Sustainable Land Management Project II; Funded by GM-UNCCD and GEF,

administered by UNDP.

The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the
material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of
IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Published by:
Sustainable Land Management Project II, Ministry of Climate Change,
Government of Pakistan, International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN)
Pakistan, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP).

Copyright:
© 2017 IUCN, Pakistan.

Citation is encouraged. Reproduction and/or translation of this publication for

educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written
permission from SLMP II / MoCC / IUCN Pakistan, provided the source is fully
acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial
purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from SLMP II / MoCC /
IUCN Pakistan.

Citation:
SLMP II / MoCC / IUCN Pakistan (2017). National Action Programme to Combat
Desertification in Pakistan. IUCN Pakistan, Pakistan. xii+87 pp.

Compilation:
Dr. Ghulam Akbar, Iqbal Muhammad and Fauzia Bilqis Malik

Editor:
Danish Rashdi and Fauzia Bilqis Malik

Design:
Azhar Saeed, IUCN Pakistan

Available from:

Sustainable Land Management Project II IUCN Pakistan IUCN Islamabad Programme Office
3rd Floor, Royal Plaza 1-Bath island Road House 70-A, Main Nazimuddin Road
NPF Road near E-11/2, Islamabad Clifton Karachi F-7/4, Islamabad
 i

Table of Contents
Abbreviations and Acronyms....................................................................................... iv
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................vi
Executive Summary .................................................................................................... viii
1. The Narrative ......................................................................................................... 1
2. Geography.............................................................................................................. 3
3. Physical features ................................................................................................... 4
3.1 The Northern Mountains ............................................................................... 4
3.2 The North-western Mountains ...................................................................... 5
3.3 The Balochistan Plateau.................................................................................5
3.4 The Pothowar Plateau ...................................................................................5
3.5 The Upper and Lower Indus Plains................................................................5
3.6 The Deserts ....................................................................................................5
3.7. The Coastal Areas ..........................................................................................6
4. Climate ....................................................................................................................7
4.1 Climatic regions..............................................................................................7
4.2 Meteorology....................................................................................................8
4.3 Changing pattern of rainfall..........................................................................12
4.4 Future climatic projections ...........................................................................13
5. Agro-ecological zones .........................................................................................14
5.1 The Indus Delta ............................................................................................14
5.2 The Southern Irrigated Plains.......................................................................14
5.3 The Sandy Desert .........................................................................................14
5.4 The Northern Irrigated Plains .......................................................................14
5.5 The Barani Lands .........................................................................................14
5.6 The Wet Mountains.......................................................................................15
5.7 The Northern Dry Mountains ........................................................................15
5.8 The Western Dry Mountains .........................................................................15
5.9 The Dry Western Plateau..............................................................................15
5.10 The Sulaiman Piedmont ...............................................................................15
6. Soils of Pakistan...................................................................................................16
6.1 Sand Ridges ...........................................................................................................17
6.2 Abandoned Channels.............................................................................................17
6.3 Flood Plains............................................................................................................17
7. Land capability .....................................................................................................18
8. Aridity.....................................................................................................................20
9. Land use in Pakistan............................................................................................21
9.1 Area under forests ........................................................................................22
9.2 Other land uses ............................................................................................22
ii

10. Agricultural setting...............................................................................................23

10.1 Land utilization .............................................................................................23
11. Desertification – a global phenomenon .............................................................24
11.1 Challenges of Desertification........................................................................24
11.2 The Dry lands ...............................................................................................25
11.3 Causes of Desertification .............................................................................25
11.4 Global status of desertification ....................................................................25
12. Desertification in Pakistan ..................................................................................26
12.1 Soil erosion ...................................................................................................27
12.2 Erosion by wind ............................................................................................27
12.3 Erosion by water...........................................................................................28
12.4 Salinity and Sodicity .....................................................................................29
12.5 Water-logging and Salinity ...........................................................................29
12.6 Poor management of surface and groundwater resources .........................30
12.7 Drought and Migration .................................................................................30
12.8 Floods...........................................................................................................31
12.9 Loss of soil fertility........................................................................................31
12.10 Deforestation ................................................................................................32
12.11 Livestock grazing..........................................................................................32
12.12 Expansion of high-delta crops .....................................................................32
12.13 Unsustainable harvesting of NTFPs .............................................................32
12.14 Climate Change ............................................................................................33
12.15 Loss of biodiversity ......................................................................................33
12.16 Socio-economic constraints & incidence of poverty ...................................33
12.17 Warming Pakistan.........................................................................................33
12.18 Poverty..........................................................................................................34
13. Plans/Rules/Acts/ prepared in the past .............................................................36
13.1 Forestry Sector Master Plan.........................................................................36
13.2 National Conservation Strategy ...................................................................36
13.3 Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy.....................................................37
13.4 Balochistan Conservation Strategy ..............................................................37
13.5 Provincial Forest Resources Inventory .........................................................37
13.6 Hazara Community Participation Rules .......................................................37
13.7 The NWFP Forestry Community Acts ..........................................................37
13.8 The NWFP Forest Policy ..............................................................................37
13.9 Punjab Forest Policy Statement...................................................................37
13.10 Draft National Forest Policy..........................................................................37
13.11 NWFP Forest Ordinance...............................................................................38
13.12 Biodiversity Action Plan................................................................................38
13.13 Ten-year National Perspective Plan .............................................................38
13.14 Sindh Sustainable Development Strategy....................................................38
13.15 National Climate Change Policy...................................................................39
13.16 Action Plan for the Implementation of National Forest Monitoring System 39
13.17 Pakistan River Act ........................................................................................39
13.18 National Forest Policy ..................................................................................39
 iii

13.19 National Commission on Agriculture............................................................40

13.20 The Draft National Food Security and Agricultural Policy............................40
13.21 Climate Smart Agriculture ............................................................................40
13.22 Livestock Policy............................................................................................41
14. Implementation of previous plans and policies ................................................42
14.1 Gaps in capacity...........................................................................................42
14.2 Analysis of National Action Programme.......................................................43
15. National Action Programme, 2000 and Status of Implementation..................47
15.1 International Protocols .................................................................................47
15.2 Financial Framework ....................................................................................47
15.3 Capacity for implementation ........................................................................47
15.4 Pilot Phase Achievements............................................................................48
15.5 Successes of previous plans complementing UNCCD’s objectives............50
16. 10-Year Strategic Plan of UNCCD ......................................................................53
16.1 UNCCD 10-Year Strategy.............................................................................54
17. Sustainable Development Goals.........................................................................57
18. Land Degradation Neutrality ...............................................................................58
18.1 Monitoring of Land Degradation Neutrality ..................................................59
19. Institutional Mechanism for NAP Implementation ............................................60
19.1 The bottom-up approach .............................................................................61
19.2 Schematics for NAP Implementation ...........................................................63
19.3 Constitution of NCCD...................................................................................65
19.4 The need for Technical & Monitoring Sub-Committee.................................66
19.5 The need for Budget & Finance Sub-Committee.........................................68
19.6 Technical Cooperation..................................................................................68
19.7 National Desertification Control Cell ............................................................69
19.8 National Desertification Control Fund ..........................................................69
19.9 Organizations that may be involved in NAP implementation.......................71
19.10 Stakeholders and their role in NAP implementation ....................................74
20. NAP to combat desertification in Pakistan .......................................................75
20.1 The Vision .....................................................................................................75
20.2 The Mission ..................................................................................................75
20.3 The Goal .......................................................................................................75
20.4 The Purpose .................................................................................................75
20.5 The Scope ....................................................................................................75
20.6 Rationale for combating desertification .......................................................76
20.7 Programme Objectives, Impacts, Indicators, and Outcomes ......................76
20.8 Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) to combat desertification in Pakistan..79
21. Possible projects to be launched under NAP ...................................................84
iv

Abbreviations and Acronyms

ADP Annual Development Programme
AJ&K Azad Jammu & Kashmir
AZRC Arid Zone Research Centre, Quetta
AZRI Arid Zone Research Institute
BARI Barani Agricultural Research Institute- Chakwal
CBO Community-Based Organisation
CCD Convention to Combat Desertification
CDM Clean Development Mechanism
CDS Comprehensive Development Strategy
COP Conference of the Parties
CSO Civil Society Organizations
DI Khan Dera Ismail Khan
DLDD Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought
ESCAP (United Nations) Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific
FAO Food & Agriculture Organization
FCCC Framework Convention on Climate Change
G-B Gilgit-Baltistan
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GEF Global Environment Facility
GIS Geographic Information System
GoP Government of Pakistan
GSICS Global Change Impact Studies Centre
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
LCD Least Developed Countries
LDN Land Degradation Neutrality
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
NAP National Action Programme
GDP Gross Domestic Product
IFS Integrated Financing Strategy
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
SO Strategic Objectives
ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas
IGF Inspector General of Forests
IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature
KP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Province)
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
MoCC Ministry of Climate Change
MoE Ministry of Environment
 v

MELG&RD Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural

Development
MTDF Medium-Term Development Framework
NAP National Action Programme
NCA National Commission on Agriculture
NDCU National Desertification Control Unit
NFP National Focal Person
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NPC National Programme Coordinator
NPD National Programme Director
NRM Natural Resource Management
NRSP National Rural Support Programme
NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products
NWFP North-West Frontier Province
P&DD Planning and Development Department
PARC Pakistan Agriculture Research Centre
PCCCD Provincial Coordination Committee to Combat Desertification
PCRWR Pakistan Council of Research on Water Resources
PCU Provincial Coordination Unit
PDWP Provincial Development Working Party
PFI Pakistan Forest Institute
PFRI Punjab Forestry Research Institute- Faisalabad
PPAF Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
PPD Provincial Programme Director
PSDP Public Sector Development Programme
RRI Range Research Institute
RS Remote Sensing
SADP Southern Area Development Project
SAWCRI Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute- Chakwal
SDG Sustainable Development Goals
SLM Sustainable Land Management
SLMP Sustainable Land Management Programme
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and
Drought
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
USAID United States Agency for International Development
VDO Village Development Organization
VO Village Organization
WO Women Organization
WAPDA Water and Power Development Authority
WWF-P World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan
WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development
vi

Acknowledgements
The task for alignment of National Action Programme with the 10 year
strategy of UNCCD was assigned to IUCN, International Union for
Conservation of Nature on April 21, 2016 by the Sustainable Land
Management Project II (SLMP II) of the Ministry of Climate Change funded
by UNDP-GEF.

The process involved engaging key stakeholders at the federal and provincial
levels. Through an interactive process along with the capacity building
initiatives, the Provincial Action Plans were developed for the four provinces,
AJK and Gilgit Baltistan. The provincial documents then contributed to
compile the National Action Programme. A detailed implementation
mechanism for the NAP and PAP documents was discussed during various
meetings and documented. Terms of reference for the Provincial and National
Coordination Committees were updated to ensure the ownership and
implementation of NAP and PAP documents.

The process of developing NAP document was led by IUCN Pakistan team
with the kind support of, Mr. Ishrat Ali, Joint Secretary Development at
Ministry of Climate Change and National Project Director NAP / SLMP II.
Special thanks are due to Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General of Forests,
Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan / National Focal Point
UNCCD and Mr. Abdul Munaf Qaimkhani, Deputy Inspector General Forests,
Ministry of Climate Change for providing the guidance and useful inputs
during the process. Mr. Usman Manzoor, Programme Officer UNDP;
Mr. Hamid Marwat, National Programme Coordinator NAP / SLMP II and
Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative IUCN Pakistan.

The team that drafted the NAP and PAP documents was led by Dr. Ghulam
Akbar as the main resource person of IUCN, who had the experience of
drafting original NAP document. He was supported by experienced Resource
Persons including Mr. Muhammad Iqbal for KP; Mr. Shahid Rashid Awan for
Punjab, Mr. Abdul Jabbar Kazi for Sindh, Mr. Ghulam Muhammad for
Balochistan and Mr. Bashir Tahir for Integrated Financial Strategy (IFS).
 vii

Special thanks are also due to senior policy Programme office, IUCN Pakistan and his team;
makers and planners in the provinces, especially Mr. Ghulam Qadir Shah, Coordinator Mangroves
at the Ministry of Planning for facilitating the for the Future Programme IUCN Pakistan,
consultation and capacity building process. Mr. Danish Rashdi, Programme Coordinator,
Mr. Nadeem Shaukat, Thematic Expert Policy IUCN Pakistan and the team at IUCN Country
Reforms and Capacity Building, SLMP II, Office in Karachi played a key role in organizing
Mr. Umair Nazar Focal Point NAP and the the consultation meetings and finalizing the
provincial focal points of the SLMP II were documents.
extremely instrumental in the complete process
from the beginning till completion of the This revision of the NAP document and
documents. development of PAP documents would not have
been possible without the financial support of the
Ms. Fauzia Bilqis Malik, Manager Islamabad Global Environment Facility, UNDP and the overall
Programme Office IUCN Pakistan and her team support of the Ministry of Climate Change, and
played a pivotal role in overall management of the the personal interest of the National Project
assignment and ensuring timely completion of the Director NAP.
assigned task. Mr. Faiz Kakar, Manager, Quetta
viii

Executive Summary
Having majestic mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the
Hindukush, the exquisite intern-mountain valleys, the vast and rich irrigated
expanse, the stark deserts and the impressively rock vastness, Pakistan can
rightly boast to have a diversified landscape.

Pakistan has great climatic diversity due to variation in topography, altitude,

and seasons. Four distinct seasons are recognized: cold winter from
December to February; spring season from March to May; hot and rainy
summer from May to August; and autumn beginning from late September until
frost at the onset of winter.

The soils of Pakistan are derived from two types of parent materials: 1)
Alluvium, loess and wind-reworked sands; and 2) Residual material obtained
from weathering of underlying rocks. Most of the rocks are calcareous while in
valleys like Swat, volcanic rocks have produced non-calcareous soil material,
mostly non-saline. Aridity prevailing over the major part is the main climatic
characteristic that affects the soils.

