KP govt approves Rs6.48bln ‘Billion Trees Plus’ project

PESHAWAR, Sep 01 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Khan Afridi has approved the five-year ‘Billion Trees Plus’ project, allocating Rs 6.487 billion to expand forest cover and combat climate change, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The project entails plantation on 7,150 hectares, restoration of degraded forests, establishment of 1,200 kanals of wild fruit orchards, and free distribution of around 44 million saplings to farms. It also includes developing over 278 hectares of departmental nurseries and integrated land restoration initiatives.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said the project is not limited to tree plantation but is a comprehensive strategy for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and pasture rehabilitation. “Modern GIS mapping, wildlife surveys, advanced monitoring systems, and carbon credit mechanisms will be used to ensure scientific management of forests and natural resources,” he added.

Under the project, seven wildlife parks and breeding centres will be rehabilitated, and plans for protecting large predators and conducting environmental assessments across various regions have also been included, the statement said.

The Chief Minister noted that the province’s forest cover has already increased from 20 percent to 26.3 percent owing to previous afforestation efforts. Through the Billion Trees Plus project, he expressed the commitment to raise it further to 26.8 percent, with a future target of achieving 30 percent forest cover.

“Our vision is to ensure protected forests, thriving biodiversity, reduced carbon emissions, and resilience against climate risks,” he said, adding that the project aims to secure a green, safe, and sustainable future for coming generations.