Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday inaugurated the urban forest at Jilani Park in Lahore – one of the most densely populated cities of Pakistan. The government announced the development of 51 urban forests based on the Miyawaki method as part of efforts to restore biodiversity and fight the climate crisis.
Reverse the ecological disaster
Lahore, which was once known as the city of gardens, has been turned into a concrete jungle and “it is now time to reverse this ecological disaster”, said special assistant to premier on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam. Trees are vital to cool down the urban heat island effect in Lahore as recent researches revealed that temperature in Pakistan’s urban hubs was one degree higher as compared to the rest of the country, he said.
PM Imran Khan said that urban trees could help cut air pollution in the city where the silent killer smog and air pollution poses serious health risks and reduces average life expectancy. “Lahore’s forest cover has been reduced by 70 per cent in the last 12-13 years” which is causing the smog and other health issues, he said. The government aims to reverse the effects of environmental neglect during Lahore’s urban development, the premier vowed. He also urged the city authorities to involve school children in the plantation project to boost awareness.
Lahore’s Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) is heading the project under which 51 urban forests will be developed in the city over 153 kanal land.
PM Khan said the selection of 51 mini-forest sites for the Miyawaki urban forestry project is an “impressive effort” as the forests could be grown in 10 years instead of 50 years. The prime minister also inaugurated the 2021 spring plantation drive in Lahore as the country aims to plant 10 billion trees countrywide by 2023 to increase the forest cover, create new green jobs and tackle climate change.
What is Miyawaki method?
The Miyawaki method of plantation is based on the work of a Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. Under this afforestation technique, the miniature forests can grow 10 times faster, become 30 times denser and 100 times more biodiverse than those planted by conventional method plantation techniques. Miyawaki forests can grow into mature ecosystems in just 20 years as compared to the 200 years it can take a forest to regenerate on its own, studies suggest. Urban forests can help to improve people’s health, reduce the harmful effects of air pollution, and are integral to climate change mitigation, experts say.