Most of the land in Pakistan falls in two capability classes – Class VII (24.3%)
and Class VIII (46.7%), both when combined, come to approximately 71%.
Soil Class VII consists of poor forests and rangeland soils while Class VIII
soils are unfit for agricultural purposes. This leads to the conclusion that
about three-fourth of the soils of Pakistan is unfit for agriculture, forests, even
rangelands.

Due to rapid growth of population, massive deforestation and anthropogenic

activities, noticeable change in climate conditions have appeared. Increased
aridity is a growing environmental problem of agricultural countries like
Pakistan. It is, therefore, essential to assess and monitor aridity to combat the
problems of land degradation, drought, and desertification. Identification of
arid and semi-arid regions on climatic basis is the first essential step in any
project of land reclamation for agricultural and other purposes.

Land use classification of Pakistan includes forest cover which is less than
5%. Agricultural land including irrigated, rain fed and Rodh Kohi agriculture is
about 20%; excluding the fallow lands covering about 10% area of country.
Rangelands cover over 27% of the area, while rock outcrops occupy another
quarter of the country and snow/glacier coverage is about 2%. Deserts cover
about 10% area and other uses including built-up area, waterlogged and
saline lands and water bodies together account for a little more than 1%.

Desertification – a Global Perspective

According to UNEP, about 70% of dry lands used for agriculture worldwide
have been degraded with the result that desertification and land degradation
 ix

now affects almost 30% of land area of the world through shelterbelt plantation. For sustainable
and one-sixth of the world’s population. About land management (SLM), soil and water
22% of Asia’s dry lands and 15% of its other land conservation, afforestation and rehabilitation of
area is affected by desertification and land degraded land, repetitive high resolution satellite
degradation. images, delineation and mapping of affected
areas, are suitable tools for combating
At the global level, more than 100 countries of the desertification. Efforts already underway to
world including Pakistan are affected by combat desertification need to be strengthened
desertification and are faced with problems of and integrated through a nationally supported,
environmental degradation, loss of soil fertility, coordinated and monitored management system.
loss of biodiversity and reduced land productivity
resulting in increased poverty of local Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, the
communities. UNIP came up with the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Desertification in Pakistan The Convention was opened for signatures in
Like many other developing countries, Pakistan is 1994 and Pakistan signed it in the same year
also severely affected by desertification and land (1994) and ratified in 1997. It urges the
degradation. Pakistan is predominantly a dry-land signatories to prepare and implement national
country where 80 percent of its land area is arid action programmes, building on the existing
or semi-arid while two-third of its population relevant programmes, to combat desertification
depends on dry-lands for livelihoods mainly and mitigate the effects of drought.
through agro-pastoral activities.
Being a predominantly arid to semi-arid country
A variety of natural and human factors are and having an area of 68 million hectares where
contributing to desertification, including drought, annual rainfall is rarely more than 300 mm,
overgrazing, overexploitation of land and water Pakistan developed its first National Action
resources, over cultivation of marginal lands, Programme (NAP) to combat desertification in
deforestation, soil erosion, water logging and 2002, in line with the UNCCD objectives. The
salinity and the use of inappropriate agricultural programme was launched with the financial and
technologies such as excessive use of chemicals technical support of United Nations Environment
and irrigation water. Consequences of this being: Programme (UNEP) and Economic and Social
abandoned croplands affected by waterlogging Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It
and salinity; abandoned villages; traditional calls for a systematic and comprehensive area
irrigation systems and croplands desertified by development, bottom-up approach for
deteriorated groundwater aquifers or lowering of sustainable management of natural resources to
water table; siltation of rivers, irrigation systems combat desertification and halt land degradation.
and reservoirs; and landslides in hilly areas.
Desertification leads to losses in agricultural In this regard, certain major policy documents
productivity and exacerbates poverty. It also that have been prepared in the past for the
causes significant reductions in carbon storage in improvement of environment, include Forestry
soils, contributing to global warming and loss of Sector Master Plan (1992); National Conservation
biodiversity. Strategy (1992); Sarhad Provincial Conservation
Strategy (1996); Balochistan Conservation
Various approaches have been attempted to Strategy (2007); Provincial Forest Resource
combat the menace of desertification, for Inventory; Hazara Community Participation Rules
example, introduction of fast-growing tree (1996); The NWFP Forestry Commission Act
species and grasses for stabilization of shifting (1999); The NWFP Forest Policy (1999); Punjab
sand dunes and creation of microclimates Forest Policy Statement (1999); Draft National
x

Forest Policy (2001); NWFP Forest Ordinance oversee, guide and review the NAP
(2002); Biodiversity Action Plan (1999); Ten-year implementation.
National Perspective Plan 2001-2011; Sindh l Weak departmental capacity to develop and
Sustainable Development Strategy (2007); implement projects related to desertification
National Climate Change Policy (2012); Action and land degradation.
Plan for the Implementation of National Forest l No procedure adopted to perform periodic
Monitoring System (2015); Pakistan River Act, assessment of resources
2016 (Draft); and National Forest Policy, 2015 l Lack of the use of latest assessment tools,
(Draft). On the agriculture side some of the policy for example GIS-based maps
documents include National Commission on l Non-inclusion of SLM, at least as an elective
Agriculture (NCA) 1988; The Draft National Food subject, at higher secondary school level
Security and Agriculture Policy 2013; Climate l Non-availability of land use policy and plans
Smart Agriculture; and Livestock Policy. at national and provincial levels

After the implementation of 18th Amendment, the Nevertheless, a number of projects related to
devolved Ministry of Environment (MoE) remained desertification and land degradation under the
far below the targeted objectives because of a federal and provincial Public Sector Development
number of shortcomings, for example: (a) it could Programme (PSDP) and Annual Development
not establish an effective coordination Programme (ADP) have been implemented during
mechanism for the implementation of NAP; (b) it the last decade.
remained inconsistent in its implementation
strategy; (c) it could not develop coordination National Action Programme - 2002 and its
among various concerned institutions and Implementation status
organizations; (d) could not develop and Pakistan has committed towards conservation of
implement any projects or programmes; (e) it environment and natural resources by signing
adopted an ad-hoc approach; and (f) it could not and ratifying a number of international
appoint a National Focal Person (NFP) to environmental agreements and protocols. It is
coordinate the implementation of the provisions party to conventions on biodiversity; climate
of NAP. change; desertification; endangered species;
hazardous waste; wetlands; etc. At the national
Analysis of National Action Programme level, many laws and legislations pertinent to the
The overall implementation of NAP was weak environment have been formulated and approved
and as a consequence, its objectives, through by the Federal and provincial governments.
half-hearted implementation, could not be
achieved as envisaged. Major factors regarding To implement various programmes under NAP,
ineffective implementation of NAP included: Rs.27.62 million for Pilot Phase (January 2009-
l Failure to establish National Desertification June 2012); Rs.20.83 million for Bridging Period
Control Unit (NDCU) at federal and provincial (July 2012-Decvember 2013); and Rs.317.58
levels, resulting in weak coordination among million for Upscaling Phase (July 2015-June
various organizations involved in executing 2020) were allocated. Allocations were made to
NAP-related activities. carry out technical interventions for natural
l Absence or weak capacity of federal and resource management in seven land resource
provincial focal organizations to coordinate regions of Pakistan: (i) Northern Mountains; (ii)
planning, formulation, and implemention of Barani Lands; (iii) Irrigated Plains; (iv) Sandy
projects addressing NAP-related activities. Deserts; (v) Suleiman Rodh Kohi irrigation
l Though thrice reconstituted, the NCCD has system; (vi) Western Dry Mountains; and (vii)
remained almost non-functional in its tasks to Coastal Areas. Allocations were also made for
 xi

human resource development; assessment and out without joint programming by Forest,
monitoring of desertification; strengthening Livestock, Agriculture and Soil Conservation
meteorological network for monitoring; early departments besides the active involvement of
warning system; and strengthening research herders and community-based organizations.
capabilities for the improvement of arid lands. Hence, a strong coordination between the
departments /agencies to implement joint NAP-
Some of the prominent successes achieved related programmes is required.
during the implementation of pilot phase of NAP
included: Range Utilization Model in Pothwar The Bottom-up Approach
Plateau; Gully land management through soil When local stakeholders participate in decision-
conservation and water harvesting; Range making and prioritization, it leads to a bottom-up
improvement through community participation; approach. To achieve better results, however, the
Salinity control and reclamation of affected areas; bottom-up approach should not be used as an
Rehabilitation of desert ranges through reseeding; alternative to top-down approach, but rather to
Forage reserve establishment in arid highlands of complement it. As such, strategies based on
Balochistan; Reclamation of salt-affected areas; bottom-up approach should be designed and
Desertification control in Cholistan desert; and implemented in the way best adapted to the
Restoration of land productivity in Barani lands. needs of the stakeholder communities. The most
prudent way to do so would be to invite them to
Institutional Mechanism for NAP actively participate in the development. This
Implementation becomes all the more important in places where
Before the initiation of NAP, all the institutions at there are structural problems in agriculture,
national, provincial, district, local and grass-root forestry, environment and, livestock management.
levels were already providing services for Needless to say, that the involvement of local
increasing productivity of lands and halting the population should be done through their
process of land degradation. However, all of their Community-based Organizations (CBOs), Women
efforts were implemented as “stand alone”- in Organizations (WOs), Civil Society Organizations
isolation from others. Major reason for lack of (CSOs), economic and social interest groups
coordination was that the “National (NGOs), local government representatives, etc. It
Desertification Control Cell” was not established may, however, be ensured that capacity-building
at the federal and the provincial levels. is made an essential component of the bottom-
up approach, involving:
From 2002 onwards, a new trend has evolved of l awareness raising, training, participation, and
ensuring consultations between different mobilization of community to identify the
stakeholders and promoting joint initiatives for strengths and weaknesses of the concerned
combating desertification. Within a few years, area;
these institutions started frequently interacting l participation of different interest groups in
and fast assuming the form and role of a national drawing up a local development strategy; and
network on UNCCD. l establishment of criteria for selection of
appropriate actions (projects) to deliver in
Implementation of NAP requires inter-agency accordance with the strategized priorities
cooperation for joint programming, planning and
in some cases, joint implementation and day-to- Any interventions to be initiated in the rural areas
day operational coordination to achieve its under NAP should be harmonized in the local
objectives. For example, range improvement, socio-cultural context following the bottom-up
development, and management cannot be carried approach.
xii
 1

1 The Narrative
With a variety of landscapes, Pakistan has a diversified topography including
the majestic high mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the
Hindu Kush having snow-covered peaks, and glaciers. Then it has valleys in
the north, vast rich irrigated plains in the south – the Indus Basin – and finally,
the stark deserts and impressively rugged rocky expanse of plateaus in the
south-west of Balochistan.

The country is characterized by a continental type of climate, which is arid

and semi-arid. There is an extreme variation in temperature depending on the
topography of the country, which experiences an overall deficiency in rainfall.
One fourth of the country's land area, which is suitable for agriculture, is
seriously subjected to wind and water erosion, salinity/sodicity, water logging,
flooding and loss of organic matter. Watersheds in upper Indus and its
tributaries suffer from unfavorable soil and moisture regimes. Accelerated
surface erosion due to deforestation in the catchments is reducing the life of
Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs that provide water for 90% of food and fibre
production.

Outside the Indus basin, water mining without groundwater recharge has
resulted in a sharp decline in water availability in areas like Balochistan. Over-
harvesting and misuse of rangelands extending over vast areas is seriously
constraining livestock production, thus adversely affecting the livelihood of
pastoral communities. Then there are the coastal strips and mangrove areas
that are again under increased environmental stress from reduced freshwater
flows, increased sewage and industrial pollution in addition to over-harvesting
of other natural resources. The accelerating rate of land degradation in the
fragile ecosystems like sandy deserts, Rodh Kohi, and coastal areas is
rendering many areas unproductive and is threatening the agricultural
economy of the country.

