shafiq Ur Rahman; Khalid Zaman

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25689

From desolation to preservation: Investigating longitudinal trends in forest coverage and implications for future environmental strategies

Heliyon. 2024 Feb 6;10(4):e25689. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25689. eCollection 2024 Feb 29.

Authors

Muhammad Asif Khan¹, Sajid Ali², Muhammad Khalid Anser³, Abdelmohsen A Nassani⁴, Khalid M Al-Aiban⁵, Shafiq Ur Rahman⁶, Khalid Zaman⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forestry & Wildlife Management, The University of Haripur, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22620, Pakistan.
² School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
³ School of Business, Xi'an International University, Xi'an 710077, Shaanxi, China.
⁴ Department of Management, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, P.O. Box 71115, Riyadh, 11587, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Public Administration, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, P.O. Box 71115, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Bahria University Law School, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
⁷ Department of Economics, The University of Haripur, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22620, Pakistan.

Abstract

Pakistan's forest cover is experiencing significant degradation in the ongoing efforts to combat climate change. The current state of the climate catastrophe is acknowledged. Nevertheless, there is a significant lack of readiness to tackle it effectively, especially regarding safeguarding the welfare of forthcoming generations. Pakistan bears significant relevance for future generations in this global crisis. The primary objective of this study is to examine the environmental difficulties faced by Pakistan and emphasize the critical need to safeguard its natural resources, considering the well-being of present and future generations. By using rigorous correlation and robust least squares regression methods, we investigate the complex interplay of financial aid, environmental legislation, precipitation, population growth, foreign direct investment, and afforestation within the time frame spanning from 1990 to 2022. The findings demonstrate that providing financial aid for afforestation initiatives significantly expands forested areas in Pakistan. Furthermore, the expansion of the population, the implementation of rigorous environmental restrictions, and the yearly amount of precipitation all play a role in the augmentation of forest coverage in Pakistan. Nevertheless, an alarming pattern of diminishing forest coverage over the years presents noteworthy obstacles. The importance of governance in promoting afforestation initiatives and sustainable development is highlighted by the emergence of adequate regulatory quality as a key factor. The average amount of precipitation has a discernible beneficial influence, underscoring the significance of climatic factors. The results above emphasize the need to implement cautious water resource management strategies and regulations responsive to climatic conditions. Based on these observations, the study proposes promoting sustainable agricultural and forest management, adopting a well-balanced strategy towards population expansion, implementing regulatory changes, and prudent use of water resources.

Keywords: Afforestation programs; Climate change; Environmental regulations; Forest cover; Inbound FDI; Pakistan; Population growth.