Desertification is triggered by environmental and climatic factors and

anthropogenic activities that ultimately give rise to increased poverty of local
communities. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) demands from the signatories to develop and implement relevant
action programmes to address the menace of desertification and land
degradation. Such programmes shall be updated through the participatory
process on the basis of lesson learned and results of research and be closely
interlinked with other national policies and plans for sustainable development.
2

The Convention emphasizes the national action Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
programmes to identify factors contributing to the Pacific (ESCAP).
desertification, measures necessary to combat
desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)
It also specifies the roles of governments, local through its Range Research Institute (RRI) was
communities and land users, incorporates long- entrusted to develop NAP for Pakistan. A multi-
term strategies to combat desertification, and disciplinary team comprising experts from various
integrates it with national policies for sustainable relevant disciplines drafted the NAP after a series
development. The Convention expects the of discussions and consultations with
signatories to allow modification in the UNIP/ESCAP, relevant federal and provincial
approaches to changing circumstances and agencies and NGOs. First draft of NAP was
remain flexible to cope with different socio- discussed in a national workshop organized
economic, biological and geo-physical jointly by Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre
conditions. Particular attention is expected from (PARC) and Rice Research Institute (RRI) and
the signatories to adopt preventive measures for attended by all the relevant organizations.
lands not yet degraded, enhance national Recommendations of the workshop were
climatological, meteorological and hydrological incorporated in the draft and submitted to the
capabilities, provide for early warning system, then Ministry of Environment, Local Government
develop institutional framework for and Rural Development (MELG&RD). The draft
implementation and coordination, and to provide was again discussed in a national seminar
effective participation at the local, national and organized by the Ministry that proposed certain
regional level of NGOs and local populations, suggestions according to the changing
both women and men, particularly farmers and environment and ecological scenarios which were
pastoralists. subsequently incorporated in NAP. The second
draft was circulated to more than 60 relevant
Pakistan being a water scarce country has organizations for views and comments in writing.
serious issues of desertification whereby three- The written input received was again incorporated
forth area of the country is either arid or semi-arid in the third draft which was sent to the MELG&RD
where annual average rainfall hardly reaches 300 in January 2001. The draft was finalized in line
mm. With this justification, Pakistan resolved to with the UNCCD guidelines
develop a programme in line with the UNCCD
directives. Keeping in view the growing problems The National Action Programme calls for a
of desertification and land degradation, the need systematic and comprehensive area development
to address the twin menace was seriously felt. As approach with people's participation at
a result, the National Action Programme (NAP) to grassroots level with a bottom-up mechanism for
combat desertification in Pakistan was prepared sustainable management of natural resources
with the financial and technical support of United especially in fragile ecosystems so as to combat
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and desertification and halt land degradation.
 3

2 Geography
The geography of Pakistan is a profound blend of landscapes varying from
plains to deserts, forests, hills, and plateaus and ranging from the coastal
areas of the Arabian sea in the south to the mountains of the Karakoram
range in the north. Pakistan geologically overlaps both with the Indian and the
Eurasian tectonic plates where Sindh and Punjab provinces lie on the north-
western corner of the Indian plate while Balochistan and most of the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa lies within the Eurasian plate comprising the Iranian Plateau.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir lie mainly in Central Asia along the edge of
the Indian plate and hence are more prone to violent earthquakes where the
two tectonic plates collide.
4

3 Physical Features
Pakistan is a land of many splendors. The scenery changes ranging from high
mountains interspersed with breathtaking lush green valleys, snow-clad
mountains and gigantic glaciers in the north to sandy deserts, vast plateaus,
and fertile plains formed by soft and rich soil brought by rivers in the middle,
and coastal beaches and lagoons in the south. The variety of landscapes in
Pakistan can be divided in to seven major natural regions:
1) The Northern Mountains;
2) The North-western Mountains;
3) The Balochistan Plateau;
4) The Pothowar Plateau and Salt Range;
5) The Upper and Lower Indus Plains
6) The Deserts; and
7) The Coastal Area

3.1 The Northern Mountains

The Himalayas run across 2,500 km from east to west, and form a significant
part of the mountain range in Pakistan. The range comprises of the Siwaliks
(600-1800m), the Pir Panjal Range/The Lesser or Outer Himalayas (1,800-
4,500m), and the Central Himalayas (over 4,500m). The Pir Panjal Range is
where some of the more popular hill stations like Murree and Bhurban are
located. Topography of the Himalayas consists of snowcapped peaks with
valleys rich in natural vegetation. The highest peak of this range in Pakistan is
the Nanga Parbat (8,126m).

The Karakoram mountain range has an average height of 6,000m and is

located above the Central Himalayas. The highest peak of the Karakoram
range in Pakistan is the Mount Godwin Austin (K-2) which stands at 8,610m.
The Karakoram mountains are very inhospitable and the population in these
mountains is very sporadic where a nomadic lifestyle is seen. Some
agriculture is practiced in the valleys, but mostly, the Karakoram range
comprises steep peaks, and narrow valleys often with a fast flowing river
taking up most of the space. The Karakoram Highway that links Pakistan with
China has been a major development in the Range.

The Hindu Kush mountain range runs from north-to-south and is located in
the region where the border of Pakistan meets the borders of Afghanistan and
China. Topography of the Range is similar to the Karakoram range. Hindu
Kush is famous for mountain peaks like Tirich Mir (7,708m). The Hindu Kush
 5

Range boasts a special culture because many of largely on rainfall, which averages 380 to 510 mm
the greatest invaders (Alexander the Great, annually; rainfall is greatest in the northwest and
Mahmud of Ghazni, etc.) had crossed the declines to arid conditions in the southwest.
mountain passes of the Hindu Kush.
3.5 The Upper and Lower Indus
3.2 The North-western Mountains Plains
The northwestern ranges of our country are also In the upper plains of Indus, rivers Indus, Sutlej,
known as western branches of the Himalayas Chenab and Jhelum flow. This range is spread
mountains consisting of a series of parallel from the Himalayas and the south of Salt
ranges, though lower in altitude than the Mountain and Solomon Mountain to Arabian Sea
northeastern mountains. As most of these ranges in the east of Khet Kher. Its upper plains are very
lie outside the course of summer monsoons fertile due to the existence of many rivers.
coming from Arabian Sea, the rainfall is low and Although all the food crops are grown here but
mountains are almost bare of natural vegetation. wheat and rice amongst the food crops and
These mountains act as a boundary between cotton amongst the cash crops are the main
Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. crops. The lower plain of Indus is composed of
Sindh in the south, Kirthar range in the west while
3.3 The Balochistan Plateau the desert of Rajasthan is spread in the east.
It is a vast plateau in the west of Kirthar and
Sulaiman mountains with an average height of 3.6 The Deserts
600 to 900 metres. Mountains in the northeastern Pakistan hosts four major deserts: Tha, Cholistan;
Balochistan are higher on the south than those on Thal and Kharan Desert
the west side. It is also dry plateau and its Toba
Kakar and Xhagai ranges separate it from 3.6.1 The Thar Desert
Afghanistan. To its north-western side, lies the It is a large arid region with an area of 320,000
Kharan desert. There are many temporary lakes in km2 and 90% of it lies in India. It covers eastern
this sandy area that have water only in the rainy Sindh and the southeastern portion of the Punjab
season otherwise they remain dry and are called Province. It is bounded on the northwest by the
‘Hamuns’. Its climate is severely cold in winters Sutlej River, on the east by the Aravalli Range, on
and extremely hot in summers, except in the the south by the salt marsh known as the Rann of
mountainous areas. Kutch (parts of which are sometimes included in
the Thar), and on the west by the Indus River. Its
3.4 The Pothowar Plateau boundary to the large thorny steppe to the north
It is a plateau in northeastern Pakistan, forming is ill-defined.
the northern part of Punjab. It borders the
western parts of Azad Kashmir and the southern 3.6.2 The Cholistan Desert
parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The region The word Cholistan is derived from the Turkish
was once the home of the ancient Soanian word Chol, which means Desert. Cholistan thus
culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of means Land of the Desert. It is spaced over a
fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient vast are of 26,300 km2. The people of Cholistan
archaeological sites. lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place
to another in search of water and fodder for their
Most of the hills and rivers in the Plateau are animals. The dry bed of the Hakra River runs
bordered by dissected ravine belts. The streams, through the area, along which many settlements
due to constant rejuvenation, are deep set and of of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found.
little use for irrigation. Agriculture is dependent
6

3.6.3 The Thal Desert 3.7. The Coastal Areas

It is situated in Punjab and covers a vast area The Sindh coastal region is located in the
covering 20,900 km2. It is mainly located southeastern part of the country between the
between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers near the Indus border along the Sir Creek on the east, and
Pothohar Plateau. Its total length from north to the Hub River along the Balochistan coast on the
south is about 300km, and its maximum breadth west. This coastal region is about 350 km long
is 110km. Geographically, it resembles the and can be divided into the Indus Delta/Creek
deserts of Cholistan and Thar. and Karachi coast.

3.6.4 The Kharan Desert

This is also called the ‘Sandy Desert’ and is
located in the Province of Balochistan. It covers
an area of about 48,000 km2. It is basically
covered with sand dunes, scrub vegetation and
weathered rocks. Rainfall is very scarce leaving it
with dry lakes. The largest dry lake of Balochistan
is located in this desert called Hamun-i-Mashkel
(seasonal desert lakes or marshlands). The water
of Kharan basin is entirely used for agriculture
and domestic use and thus it is also called
‘closed basin’.
 7

4 Climate
Pakistan has great climatic diversity due to variation in topography, altitude,
and season. Most of the rangelands of Pakistan are in arid and semi-arid
zones characterized by low precipitation, extremes of temperature and low
humidity. Moreover, droughts also occur frequently in these areas which
exacerbate the effects of overgrazing resulting in complete and permanent
loss of some species of vegetation.

The northern areas of Pakistan are located out of the monsoon rain shadow.
The natural environment is harsh, arid with alternating temperatures which are
low in winter and high in summer.

4.1 Climatic Regions

Following are the five major climatic regions of Pakistan:

4.1.1 Arid and Hyper Arid Regions

A large area of Pakistan possesses this type of climate and constitutes a
major climatic region. The rainfall in these regions is less than about 250 mm.
An area is considered arid on the basis of the amount of rainfall it receives,
irrespective of how much ground water is available. Examples are Layyah,
8

Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Lodhran, Vehari, Larkana, under such climate. The winters are extremely
Hyderabad, Bannu etc. cold here.

Then there is another climate falling in this 4.1.5 Sub-tropical Regions

category which is even more extreme than the The sub-tropical regions are present in the North-
arid. It is the hyper arid climate characterized by west of Pakistan. The rainfall average in summer
less than 150 mm of annual rainfall that may also is 95mm and in winter it is 63-95 mm. Examples
be called as desert climate. Deserts make a large of sub-tropical climate are the cities of Quetta
share in the climatic regions of Pakistan. Pakistan and Kalat
has some great desert areas. These include Thar
desert in Sindh, Cholistan in Punjab, Bahawalpur,
Rahim Yaar Khan, Jacobabad and central parts of
Northern Areas.

4.1.2 Semi-Arid Regions

Semi-Arid regions receive greater amount of
rainfall than arid areas. The annual precipitation
here is 250-500 mm. A large amount of area of
our country is under this climate. Some cities with
this type of climate are Faisalabad, Gujranwala,
Lahore, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Peshawar,
Mardan, Central and North Western Dir, Kohat,
etc.
More than three-fourths of the area of Pakistan
4.1.3 Sub-Humid Regions lies in semi-arid (in southern KP, Punjab and
There is abundant rainfall in these areas and most Sindh) to hyper arid in Sindh and Balochistan.
of the agriculture is possible without irrigation.
These areas receive rainfall of about 500-1000 4.2 Meteorology
mm annually and sometimes more than 1000 Pakistan receives monsoon rainfall in summer
mm. Examples of such areas are Rawalpindi, and in winter it receives rainfall due to western
Islamabad, Chakwal, Sialkot, Abottabad, Attock, systems. Most of the country is arid to semi-arid
Jhelum, Parachinar. except southern slopes of Himalayas and sub
Mountain region where the annual rainfall ranges
The areas like Gilgit, Baltistan in north possess from 760mm to 2,000mm. The Balochistan
very cool sub-humid and arid climate since province is the driest part which receives 210mm
rainfall is not much there and intense cold on the average. Three-fourth part of the country
prevails during most of the year. receives rainfall less than 250mm and 20% of it
receives up to125mm. Normal annual rainfall is
4.1.4 Humid Regions displayed in Fig. A. Pakistan has four well marked
The North-east mountainous and sub- seasons: Cold, from November to February; Pre-
mountainous areas fall in this category. The monsoon (Hot), from March to mid of June;
rainfall here is very high. Among all the climatic Monsoon, from mid of June to mid of September;
regions of Pakistan, these areas receive the Post-monsoon, from mid of September to
highest rainfall. Usually these areas receive more October. Summer season is extremely hot and
than 1700 mm of rainfall annually, a major share the relative humidity ranges from 25% to 50%.
of which is in monsoon (1000 mm). Cities of Day-time temperature in this season remains
Swat, Murree and upper Hazara division come 40oC and beyond in plain areas. The average
 9

temperatures in winter range from 4oC to 20oC. evapotranspiration. The major part of Pakistan is
Mercury sometimes falls well below freezing point arid to semi-arid with large spatial variability in
in Northern parts of the country. Normal Annual the temperature.
Maximum and Minimum Temperatures are shown
in Figs. C & D respectively. Fig. B shows the
annual climate classifications on the basis of

Source: Pakistan Meteorological Department

10

The main findings of climate indicators and l The cold waves have increased significantly
signals of climate change in Pakistan are in western and north-western parts of the
explained below: country, and decreased in north-eastern and
south-eastern parts
4.2.1 Temperature of Pakistan
l Mean annual temperature has increased by 4.2.2 Precipitation in Pakistan
0.57oC from 1901 to 2000 l The annual precipitation has increased,
l It has risen by 0.47oC in the period from significantly, by 61mm from 1901 to 2007
1960 to 2007 l The monsoon precipitation has increase by
l Rise in temperature is even faster in the last 22.6mm and winter precipitation has
decade of the period 1901 – 2007 increased by 20.8 mm; both being non-
l The rate of increase has been 0.057oC per significant
decade in 20th century
o It has been 0.099oC increase per decade 1) Precipitation in Punjab
from 1960 to 2007 l The annual precipitation of Punjab has
increased by 228mm over the 1901-2007
l There is high variability of climate such that period
the change is not linear: the highest rate of l The summer monsoon precipitation has
increase occurred in the last decade increased by 111.2mm and winter
l The average annual temperature of the last precipitation has increased by 59.6mm
decade remained 0.6oC above normal l The annual precipitation of Balochistan has
l The warmest year on record for Asia was increased by 8.5mm which is non-significant
2004 l There is also non-significant increase in
l The second warmest year was 1988 summer monsoon by 3.6mm, and winter by
l The other warmest years (with anomaly 2.2mm from 1901 to 2007
+0.4oC) in the order of anomaly were 2006,
2001, 2002, 2000, 2007, 1999, 1970, 1963, 2) Precipitation in Sindh
1977, 1971, 1969, 1985, 1998 l The annual precipitation of Sindh also has
l The summer mean temperature has increased non-significant increase of 15mm for the
by 0.89oC in Balochistan; 0.22oC in Punjab; period from 1914 to 2007
and 0.02oC in Sindh l The summer monsoon has had almost no
l The summer mean temperature has change and winter precipitation also has non-
decreased by 1oC in G-B; 0.26oC in KP; and significant increase of 7.5mm over the period
0.04oC in AJK, respectively mentioned
l The increase is in the range 1.12oC – 0.52oC
l The annual maximum temperature has 3) Precipitation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
increased by 0.87oC in the period from 1960 l The annual precipitation of KP has
– 2007 significantly increased by 73.5mm from 1901
l The annual minimum temperature has to 2007
increased by 0.48oC in period from 1960 – l There is almost no change in summer
2007 monsoon precipitation and a significant
l There has been increase of 31 days in Heat increase of 70.6mm in winter precipitation
Wave duration for the above period; heat
waves have increased in all parts of the The 110 years of mean temperature and
country precipitation data (1901-2010) of Pakistan reveal
l There has been a non-significant increase of an increasing trend of about 0.66oC in
4 days in Cold Wave, with spatial variability temperature (Fig. 5) and an increasing trend of
across the country about 106 mm in precipitation (Fig. 6). Monsoon
 11

precipitation has increased throughout the than that of monsoons within the country. This
country except in Balochistan province and western disturbance contributes precipitation to
coastal belt of Sindh and Balochistan where it the western part of Balochistan and the entire
has decreased significantly. Increase of Sindh province.
precipitation from western disturbance is greater

Fig. 5: Mean Annual Temperature of Pakistan and its Trend during 1901-2010

Source: Climate Change and Precipitation in Pakistan – a Meteorological Prospect

Fig. 6: Mean annual total precipitation (mm) of Pakistan and its trend during the
periods 1901-2010

Source: Climate Change and Precipitation in Pakistan – a Meteorological Prospect

12

4.2.3 Conclusions level in the next couple of decades.

The water and thermal regimes may change the Subsequently, a reduction in river flow will ensue
climate of Pakistan. The higher variability of and water scarcity in the country will become
precipitation regime will increase the frequency more intensified.
and severity of floods and droughts in Pakistan.
Thermal regime changes are anticipated to be 4.3 Changing Pattern of Rainfall
accompanied by much increased impacts on The following figures have been included to give
extreme events, precipitation patterns, melting of an idea of the changing pattern of rainfall in a few
glaciers on Himalayan, Hindukush and Karakoram selected cities of Pakistan:
ranges, which will lead to a rise in Arabian Sea

Fig. 7: Rainfall in Pakistan, 1992 Fig. 8: Rainfall in Pakistan, 2010

Source: National Environmental Management System Source: National Environmental Management System

Pakistan receives an average annual rainfall of the 18-year period (1992-2010). There are,
367 mm. The wettest month for all stations was however, some exceptional reductions in rainfall:
marked as July and the driest month as Chitral where more than 45% reduction occurred,
November. Further, the analysis shows while Peshawar, having similar rainfall average as
decreasing trends of precipitation for Khyber Chitral’s in 1992, experienced more than 25%
Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan, whereas reduction. Outstanding of all the reductions is the
for Sindh, no remarkable increase or decrease in one observed for Zhob: its rainfall reduced from
rainfall trend has been found except for Karachi 358 mm down to a mere 78 mm – a massive
that has shown a phenomenal increase in rainfall. reduction of more than 78%. On the other end of
It may be of interest to compare average annual the spectrum, Karachi has experienced a great
rainfall of 1992 and 2010 to see if there has been increase in rainfall: from 187 mm up to 658 mm –
any significant change in the pattern and trend of an increase of more than 250%.
rainfall. For this purpose, some cities were
selected from both the periods and the following A more pronounced comparison could be made
diagram developed: once more data is available and more cities
included. Even the present trend exhibits the
A general look at the figure indicates that there enormity of situation because of dwindling
has been considerable reduction in rainfall during rainfalls. Under such a situation, measures to
 13

Source: Climate Change Indicators for Pakistan

offset the adverse impacts of reduced rainfall, spatial change shows that the daily minimum
would be a gigantic task. temperature will become warmer as compared to
the increase of daily maximum temperature in
4.4 Future Climatic Projections summer whereas in winter, the change in
A project on future climate change was carried maximum threshold temperature is high.
out jointly by Pakistan Meteorological Department
and Global Change Impact Studies Center. The Three scenarios - A21, A1B2 and B13 - were
study revealed that almost all the temperature chosen for interpolation on 1°X1° grid resolution
indices show significant changes over the region. using multi-model ensemble output. Future
Trend in temperature indices reflect an increase in climate projections of Pakistan have been
both maximum and minimum temperature. There calculated keeping in view these scenarios. The
is a much larger percentage of land area showing rate of change of precipitation and temperature in
significant change in minimum temperature than different future scenarios is given below:
the maximum temperature. Percentile-based

1 Regionally-oriented economic development: 2.0 - 5.4 °C increase in temperature

2 Rapid dynamical changes in ice flow: 0.21 – 0.48 °C increase in temperature
3 Global environmental sustainability: 1.1 - 2.9 °C increase in temperature
14

5 Agro-ecological Zones
Pakistan can be divided into the following ten agro-ecological zones:

5.1 The Indus Delta

The climate is arid tropical with moderately hot summers and very mild
winters. The mean daily maximum temperature range is 34-45oC in summer
and 19-20oC in winter. The mean monthly summer rainfall (July-September) is
approximately 75 mm and in winter (December-February) it is less than 5 mm.

5.2 The Southern Irrigated Plains

The climate is arid subtropical and continental with hot summers and mild
winters. The mean daily temperature range is 40-45oC during May to July.
The mean daily minimum temperature in winter is about 8.5oC. The mean
monthly rainfall is only about 16-20 mm in summer, with little rain in winter.

5.3 The Sandy Desert

The climate is arid (desert) subtropical with very hot summers and mild
winters. The mean daily summer maximum temperature range is 39-41oC and
in winter, the mean daily minimum temperature is about 7oC. The monthly
rainfall varies from 32 mm in the north to 46 mm in the south. The winter is
practically rainless. Dust storms are common during summer.

5.4 The Northern Irrigated Plains

This zone has a semi-arid subtropical continental climate. The mean daily
maximum temperature in summer is 39.5oC, and in winter, the mean daily
minimum temperature is 6.2oC. The mean annual rainfall range is 300-500
mm. Mean monthly summer (July, August, September) rainfall varies from 108
mm in the east to 75 mm in the southwest, while in winter, it varies from 14-
22 mm per month.

5.5 The Barani Lands

The climate of this zone is semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters and
with a short dry season in early summer. In summer, the mean daily
temperature is 38oC. In winter, the mean daily temperature range is 3-6oC.
The mean monthly rainfall is approximately 200 mm in summer and 36-50 mm
in winter (December-February).
 15

5.6 The Wet Mountains region. In summer, the mean daily maximum
The extreme eastern part of this zone could be temperature range is 30 to 39oC and in winter,
classified as humid, with mild summers and cold the mean daily minimum temperature varies from
winters. In summer, the mean daily maximum -3oC to +7.7oC.
temperature is about 35oC. The monthly rainfall
in summer is about 236 mm and in winter 116 5.9 The Dry Western Plateau
mm. The western part of the zone is sub-humid This region has an arid (desert) tropical climate
Mediterranean, with dry summers and rainfall with constant dry season. The mean monthly
confined to the winter and spring seasons only. maximum temperature range is 38-44oC. In
winter, the mean daily minimum temperature
5.7 The Northern Dry Mountains range is 3- 6oC in the north and 11.5-15oC along
This zone consists of high mountains covered with the coast. The mean monthly rainfall in summer is
snow. The mean daily minimum temperature meagre (2-4 mm) except in the extreme
varies from 1-7oC. The mean monthly rainfall southeastern part where it is about 36 mm.
ranges from 25-75 mm in winter and from 50-100
mm in spring. In summer, it varies from 10-20 mm. 5.10 The Sulaiman Piedmont
The climate of this region is sub-tropical
5.8 The Western Dry Mountains continental and is arid and hot. The mean daily
The greater part of this area is semi-arid highland maximum temperature in summer is 40oC. The
with mild summers and cold winters. Rainfall and mean daily minimum temperature in winter varies
snowfall is confined mostly to the winter season. from 5.7-7.6oC. The monthly rainfall in winter is
The mean monthly rainfall in summer varies from about 13 mm, whereas in summer it is about 21-
5-15 mm increasing to 45-95 mm in the northern 38 mm.

Fig. 11: Ecological Zones of Pakistan

16

6 Soils of Pakistan
The soils of Pakistan are derived from two types of parent materials:
l Alluvium, loess and wind-reworked sands and
l Residual material obtained from weathering of underlying rocks

Most of the rocks are calcareous (limestone or calcareous shale). In some

localized areas like Swat volcanic rocks such as granites have produced non-
calcareous soil material. Very small quantities of salts are released from most
rocks and soils are, therefore, non-saline. Saline playa lakes which are of
small areal extent are exceptions. Aridity prevailing over the major part of
Pakistan is the main climatic characteristic that affects its soils. This has
resulted in paucity of soil water and scantiness of vegetation cover. Soil
alkalinity and salinity have been encouraged. The soils are rich in basic
(alkaline) but poor in nitrogenous matter. Similar conditions with slightly less
intensity are experienced in the sub-humid regions. Humid areas are relatively
smaller in extent. In the extreme- north, there are areas with a perpetual cover
of snow where development of soil has not taken place. State of soil
degradation due to human activities has been shown in the following map
published by FAO.

Fig. 12: Soil Degradation of Pakistan

 17

In most of the rain-fed areas of Pakistan, soils calcareous, weakly structured soils. The soils of
have developed from wind and water transported hollows are mainly well drained and have an
materials and consist of loess, old alluvial average pH value of 8.4.
deposits, mountain out-wash and recent stream
valley deposits. Some are derived from shales 6.2 Abandoned Channels
and sand-stones while the soils in central The soils of the abandoned channels are
irrigated Punjab, KP and Sindh vary from clay deposited materials with a wide range of textures
loam to silty loam. The soils of the huge Thal (loamy fine sands to silty clays), and are
desert, Cholistan, and Tharparker belt are alluvial moderately calcareous with pH values from 8.3
with sandy textured sand dunes covering 50 to to 8.8.
60 per cent of the area and consist of the
following land forms:
6.3 Flood Plains
Soils of sub-recent flood plains are moderately
6.1 Sand Ridges deep, dark greyish brown, silty clay loams, and
Over most of the Thal desert, the alluvium has silty clays with weak to moderate structures and
been blown into sand ridges and hollows. The weak lime profile. In southern areas, reduced
soils of the ridges consist of very deep, structure- annual flooding and high water table have
less fine sand of varying degrees of calcareous resulted in alkalization. These soils are dense and
and colour gradations. All the sand ridge soils are strongly saline with a pH value of more than 9.
excessively drained and have an average pH
value of 8.3. In Balochistan, about 80% of the area can be
classified as inter-mountainous. The remaining
Fine material from the ridges has been washed 20% consists of flood plains and alluvial deposits
into the hollows and, where allowed to with a high potential for cultivation.
accumulate, has formed very deep, moderately
18

7 Land Capability
Land capability classification is a system of grouping soils primarily on the
basis of their capability to produce common cultivated crops and pasture
plants without deteriorating over a long period of time.

It shows the suitability of soils for most kinds of crops. Here, soils are
grouped according to their limitations for field crops, the risk of damage if
they are used for crops, and the way they respond to management. The
criteria used in grouping the soils do not include major and generally
expensive land forming that would change slope, depth, or other
characteristics of the soils, nor do they include possible but unlikely major
reclamation interventions.

The following table shows all the eight land capability classes prevalent in
Pakistan:

Table 1: Land Capability Classes of Pakistan

Land Punjab Sindh KPK Balochistan G-B AJ&K Total %
Capability + FATA
Class

I 3,487 1,105 187 599 2 0 5,380 6.6

II 3,679 2,336 525 481 145 14 7,180 8.8
III 2,395 1,499 666 315 77 201 5,153 6.3
IV 1,440 838 582 929 106 226 4,121 5.1
V 0 0 70 0 101 0 171 0.2
VI 262 8 827 85 115 306 1,603 2.0
VII 4,611 2,454 2,604 9,295 869 21 19,854 24.3
VIII 4,160 3,372 2,974 22,700 4,364 510 38,080 46.7
20,033 11,614 8,434 34,403 5,780 1,279 81,543 100.0

Source: Soil Survey of Pakistan, Lahore

Most of the land in Pakistan falls in two capability classes – Class VII (24.3%)
and Class VIII (46.7%), both when combined, come to 71%.

Soils in Class I form very good agriculture land while the rest of the number till
VIII are indicative of certain limitations. For example, Soil Class VII makes for
poor forests and rangeland soils while Class VIII soils are unfit for agricultural
 19

purposes. This leads to the conclusion that The following diagram is intended to depict the
about three-fourth of the soils of Pakistan are overall situation regarding the land capability in
unfit for agriculture, forests, and rangelands. Pakistan:
20

8 Aridity in Pakistan
Due to rapid growth of population, massive deforestation and anthropogenic
activities, noticeable change in climatic conditions is being observed in
Pakistan. Increased aridity due to climate change is a growing environmental
problem of an agricultural country like Pakistan. It is essential to assess and
monitor aridity to combat the problems of land degradation, drought, and
desertification. Identification of arid and semi-arid regions on climatic basis is
the first essential step in any project of land reclamation for agricultural and
other purposes.

Almost 75 to 85% of the total area of the country is arid in which most part
lies in the south while less than 10% area is humid which lies in the north of
the country. The Land Capability Classification will be a good predictor for
agronomists to plan according to the given capability of a given soil.

The following map shows the extent of aridity in Pakistan:

Fig. 14: Aridity Classes of Pakistan

 21

9 Land use in Pakistan

Land use classification using ten categories in Pakistan has been developed
for 2004. Forest cover including scrub, riverine, mangroves and plantation is
about 5.4%. Agricultural land including irrigated, rain fed and rodh Kohi
agriculture extracted from spectral reflectance of crop cover is about 20%. It
does not include the fallow land which has been covered under open
space/ground class (covering about 10% area of country). Rangelands
covered over 27% areas, while rock outcrops occupied another quarter of the
country. The snow/glacier coverage was recorded at about 2%. Deserts have
about 10% area and other uses (built up area, waterlogged and saline land
and water bodies together accounted for a little more than one percent).

Patterns of land use in Pakistan have evolved through centuries, influenced by

environmental and physical factors such as landform, soil, climate, water
availability etc. as well as human factors such as population, economic
demands, and cultural practices or customs. The interprovincial variations
clearly depict the influence of these factors. For example, in KP and G-B,

Source: Source: Land cover Atlas of Pakistan,

Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar (2012).
22

which are comparatively high altitude hilly Pakistan has barely 5.06% of its land area
regions, with relatively higher precipitation, show covered under forests.
a higher level of snow and glacier coverage
(13%), compared to none in other provinces. 9.2 Other Land uses
Likewise, KP also has higher forest coverage The following table presents the status of other
about 17% as against 4% in Punjab, 1.5% in land uses in Pakistan:
Balochistan and about 6% in Sindh. Balochistan,
on the other hand, has a comparatively larger
Table 3: Other land uses of Pakistan
grazing area. On the other hand, about half the
Landuse Area (million ha) %
area of Punjab and about a third of Sindh have Alpine/sub-Alpine Pastures 1.447 1.7
agriculture primarily because of the extensive Shrubs and bushes 3.066 3.7
canal irrigation system. Rangelands 39.923 47.6
Agricultural Lands 25.525 30.4
9.1 Area under Forests Fruit Orchards 0.260 0.3
The following table shows the extent of forest Barren Lands 7.687 9.2
area under various types: Settlements 0.973 1.2
Snow and Glaciers 3.395 4.0
Table 2: Forest Types of Pakistan Water Bodies 1.677 2.0
Forest Types Area (m ha) % of Forest Area Total 83.953 100.0
Dry Temperate Forests 1.279 28.6 Source: Land cover Atlas of Pakistan,
Moist Temperate Forests 0.573 12.8 Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar (2012).
Oak Forests 0.174 3.9
Sub-Tropical Chir pine Forests 0.357 8.0 Fig. 16: Land cover map of Pakistan
Sub-Tropical Broad-leaved 1.109 24.8
Evergreen
Tropical Thorn 0.218 4.9
Plantations 0.197 4.4
Riverine Forests 0.216 4.8
Mangroves 0.355 7.9
Total 4.478 100.0
Land Area 88.430
Forest area as % of land area 5.06
Source: Land cover Atlas of Pakistan,
Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar (2012).

Source: Source: Land cover Atlas of Pakistan,

Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar (2012).
 23

10 Agricultural Settings
10.1 Land Utilization
The following table indicates land utilization in Pakistan between 1995-96 and
2012-13:

Table 4: Land utilization of Pakistan (million ha)

Land use Category 1995-96 2012-13

Reported area 58.51 57.73

Forest area 3.61 4.26
NA for cultivation 24.35 23.06
Culturable waste 8.87 8.22
Current fallows 5.19 6.79
Net area sown 16.49 15.41
Area sown more than once 6.10 7.34
Total cropped area 22.59 22.75
Total area 79.61 79.61

10.1.1 Changes in Land Utilization

Based on the above table, the following bar diagram indicates changes
occurring in land use status during 17 years:

There are three outstanding features apparent from the above chart:
l There was a significant increase in forest area which is good.
l There was a very significant increase in “Current fallows” which means
that it was practiced on lesser area, though there should have been an
increase in land under agriculture because of exploding population.
l If on the one hand, current fallows increased, there was an appreciable
increase in intensification of agriculture by sowing crops more than once.
24

11 Desertification – a Global Perspective

According to UNEP, about 70% of dry lands used worldwide for agriculture
are already degraded with the result that desertification/land degradation now
affects almost 30% of the total land area of the world and one-sixth of the
world’s population. About 22% of Asia’s dry lands and 15% of its other land
area is affected by desertification/land degradation. Developing countries are
the most affected, but developed countries also face these problems but with
lower intensity.

11.1 Challenges of Desertification

Following are the challenges of desertification that we have to contend with:
l Dry lands are spaced over 5.2 billion ha the world over (40% of earth’s
area)
l About 2.6 billion people (44% of world population) live in dry lands
l More than 110 countries have dry lands that are threatened by
desertification
l 40% of Asia’s land area is prone to desertification
l Land degradation affects 1.341 billion ha of agriculturally-productive dry
lands in Asia that comes to 70% of total dry land area of the world
l About 35% of irrigated lands, 56% of rain-fed croplands and 76% of
rangelands are degraded in Asia

Fig. 18: Classification of Dry lands

Source: Presentation by Mitsuhiro INOUE

 25

l Each year, 20 million ha agricultural lands are To sum it up, it is the man who does the most
converting in to deserts harm to the environment - to the extent of 87% -
l Salinity alone is annually causing a loss of 11 by resorting to over-grazing, deforestation
billion USD (causing soil erosion), over-cultivation and over-
l Wind and water is eroding 75 billion tons of irrigation. It is just 13% of the total desertification
soil causing a loss of 12 billion ha annually that is caused naturally and consists of climate
l On the whole, desertification causes a loss of change, drought, reduced rainfall, and aridity.
42 billion US$ worldwide There is obviously a need to pay far greater
attention to human-induced desertification than
11.2 The Dry lands blaming nature for it.
The following figure is intended to clarify the
yardstick on which to measure the extent of 11.4 Global status of desertification
aridity4 and how to define it: Of the 14.96 billion hectares of total land area,
3.6 billion hectares is affected by desertification.
11.3 Causes of Desertification Against this, the population affected by
The following chart effectively explains the desertification is 1.1 billion. This comes to about
different causes responsible for desertification:’ 14% of the total world population.

Overall, land has been classified into six major

Fig. 19: Major causes of desertification
regions, based on aridity and humidity. Though a
sizeable chunk of earth’s area is humid (39.2%), it
is confined mostly to northwestern region. It is
the southern and central region that has all the
areas that are hyper-arid to arid.

Source: Presentation by Mitsuhiro INOUE

Source: SLMP Leaflet

4 A deficiency of moisture, especially when resulting from a permanent absence of rainfall

26

12 Desertification in Pakistan
Human security is threatened by desertification, land degradation, and
drought (DLDD). These are depriving people of their means of livelihoods by
taking away food, access to water, means for economic activities, even their
homes. Failing policies for protecting the environment in many countries and
climatic change are putting more pressure on the soil today than ever. When
secure water and food supplies are not guaranteed, people frequently migrate
to areas where they believe they can find them.

The three sources of threat to the human security - desertification, land

degradation and drought - are interlinked. However, the resultant effect of the
three is more in the shape of desertification. Nature and human being, both
have a role in the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert. Often
misinterpreted as an expansion of existing deserts, desertification is actually a
gradual process of land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid areas
triggered by unsustainable land practices, deforestation, overgrazing and
extreme climatic variations such as prolonged droughts and floods. In this
ultimate process, land loses its productivity, vegetation cover and capability to
support ecosystem functions and services, enhancing risks and vulnerabilities
of poor dry land communities for food security and sustainable livelihoods.

Like many other developing countries, Pakistan is also severely affected by

desertification and land degradation. Pakistan is predominantly a water scarce
country where 80 percent of its land area is arid or semi-arid and two-thirds of
its rapidly increasing population depends on dry-lands to support its
livelihood mainly through agro-pastoral activities.

Natural resource base of land, water and vegetation in arid and semi-arid
areas is highly fragile and extremely vulnerable to degradation. Increasing
population along with the demand for more food, fodder and fuel wood has
given rise to a chain of interrelated economic, social and environmental issues
associated with land degradation.

Desertification is essentially the result of soil degradation. A variety of natural

and human factors are contributing to desertification, including drought,
overgrazing, overexploitation of land and water resources, over cultivation of
marginal lands, deforestation, soil erosion, water logging and salinity and the
use of inappropriate agricultural technologies such as excessive use of
chemicals and irrigation water.. Consequences of this being: abandoned
 27

croplands affected by waterlogging and salinity; vulnerable land surfaces, the latter becomes
abandoned villages; traditional irrigation systems active on areas which are made vulnerable or
and croplands desertified by deteriorated where natural vulnerability is accentuated mainly
groundwater aquifers or lowering of water table; through destruction of the protective plant cover.
siltation of rivers, irrigation systems and Soil erosion is highly undesirable because of its
reservoirs; and landslides in hilly areas. detrimental effects. Initially, it may only reduce the
Desertification leads to losses in agricultural productivity but its continued unchecked activity
productivity and enhances poverty. It also causes would result in irreparable loss of the basic land
significant reductions in carbon storage in soils, resource. Apart from the aforesaid and a host of
contributing to global warming and loss of other direct adverse economic consequences, it
biodiversity. affects the quality of life through environmental
degradation, especially in terms of water and air
Various approaches have been tried to combat pollution. While natural geologic processes
the menace of desertification, for example, continue to operate all over Pakistan, extensive
introduction of fast-growing exotic species of areas in the country are prone to ‘accelerated’
trees and grasses for stabilization of shifting sand erosion by water and wind to varying degrees as
dunes and creation of microclimates through shown in the accompanying Soil Erosion map of
shelterbelt plantation and have proved highly the country. Water erosion mainly affects the
successful to control desertification. Sustainable sloping / elevated terrain characterizing the
land management (SLM), soil and water highlands. Marks of various types of water
conservation, afforestation and rehabilitation of erosion ‐ sheet, rill, gully, and landslides etc. are
degraded land, repetitive high resolution satellite amply manifest in the country.
images, delineation and mapping of affected
areas, remote sensing and geographic 12.2 Erosion by Wind
information systems (GIS) are suitable tools for Erosion by wind, on the other hand, is a
combating desertification. Efforts already characteristic feature of areas with dry, loose,
underway to combat desertification need to be bare sands or finer materials subject to strong air
strengthened and integrated through a nationally currents. Vast sandy deserts – Cholistan, Thal,
supported, coordinated and monitored system. Thar and Kharan – constitute major wind erosion
arena. Very arid silty or finer valley floors /
Following are the major factors contributing to the terraces of western Baluchistan are also subject
process of land degradation leading to to erosion by wind.
desertification in Pakistan:
Some 3-5 million hectares are affected by wind
12.1 Soil Erosion erosion in Pakistan. The amount of soil removed
Soil erosion is the wearing-away of land surface by wind constitutes about 28% of the total soil
by detachment and transport of soil / rock loss. High velocity wind storms cause severe
materials through the action of moving water, movement of sand dunes, depositing thick layers
wind, ice or other geological agents. Basically, of sand on roads, railway tracks and croplands,
the process is classified into two categories – ultimately threatening village inhabitants.
‘Geologic’ and ‘Accelerated’. The former operates
under natural conditions and is mainly Table 5: Areas affected by wind
responsible for evolution of natural landscapes.
erosion
The latter is man induced mainly as a result of
Wind Erosion Area (million ha)
disturbance in the natural landscape through Light 3.998
human activities and is generally more rapid Moderate 6.742
compared with the natural processes. While, the Total 10.740
former – geologic – is operative on inherently
28

A recent land use survey of the whole country closed canopy forests, while it is greater in areas
includes the mapping units, "range land, non- with arable crops on steep slopes.
degraded" and "range land, degraded". By
inspection, it appears that over 90%, even According to Global Assessment of Soil
possibly 95%, of range land is considered to be Degradation (GLASOD) estimates, about 11
degraded. million hectares are affected by water erosion.
Sedimentation of canal irrigation system
There had been a massive increase of more than decreases water and land use efficiency. Some
1,806% in “Moderate to Severe Erosion” in 40 million tons of soils are brought into the Indus
Pakistan during a matter of nine years. The basin each year, which shortens the life span of
overall increase in wind erosion has been 174%. major reservoirs and reduces their efficiency. The
This is a very alarming situation and must be upstream riverside infrastructure is destroyed and
treated as one of the priority areas while devising top soil is washed away declining the productivity
a strategy for the next 15 years. of the area. In downstream, the sedimentation
reduces the efficiency of hydropower generation
Table 6: Changes in wind erosion and irrigation systems.
between 1998-2007 (%)
Erosion Type Changes Fig. 21: Land degradation in Pakistan
Slight to Moderate Erosion -50.3
Moderate to Severe Erosion 1,806.5
Severe to Very Severe Erosion 36.8
Overall 173.8

12.3 Erosion by Water

The soils in the Indus basin are undeveloped and
the mountains surrounding the area have some of
the world’s steepest slopes. Intense summer
rainfalls, along with melting snow in high
mountains contribute to soil erosion hazards.
Land use practices, vegetation cover, soil type
Source: GLASOD Estimates
and structures are other major factors related to
soil and water erosion. In the northern
The following table shows the accelerated
mountainous areas with steep slopes, the water
momentum with which water erosion is causing
erosion is low in the areas with permanently
land degradation:

Table 7: Intensity and extent of erosion in Pakistan

Intensity of Water Erosion Area affected (million ha) % increase
1998 2007

Slight to Moderate Erosion 3.979 5.165 130

Moderate to Severe Erosion 3.581 20.003 559

Severe to Very Severe Erosion 3.745 17.677 472

Bank Erosion 0.001 2.282 228,200

Overall 11.306 45.127 399

 29

Here again, it is the “Moderate to Severe Erosion” A saline soil is characterised by the presence of
that has exhibited a more than 5-times increase. excess soluble salts that interfere with the growth
The Overall increase caused by water erosion of most crop plants. The salinity-sodicity map of
was, however, four times – a very alarming Pakistan shows a number of categories based on
situation, indeed. the kind and severity of the problem.

The following table depicts the extent of

salinity/sodicity in Pakistan:

Table 8: Extent of salinity in Pakistan

Nature of Salinity Extent of land affected (%)
Non-Saline 82.2
Slightly Saline 12.2
Severe to Very Severe Saline 1.3
Moderately Saline 0.9
Other Areas 3.4

Most of the soils in Pakistan are non-saline to the

extent of 82% which is a good indicator.

12.4 Soil Salinity and Sodicity

Salt affected soils of Pakistan can be classified at
the highest level into two broad categories –
Geogenic & Pedogenic. Geogenic salinity would
refer to the presence of excessive soluble salts
inherently contained in the parent soil material,
having been derived from either one or both of
the sources of sediments, and the depositing
agent (mainly water). Such ‘congenital’ salinity
characterizes the intermontane floors of western
Balochistan. Pedogenic salinity refers to the
salinization of an originally non‐saline parent
12.5 Water-logging and Salinity
material (sediment) as a result of a peculiar
Canal irrigation in Pakistan while providing water
interaction of the various soil‐forming factors
for irrigation, has also resulted in the twin menace
including human intervention. This kind of
of water-logging and salinity. Since early
salinization is mainly a characteristic of the ‘Indus
twentieth century, efforts have been made to
Plains’ and constitutes both the popularly labelled
tackle the problem. In was only in the fiscal year
‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ types of salinity.
1953-54 that detailed mapping of soil and land
Pedogenic salinity occurs under similar
use of the Indus Plain was carried out under the
environments in other geographic areas too
Colombo Plan. Unlike inundation canals, where
within the country.
water was available during one season, with the
30

introduction of perennial canals water has been There is a clear indication that water-logging has
made available throughout the year. been occurring all along the river systems of
Pakistan.
As a result, water seeps to the subsurface
throughout the year from the unlined canals and 12.6 Poor Management of Surface
irrigated fields. Consequently, accumulation of
and Groundwater resources
water in the subsurface starts and the water table
A massive 90-95% of freshwater resources in
begins to rise. So long as the water table remains
Pakistan are used for agricultural purposes.
at a depth of five meters or more below the
Climatic conditions of dry areas of the country are
surface, there is no problem. When the water
harsh, ranging from hyper-arid to arid, with erratic
table rises to five metres from the surface, the
rainfall of 100-400 mm per annum. The situation
water starts to rise by capillary action. In a major
can be realized by the fact that groundwater in
part of Pakistan, being arid to semi-arid, there is
many parts of Balochistan and Sindh has been
a considerable amount of salt in the soil. The
depleting at rate of about two metres per annum.
rising water dissolves salts and carries them to
As a result, many Karezes and dug wells have
the surface where it evaporates and salts are
dried up. This is mostly due to excessive mining
continuously added to the surface soil. The
of groundwater for flood irrigation practices. In
amount of salt on the surface increases as the
fact, food security in the country depends upon
water table rises. By the time water table reaches
the productivity of 18 million hectares of irrigated
3.3 metres from the surface, salinity adversely
and 4 million hectares of rain-fed agricultural
affects the production and yield of crops.
lands. Pakistan has one of the largest canal
irrigation systems in the world. However, poor on-
A detailed plan was developed to combat the
farm water management practices, traditional use
problem in 1959. The Indus basin was divided
of irrigation water by flooding and water losses
into 28 zones of reclamation. Tube wells and
during carriage in canals is contributing to water
drains were to play a key role in reclamation of
logging and salinity in cultivated areas, which
these various zones. Salinity Control and
results in reduced land productivity.
Reclamation projects are still working to combat
the problem but they are costly. As a result, lining
of canals and on-farm water management is
12.7 Drought and Migration
being pursued to contain the problem. Drought in Pakistan has become a frequent
phenomenon. The drought of 1997–2003 was
considered the worst in 50 years, when it gripped
the lower parts of Pakistan mainly areas in
Balochistan and Sindh. Many areas were badly
affected, impacting some 3 million people and 7.2
million heads of livestock. Hundreds of lives were
lost and thousands of livestock and wild
ungulates perished. Persistent droughts also
severely affected local livelihoods. The drought
resulted into water shortages for humans,
livestock, and agriculture, decreased crop
production, led to crop failures and shortage of
forage and fodder.

During a prolonged drought people often migrate

along with their livestock towards irrigated areas.
This builds further pressure on surrounding
 31

grazing lands. Migration disrupts traditional land floods, droughts, cyclones, heavy rains, extremely
use patterns, results in loss of traditional land use high temperatures, etc.
practices. Impacts of droughts are generally
classified as economic, social, and The bar diagram shows how vulnerable Pakistan
environmental. These impacts often linger on for is to the vagaries of floods that have now
months or years beyond the termination of the become a permanent feature.
drought period and could have serious
consequences for sustainable management of The above figure is intended on three counts:
land resources. (a) to show the top 15 countries with greatest
populations exposed to river flood risk;
12.8 Floods (b) Either the least developed countries or the
Before the summer floods of 2010, the Indus had developing countries are the most vulnerable
turned into a muddy puddle in parts of Sindh. to natural disasters and climate change; and
Britain's Financial Times reported at the time that (c) These countries have 80% of the world
"angry farmers marched through villages in Sindh population that is exposed to river flood risk
demanding access to water. Those who can no worldwide.
longer turn a profit in the fields are increasingly
resorting to banditry or migrating to urban 12.9 Loss of soil fertility
shanties". Soil covers most of the land surface on the earth
in a thin layer, ranging from a few cm to several
Earlier, there was a 2009 report by the Woodrow metres deep. It is composed of rock and mineral
Wilson International Center saying that the particles of many sizes mixed with water, air, and
melting Himalayan glaciers have exacerbated living things, both plant and animal, and their
Pakistan’s water shortages. And the World Bank remains.
warned that Pakistan could face a “terrifying” 30-
40 per cent drop in river flows in a 100-year time. According to revised estimates by GLASOD, soil
fertility in Pakistan is confined only to “light
In its most recent findings by the Global Change fertility decline” over 5.2 million hectares that
Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) - a dedicated comes to 20% of the land area of Pakistan.
research institute for climate change studies in
the country - has concluded that Pakistan is The most serious form of soil degradation is
amongst the top ten countries experiencing caused by accelerated erosion. It is the washing
frequent and intense climate events such as or blowing away of surface soil, sometimes down
to bedrock. While some erosion takes place
without the influence of man, the soil is lost so
slowly that it is usually replaced through natural
processes of decay and regeneration. Soil loss
and creation of new soil usually stays in balance.

Unfortunately, many inappropriate farming and

forestry operations encourage erosion. It
accelerates when sloping land is ploughed and
when grass is removed from semi-arid land to
begin dry land farming. It accelerates when cattle,
sheep and goats are allowed to overgraze and
when hillside forests are felled or cut
indiscriminately. While there are isolated
Source: World Resource Institute instances of deserts being reclaimed by irrigation
32

or of new forests being planted, man, in the 12.11 Livestock Grazing Pressure
majority of instances, degrades the soil when he Free grazing of livestock is extremely destructive
begins agricultural operations. to forest and vegetation cover. In Balochistan,
livestock production primarily depends upon
Soil fertility in Pakistan is continuously depleting rangelands. Sheep and goats obtain about 60%
due to mining of the essential plant nutrients from of their feed from rangelands while in
the soils under intensive cultivation and Balochistan, 90% of the required livestock feed is
imbalanced use of fertilizers. For example, in provided by rangelands. With the increase in
2011-12, the offtake of nitrogen decreased by 0.1 livestock population there is heavy pressure on
per cent while the use of phosphate and potash natural vegetation. During periods of feed
declined by 19 per cent and 31.3 per cent scarcity, thousands of cattle, sheep and goats
respectively compared with 2010-11. On overall depend on fodder plants, which are lopped off
basis, the fertilizer offtake in 2011-12 was 4.1 per the main stem. Unsystematic livestock grazing
cent less as compared to the 2010-11 reduces the productivity of rangelands due to soil
achievements. compaction, de-vegetation of fragile slopes,
destruction of terraces and selective destruction
12.10 Deforestation of growing trees and shrubs. Since the economy
There is only 5.2% area under forests in Pakistan, in desert regions is pastoral, it affects both
which is too low to meet environmental, as well livelihoods of the desert dwellers as well as
as socio-economic needs of the country. Due to influences the fragile environment.
deforestation, forest cover is shrinking by 3.1%
annually and woody biomass, is declining by 5% 12.12 Expansion of High-delta Crops
annually. Naturally dry lands are constrained with water
availability and crop production. Poorly planned
Natural vegetation reduces sedimentation in expansion of high-delta crops especially in dry
water reservoirs and stabilizes sand dunes. lands has depleted the groundwater resources,
Mangrove forests protect the port of Karachi especially in Balochistan. Planting large-scale
against wave action and act as nursery for the apple orchards and vegetables like onion and
existing shrimps. Every major type of forest or potato as well as some fodder varieties are high
protective land cover in Pakistan has suffered on water demand and thus have forced the
heavily in the recent years from indiscriminate farmers to abandon the land due to scarcity of
wood cutting, overgrazing, poor management and irrigation water. Successful crop production in dry
ecological changes brought about by human areas requires varieties that are well adapted to
interference. This has increased desertification these regions. Crops, such as sorghum, sesame,
and aggravated erosion and silting of reservoirs groundnut, and fruit trees like olive, pomegranate
and biological defenses against water logging and pistachio are naturally adapted to dry
and salinity. The ability to resist soil erosion conditions. These crops and fruit trees are low-
caused by monsoon rains is largely dependent on delta and high-yielding, if properly managed.
vegetation and its vigor at ground level. Soil
erosion increases on degraded grazing land with
12.13 Un-Sustainable Harvesting of
sparse vegetation cover, and leads to siltation of
rivers and channels. Soil fertility declines due to
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP)
removal of top soil resulting in low production of Extracting NTFP like Mazri Palm (Nannorrhops
forage, fodder, fuel wood, timber and grains. Soil ritchiana) and some medicinal plants is leading to
erosion in the watershed areas of rivers increases the depletion of populations of many plant
sedimentation load, which reduces the storage species. Unsustainable harvesting of Mazri plants
capacity of dams. along with its roots exposes the soil which
causes erosion leading to land degradation and
 33

poses threats to the very existence of this affected the vegetation cover in these areas. All
important species in dry land ecosystems. these factors have contributed towards the loss
Similarly, Guggal (Commiphora wightii), a slow of biodiversity in various regions of the country.
growing plant, is endangered due to chemical As a result of natural habitat degradation and
extraction of gum (resin). Excessive and illegal hunting, 31 species of mammals, 20
unscientific tapping of its gum is the main cause species of birds and 5 species of reptiles have
of destruction of its habitat and land degradation been listed as endangered species in the country.
in desert regions of Sindh.
12.16 Socio-economic conditions
12.14 Climate Change With a population of over 180 million, Pakistan is
Climate change is causing an increase in extreme ranked 7th most populous country in the world
weather events which results in occurrence of with a growth rate of 2.6 percent per annum. The
frequent droughts and flash floods. Climate implications of such a rapid population
change constitutes an additional pressure to proliferation are grave and multifaceted. It
already threatened dry land systems. Dry land adversely fosters the process of sub-division and
plants have a low adaptive capacity to climate fragmentation of farmlands and adds to the
change and are, therefore, faced with severe fragile and marginal lands by denudation of
impacts. Climate change has negative forests and rangelands. There is massive
consequences for dry land biodiversity and migration from rural to urban areas. It is the
ecosystem functions and services. The climate poorest of the poor who suffer from
change is likely to impact species composition desertification and drought. Unless properly
and may lead to reduction in natural capital of the managed, the already degraded resources will be
country. The most serious climatic challenges for under heavy pressure. Agriculture, forestry,
Pakistan are threats to its water, food, and energy hunting and fishing sectors account for 66% of
security due to drastic shift in weather pattern the rural work force. Over half of the labour force
(both on temporal and spatial scales), increased is engaged in the agriculture sector, which has
incidences of high altitude snow avalanches and been performing below potential due to various
GLOFs (Glacial Lakes Outburst Floods), increased technical, social and structural constraints.
land degradation due to depletion of rangelands,
deterioration of cultivated lands, especially in 12.17 Warming Pakistan
areas affected from water and wind erosion, An article by Fahad Malik, published in DAWN of
water-logging, and salinity etc. Climate change September 21, 2016 explains what is there for us
impacts often lead to reduced productivity of if we remain oblivious to climate change that is
agricultural crops due to increased heat and rapidly surfacing as an issue that eclipses all
water stress. In short, climate change scenario others in terms of its severity and sheer impact.
may aggravate the land degradation and
desertification process in the country. As part of the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change to reduce global warming,
12.15 Loss of Biodiversity Pakistan has resolved to mitigate the effects of
Due to the ever-increasing human and livestock climate change by becoming signatory to Paris
population, there is an enormous pressure on Agreement in April 2016. This represents a
natural vegetation in almost every agro-ecological universal action plan to reduce global warming to
region of the country. Overgrazing of rangelands below 2oC worldwide, and measures to
has extensively decreased its carrying capacity. implement it need to be developed based on
Some areas have also been affected by water region-specific climatic challenges.
logging and salinity damaging the natural flora.
Aridity and prolonged drought in arid lands have
34

Pakistan’s contribution to global greenhouse gas those provide timber and fuel wood on
emissions is relatively minuscule compared to sustainable basis) cover to a paltry 1.9%, not to
India’s and China’s but the toxicity expelled into mention wiping away the essential first line of
the atmosphere disrupts weather patterns of even defense against floodwaters and carbon
those countries located in the vicinity that may emissions. These calamities transform global
not be directly responsible for those emissions. warming from a simple case of malfunctioning
The cross-border spillage, coupled with our weather to an all-encompassing problem that, if
increasing dependency on fossil fuels, alarming left unchecked, can inadvertently influence
rate of deforestation and unmonitored carbon Pakistan’s existing social framework. The chain
emissions have impacted our regional climate to reaction could aggravate social inequalities such
the point that an unprecedented ecological as resource consumption and food security,
disaster is imminent if effective measures are not possibly leading to deadly conflicts and further
taken soon. instability in water-scarce provinces like
Balochistan.
In spite of environmentalists’ concerns since the
early 1990s, it was only after the destruction of Unless the establishment makes exploration of
lives and infrastructure in the 2005 earthquake renewable energy sources a part of its prime
that the government began to recognize that directive, weather-related catastrophes will
climate change may not simply be a surface-level continue to mount. Sporadic afforestation
issue and that shifting water levels may also be initiatives must evolve into a nation-wide
leading to seismic shifts. The 2010 super floods movement that accounts for life, land and
ravaged lands, killing hundreds, and displacing livelihood — else our country runs the risk of
millions. At its height, the sheer scale of the being at Nature’s mercy.
floods could be observed from space, with t he
Indus stretching as far as 30 km apart at certain 12.18 Poverty
points. In the aftermath of such disasters, Poverty in Pakistan fell dramatically between
German Watch ranked Pakistan eighth in 2015 in 2007-08, when it was estimated that only 17.2%
the Global Climate Risk Index of countries most of the total population lived below the poverty
susceptible to climate change. line. The declining trend in poverty as seen in the
country during the 1970s and 1980s was
Pakistan’s known glacial count is 7,253 — the reversed in the 1990s by a variety of reasons. As
highest in the world — with 543 glaciers in Chitral of 2009, Pakistan's Human Development Index
alone. Unfortunately, our glaciers are melting at (HDI) was 0.572, higher than Bangladesh's 0.543
an exponential rate due to soaring temperatures but lower than India's 0.612.
disrupting volumetric flow in several rivers. As
such, the UN has predicted low-latitude glaciers Considering the two Dollars a day of income and
in the Himalayan range to completely vanish by based on the World Bank report “World
year 2035. The colossal melting of ice will cause Development Indicators (WDI) 2015”, over 50% of
our rivers (primary source of 75% of our water Pakistan’s population is living below the poverty
supply) to flood — at first causing an line. According to the World Bank's Poverty Head
overabundance of water, and then receding at an Count Analysis 2014, if income per adult in
ever greater speed with no source left to Pakistan is taken as $ 1.25 per day, then 21.04%
replenish. of the population falls below poverty line
according to 2008 population estimates.
Add to it the vagaries of real estate and timber
industry that have jointly claimed an astonishing Based on 2004-05 estimates, the following table
151,000 acres of forests in the country since its amply exhibits how widespread the menace of
inception thus reducing productive forest (forests poverty is in engulfing the whole of Pakistan.
 35

Poverty in Balochistan is especially pronounced

where it hovers around 53% of the population
meaning that more than half the population in
Balochistan lives below the poverty line. As for
the rural-urban divide, there is not much
difference anywhere in other provinces, except
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where urban poverty (41%)
is far in excess of rural poverty (34%).

Table 9: Incidence of Poverty in

Pakistan
Overall Urban Rural
Pakistan 30 28 31
Punjab 28 27 28
Sindh 27 24 30
KP 35 41 34
Balochistan 53 48 54
36

13 Plans/Rules/Acts prepared/implemented
in the past
Following are the summaries of certain major policy documents prepared in
Pakistan for various sectors:

13.1 Forestry Sector Master Plan (1992)

The Forest Sector Master Plan (FSMP) aimed at doubling forest cover in 25
years. Between 1990- 2005, Pakistan lost 625,000 hectares of forests that
comes to 24.7% of its total forest cover. The per capita forest area in Pakistan
is 0.03 hectare – which is well below the world average. Of the entire forest
stock, only 27.6% is capable to produce commercial timber. Forests in KPK –
known to have better forest cover - constitute about 6.8% of its land area.
Moreover, forest quality is poor with almost half of the crown area having
canopy cover of less than 25%. Interestingly, 75% of dense forests in the
province are located above 2,000m while most of the rest of forests below
this altitude are severely degraded. Finally, vast majority of mature forests are
growing in steep zones while only about 12% of forest stands are situated on
flat to-steep terrain. In terms of accessibility, these are the only ones viable for
intensive or social forest management.

Because of this dismal situation, Forestry Sector Master Plan was conceived
and prepared in 1992 by the Government of Pakistan with financial and
technical assistance from donor agencies. The Master Plan is an overarching
document that provides general vision for forestry sector and identifies
priorities over the plan period to streamline support for the sector in the
future.

Broadly speaking, goals identified in the plan were (a) to protect, manage and
rehabilitate forests; (b) increase fuel wood production in upland watersheds
and lowland farms; (c) improve land use and productivity; and (d) to cater to
rising poverty. The plan, by its very nature, does not deal with specific issues
with the aim of providing solutions to the problems, however, it does provide
for a significant expansion in government capacity to manage forests.

13.2 National Conservation Strategy (1992)

The National Conservation Strategy (NCS), in part a response to the 1992
floods, is aimed to approach the entire set of economic concerns through a
sustainable development framework. The NCS was not limited to forestry
 37

rather in fact, it is considered the landmark were the first upgradation to the 1936 Hazara
document whose recommendations on Forest Act and designed to bring in community
incorporating environmental concerns remain participation in the management of protected and
extremely relevant to government policy making reserved forests through the Joint Forest
even today. Management (JFM) approach.

13.3 Sarhad Provincial Conservation 13.7 The NWFP Forestry Commission

Strategy (1996) Act (1999)
The Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy As part of the reform process in 1999, the NWFP
(SPCS), 1996 was a direct result of consultations Forestry Commission Act was designed to
that followed the National Conservation Strategy. establish an independent commission to oversee
The SPCS is a specific document that, like the the work of the Forest Department as well as to
NCS, sought to bring sustainable development ensure proper implementation of various reforms
into mainstream and provincial policy formulation suggested in the reform process. A Forestry
and implementation. The SPCS provided the Roundtable was also to be established under the
impetus for much of the reform options presented Act in order to ensure stakeholder participation.
concerning the forest sector in the past decade.
13.8 The NWFP Forest Policy (1999)
13.4 Balochistan Conservation The Provincial Forest Policy detailed, in line with
Strategy (2007) the FSMP, various objectives to ensure that the
The Balochistan Conservation Strategy (2007) is revised forestry management system continues to
the counterpart of the SPCS in Balochistan. It be developed. The policy by and large reiterates
highlighted the Province’s priorities for all objectives already laid down in previous policy
conservation through sustainable development, documents.
giving due attention to forests as one of the focus
areas. 13.9 Punjab Forest Policy Statement
(1999)
13.5 Provincial Forest Resource In 1999, the Punjab Forest Policy Statement was
Inventory prepared which outlined the priorities of the forest
In early 1990s, the then NWFP government policy. The stipulations included in the statement
sought to compile real time information on the and its general direction resembled the priorities
state of NWFP forests. The Provincial Forest of the NWFP reform process.
Resource Inventory (PFRI) was conducted
utilizing GIS imagery and data collected from 13.10 Draft National Forest Policy
across the province. The PFRI contradicted all (2001)
earlier survey findings that painted a much rosier A draft National Forest Policy was floated in line
picture about the state of forests. It was the result with the forest reforms spearheaded by initiatives
of the PFRI that really signaled to the urgency of in NWFP. The Policy outlines the broad set of
implementing a reform process, lest all forests be objectives casting the net wider than simply
lost over the short to medium term. forest preservation. It highlights poverty
alleviation as a major objective and details an
13.6 Hazara Community Participation action plan for sustainable management of all
Rules (1996) types of forests. It is an open-ended document,
The Hazara Community Participation Rules were which needs further channeling to be readily
enacted for protected forests in 1996 and implementable. A final national forest policy has
extended to reserved forests in 1997. These rules still not been promulgated.
38

13.11 NWFP Forest Ordinance (2002) through operational strategies embodied in the
The entire set of policy documents and initiatives Three-Year Development Programme, which will
under the NWFP reform process needed a legal roll over every year.
basis for effective implementation. For this
purpose, the NWFP Forest Ordinance, 2002 was Key objectives of the Perspective Plan are:
promulgated. The Ordinance replaced the Forest (a) Accelerating GDP growth, reduce
Act 1927 and the Hazara Forest Act 1936. In unemployment and alleviate poverty;
2003-04 detailed Forest Management Rules were (b) Financing growth, increasingly by Pakistan’s
established under the Ordinance that provided for own resources;
a specific regulatory framework to implement the (c) Government to improve its income-
reform process. expenditure configuration to contain domestic
borrowing;
(d) Private Sector to transform a larger
13.12 Biodiversity Action Plan (1999)
proportion of its saving into foreign exchange
The Biodiversity Action Plan sets out a strategy
through exports;
for action under 13 main components which
(e) Improvement in competitiveness by
correspond to the Articles of UN Convention on
promoting productivity, efficiency, and quality;
Biodiversity: (2) planning and policies; (2)
(f) Build human capital base for long-term, self-
legislation; (3) identification and monitoring; (4) in-
reliant growth; and
situ conservation; (5) ex-situ conservation; (6)
(g) Institutionalize social capital conducive to
sustainable use; (7) incentive measures; (8)
sustainable development
research and training; (9) public education and
awareness; (10) environmental impact
assessment; (11) access issues; (12) exchange of 13.14 Sindh Sustainable Development
information; and (13) financial resources. Strategy (2007)
After the development of the World Conservation
For each component, issues relevant to Pakistan Strategy, each country was expected to develop
were identified and a list of objectives and its own National Conservation Strategy (NCS).
corresponding actions were recommended to Pakistan was among the first few countries to
deal with the identified issues. Slowing the rate of start this process. One of the main
biodiversity loss in Pakistan will require policy and recommendations of the NCS was for each
institutional reform as well as institutional province to develop a Provincial Conservation
strengthening to better understand the elements Strategy. This was done by the NWFP (now KPK)
of biodiversity and the most effective means for and Balochistan, followed by Northern Areas
ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of (now G-B).
these elements. Active participation and support
of local communities will be essential for in-situ While Sindh is rich in natural resources, it is also
conservation. The Plan calls for greater subject to a host of environmental and
collaboration between government agencies, developmental issues. There is a severe water
local communities and NGOs to work together as shortage in the province, especially in the arid
partners in biodiversity conservation. and desert areas. Land is also afflicted by
desertification, waterlogging, and salinity. Forests
13.13 Ten-year National Perspective occupy only 2.5 percent of the total land area of
Sindh while tree coverage has been rapidly
Plan 2001-2011
decreasing due to overgrazing and felling.
The plan visualizes long-term macroeconomic
Moreover, there has recently been extensive
and sectoral growth strategies. As effective
intrusion of the sea into the Indus Delta, which
implementation is the key, a steady movement
has destroyed a large portion of agricultural land
towards 2010-11 will be vigorously pursued
 39

and has impacted the livelihoods of the local % of land cover as forests. This is a serious
people adversely. Owing to these factors and threat given the unabated rise in population and
other issues such as poor economic and social associated wood demands, encroachments over
development, the province has a high incidence forest area have all led to adverse impacts on
of poverty and rural-urban migration. Recurrent climate. A number of policies mentioned earlier
droughts further compound the problems. have been developed by the federal and
Therefore, it was felt necessary that a sustainable provincial governments, but there has been no
development and good governance initiative be formal national level forest monitoring system in
undertaken in the Province. Pakistan to monitor forest resources and their
sustainable management. Pakistan also lacks a
In light of the issues in Sindh, IUCN Pakistan well-defined institutional arrangement, with
provided technical assistance to the Planning and associated roles and responsibilities and a
Development Department (P&DD), Government of mechanism for reporting to international
Sindh to develop the Sindh Strategy for conventions.
Sustainable Development (SSSD). This document
serves as a planning framework for sustainable 13.17 Pakistan River Act, 2016 (Draft)
development in the Province. An initial draft of the proposed River Act has been
submitted to the Water and Power Ministry in an
13.15 National Climate Change Policy effort to lay down proper flood protection and
(2012) management measures necessary to make
The National Climate Change Policy provides a provisions for proper management of rivers and
framework for addressing the issues that Pakistan their tributaries and other related matters.
faces or will face in future due to the changing
climate. In view of Pakistan’s high vulnerability to The proposed legislation envisages active flood
the adverse impacts of climate change, in control measures through preventive and
particular extreme events, adaptation effort is the mitigation parts by proper management of
focus of this policy document. The vulnerabilities commercial, recreational and development
of various sectors to climate change have been activities around the rivers. Experts say that this
highlighted and appropriate adaptation measures approach is a step forward, as it could help the
spelled out. These cover policy measures to country ward off the threat of flooding.
address issues in various sectors such as water,
agriculture, forestry, coastal areas, biodiversity 13.18 National Forest Policy, 2015
and other vulnerable ecosystems. (Draft)
Notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan’s Although the National Climate Change Policy
contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) (2012) contains a number of forestry-related
emissions is very small, its role as a responsible mitigation and adaptation measures, however,
member of the global community in combating forestry is much more than a sink of carbon
climate change has been highlighted in it by emission and source of sequestration. Therefore,
giving due importance to mitigation efforts in it is imperative for the Government of Pakistan to
sectors such as energy, forestry, agriculture and promulgate an umbrella Forest Policy that
livestock. reinforces provincial forest policies. This Policy
does not seek to intervene in provincial domains
13.16 Action Plan for the but is designed to be supportive to the provincial
Implementation of National Forest forest policies and programmes. Most of the
guidelines and measures contained in this Policy
Monitoring System (NFMS), 2015
shall be applicable to the Federal government
Forest resources of Pakistan are depleting at an
within its constitutional mandate. Before 18th
alarming rate of 2.1% per annum with only 5.01
40

amendment in the Constitution (2010), the 13.20 The Draft National Food Security
Federal government had been supplementing
and Agriculture Policy 2013
provinces and territories in the form of technical
The Policy aims to create a modern, efficient and
and financial support in Forestry sector without a
diversified agricultural sector that can ensure a
national forest policy. This Policy shall provide a
stable and adequate supply of basic food
legal basis for the Federal government to arrange
supplies for the country’s population; provide
and extend support to all provinces and territories
high quality products to its industries and for
towards achieving their respective targets and
export; ensure attractive incomes and decent
meeting international obligations by filling in their
employment for those who live and work in rural
capacity and financial gaps.
areas; use the resource base in an efficient and
sustainable manner; flexibly adapt to climate
13.19 National Commission on change and be resilient enough to quickly recover
Agriculture (NCA) 1988 from shocks and emergencies; and ensure that all
The National Commission on Agriculture was sections of the population have stable access to
appointed by Prime Minister Muhammad Khan adequate, nutritious and safe foods necessary for
Junejo in 1986 under the chairmanship of Sartaj a healthy life. It also aims to achieve value added
Aziz, Minister of Agriculture. The tradition of growth in the agriculture sector for both domestic
appointing commissions to make and export markets and achieve food security
recommendations to the governments on and to raise overall rates of economic growth for
agricultural policy goes back more than a century the benefit of all sections of the society. The
to the time of the British rule in India. The NCA agricultural sector needs to grow at 5 percent for
presented its report to the government in March reducing poverty and reaching the growth targets
1988. Its reach and recommendations were of 7-8 percent for the national economy of
comprehensive in that they argued for the radical Pakistan. It also sets out a vision and goal for
transformation of agricultural sector. It was of the agriculture and food security with a set of policy
view that the way the sector was organized it directions.
would not be able to realize its full economic
potential. That potential was large but could only 13.21 Climate-smart Agriculture
be achieved if the government was prepared to Pakistan needs to adapt to the new, more
undertake some major changes in the way land variable weather patterns that are emerging. This
was owned, water supplied, inputs marketed, will require a series of actions ranging from
surpluses sold, and taxes collected. The adjustments in infrastructure; improve water
commission's report was made public only a few harvesting infrastructure; better flood
months before the government of Muhammad management protocols and procedures; and
Khan Junejo was dismissed by President Zia ul- cropping and farming systems that can adapt to
Haq. In the political uncertainty in which Pakistan different weather conditions. At the same time
functioned in the 1990s, no government had the there is a need for improved coordination and
time or the inclination to think through the synergies between various institutions including
recommendations made by the Commission. It Ministry of National Food Security and Research
was only under the government headed by (MNFSR), and national, provincial and district
General Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan began to disaster management authorities, in order to
seriously address the question of structural ensure that existing legislation and regulations,
reform of the agricultural sector. such as those relating to encroachment into flood
plains are adhered to.
 41

13.22 Livestock Policy

The thrust of new Livestock Policy is to reduce
poverty and develop rural areas with special
emphasis on a substantial increase in bank
lending for the livestock sector. For this purpose,
the government will enhance banks’ credit limit to
up to Rs.5 million. Banks lending exclusively for
the development of livestock in the rural areas will
create thousands of jobs in villages.

According to the draft policy, Pakistan’s

population is expected to reach 217 million by
2020 and this combined with higher household
incomes will generate a significant increase in the
annual demand for meat products by more than
50%.

Livestock contributes nearly 9.4% to the national

GDP, and account for close to 39% of the total
agricultural output.
42

14 Implementation of previous policies

and plans
Analyzing the forest policies and plans, it has been found that, most of the
policy initiatives, until recently, had ignored the livelihood provisions for local
communities. However, even the conservation aspect of those policies was
never implemented effectively. People’s participation in management was not
given sufficient attention and social and cultural aspects of management were
ignored. The roots of this approach can be traced back to the colonial era.

14.1 Gaps in capacity

After the implementation of 18th Amendment, the devolved Ministry of
Environment (MoE) remained far below the targeted objectives because of a
number of shortcomings, for example: (a) it could not establish an effective
coordination mechanism for the implementation of NAP; (b) it remained
inconsistent in its implementation strategy; (c) it could not develop
coordination among various concerned institutions and organizations; (d) it
could not develop and implement any project or programme ; (e) it adopted
an ad-hoc approach; and (f) it did not appoint a National Focal Person to
coordinate the implementation of the provisions of NAP.

The National Action Plan for combating desertification helped in identifying

gaps in capacity for the planning of sectoral projects. Some of the gaps in
capacity to integrate desertification in planning for various sectors are listed
as under:
l Lack of appropriate planning process for preparation of project
documents e.g. project identification, formulation, and appraisal
l Insufficient participation of experts, especially in multi-dimensional and
integrated projects
l Hardly any resources are made available to constitute Missions for the
identification, formulation and appraisal phases of project planning
l Insufficient participation of beneficiaries in the planning process because
the experts involved in project planning have a strong assumption that
they are the best judges of project interventions
l PC-I has to be followed strictly and process of modification is extremely
difficult. The rigid approach is one of the major limitations for effective
implementation of developmental projects
l Re-planning, fixing and re-fixing of targets based on the real-life situation
is a difficult task within the rigid framework of the PC-Is
l The delay in project funding and inappropriate costing results in delays in
completion of projects
 43

l Project durations exceeded the planned l Serious gaps existed in capacity for
duration and completion was normally at participatory appraisals, planning and
higher costs formulation of projects with concerns related to
l Experts normally involved in preparation of environment, desertification and global warming
project documents are those who are not
directly involved in conducting appraisals 14.2 Analysis of National Action
with the stakeholders; they do not have the
Programme
capacity to conduct participatory appraisals
This process should have involved detailed
and planning to identify problems and
analyses from technical, environmental, policy,
documentation of options for development of
institutional, and financial perspectives. Overall
solutions
implementation of NAP has been weak and as a

Table 7: Intensity and extent of erosion in Pakistan

Project Implementing Agency Budget Duration
(million US$)

Environmental Rehabilitation in NWFP and NWFP Forest Department and 20.0 1997-2002
Punjab Punjab Forest Department
Barani Village Development Project Agency for Barani Area 25.1 1999-2007
Development, Govt. of Punjab
NWFP Barani Area Development Project Government of NWFP 98.7 2003-2009
Southern Federally Administered Tribal Areas Government of NWFP 21.8 2002-2009
Development Project
Dera Ghazi Khan Rural Development Project Government of Punjab; NRSP 40.0 1999-2006

Increasing rangelands productivity through Sindh Forest Department 6.0 2003-2008

rangeland improvement and mitigate poverty
Combating desertification in Riverine Forests Sindh Forest Department 2.0 2005-2008
of Sindh
Revamping rangelands with participation of Cholistan Range Management 2005-2008
stakeholders Division, Punjab
Control of hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan Soil Conservation Directorate, 1.4 2004-2006
Govt. of Pakistan
Establishment of water recharge system Soil Conservation Directorate, 0.3 2003-2006
through construction of mini dams in Soon Govt. of Pakistan
Sakesar and Mohar area of district Khushab
Pastoral Livelihood Support Program by SCOPE 0.03 2000-2006
SCOPE
Creating Asset for rural women SCOPE 0.05 2000-2006
Water Harvesting Program in Sindh, Kohistan SCOPE 0.065 2000-2006
Sustainable Land Management Project to Ministry of Environment, 17.0 -
combat desertification in Pakistan Govt. of Pakistan
Mitigation of Drought Disasters in Cholistan PCRWR, GoP 2.5 -
desert by management of water resources
Mitigation of desertification for poverty PCRWR, GoP - -
alleviation (MDPA)
Rehabilitation of saline and water-logged areas IWASRI, GoP - -
44

consequence, its objectives through half-hearted in the implementation of NAP in accordance with
implementation could not be achieved as provisions of NCCD and of course, the fastly
envisaged. Major factors responsible for the changing ground realities.
ineffective implementation of NAP included:
l Non-establishment of National Desertification Implementation of NAP required inter-agency
Control Unit (NDCU) at federal and provincial cooperation for joint programming, planning and
levels. Resultantly, there was very weak in some cases required joint implementation and
coordination among the various organizations day-to-day operational coordination to achieve its
involved in executing the NAP-related activities. objectives. For example, range improvement,
l Absence or weak capacity of federal and development and management cannot be carried
provincial focal organizations to coordinate out without joint programming by Forest,
the planning, formulation and Livestock, Agriculture and Soil Survey
implementation of projects addressing departments, involvement of herders and CBOs.
NAP-related activities. Hence, a strong coordination between the
l Though thrice reconstituted, yet the NCCD departments/ agencies to implement joint NAP-
has remained non-functional to this day, in related programmes were required. In addition,
overseeing, guiding and reviewing the NAP capacity building and review of the mandates of
implementation. the relevant organizations was considered
l Weak departmental capacity to develop and necessary to focus on the conservation and
implement projects related to desertification sustainable use of natural resources in general
and land degradation. and implementation of NAP in particular. Although
l Absence of collaboration among various line these institutions undertook various projects
agencies and other orgainzations complimenting NAP objectives over the past, all
l Lack of adoption of any procedure to perfom these efforts were in isolation and no
periodic assessment of resources collaborative arrangement had ever been
l Lack of use of latest assessment tools, for adopted. Major reason for lack of such
example GIS-based maps coordination relates to the fact that “National
l Non-inclusion of SLM, at least as an elective Desertification Control Unit” could not be
subject, at higher secondary school level established thus far. Similarly, such units were
l Non-availability of land use policy and plans also not established at the provincial level.
at national and provincial levels
14.2.1 Gaps in capacity
However, during the last decade, a number of Some of the significant areas that lacked
projects related to desertification and land substance include:
degradation under the federal and provincial l Absence of enabling policy, legislative and
PSDPs and ADPs have been implemented. These institutional conditions
are summarized in the table-10: l Lack of involvement of key
stakeholders/decision makers in the process
Institutional, technical and financial capacity to l Lack of rural poor participation in sustainable
implement NAP was weak as indicated in the natural resource management
foregoing paragraphs. At the time when NAP was l Lack of strong political will and weak
developed through a wider consultative process, implementation mechanisms
some gaps in the capacity to integrate l Lack action plan as NAPs did not detail cost
desertification control and implementation with of investment
planning process for various sectors were l Insufficient funds for implementation, even
highlighted. Later during 2009, the then Ministry from Global Mechanism
of Environment undertook the National Capacity l Lack of integration of NAP in to national
Self Assessment (NCSA) exercise to review gaps development plans
 45

l Weak institutional capacity, especially in l Absence of data repository and lack of

terms of focal points /coordinating units drought forecasting
l Inadequate inter-ministerial coordination l Poor dissemination and sharing of NAP
l Lack of awareness and access to relevant document and other relevant information
information among relevant organizations
l Limited use of science and technology in l Limited knowledge of decision makers /
formulating the NAP policy makers about DLDD
l Inadequate basic data for planning and l Poor capacity of national focal point for
assessment coordination with UNCCD secretariat and
l Absence or weak monitoring and evaluation among provinces for NAP implementation
process l Absence of regular review and monitoring
process
14.2.2 Gaps in policy l No / poor marketing of products at
l Absence of land use policy both at the community level
federal and provincial levels supported by l Lack of innovative technologies with
appropriate legislation traditional knowledge utilization
l Absence of sectoral initiatives aiming at l Absence of a National Desertification Atlas
mitigation and adaptation to changing climate
scenarios 14.2.4 Institutional gaps
l Little awareness of DLDD issues among l Non-existence of national and provincial
planners and policy makers desertification control units to coordinate the
l Weak capacity of law enforcing and policy implementation of NAP
implementing agencies l Thinning out of responsibility for program
l Weak coordination among provincial line implementation across many organizations
departments and federal agencies over large and diverse geographical areas
l Divided jurisdiction of natural resource l Lack of coordination and overlapping of the
management which results in disputes mandates in public institutions
l Out-dated forest laws l Severe capacity limitations of government
l Low participation of stakeholders at agencies resulting in dis-integrated policy and
grassroots level in the policy and planning planning decisions, without proper
process communication or knowledge of inter-
l Undefined rights of local communities for NR relations between proposed sectoral policies
use and conservation l Little understanding among various agencies
l Undefined land tenure rights of communities about consequences of above-stated
l Lack of political commitment to implement weakness on land degradation and
policy reforms Inconsistent participation of subsequent effects on economic
national focal point in Conference on Parties development and ecosystem integrity
(COPs) of UNCCD l Insufficient quantitative data on current land
use in arid and semi-arid regions and other
14.2.3 Technical Gaps related disciplines
l Insufficient trained manpower in the l Absence of institutional review system
disciplines related to DLDD and SLM l Isolated approach of project implementation
l Lack of awareness at community level about among various institutions
SL technologies l Loss of institutional memory due to rapid
l Absence of land use policy and conversion of posting and transfers of concerned officials
natural lands to other uses l No independent agency / authority to
l Poor know-how of alternate energy sources execute NAP at federal and provincial levels
to minimize use of fuel wood
46

l Absence of educational discipline focused on l Non-establishment of National Desertification

DLDD / SLM Fund
l Lack of an independent Land Use l Curtailing allocated budget during the
Development Authority with the mandate for implementation stage due to shift in priorities
policy formulation, resource mobilization and l Complicated and cumbersome financial
coordination procedures
l Poor linkages between R&D Institutions and l Poor monitoring of funds utilization
field based organizations l Political instability and inconsistency among
policies and priorities
14.2.5 Financial gaps l No focus / legislation to promote PPP on
l No mention of domestic/local financing Public-Private Partnership and Corporate
mechanism in NAP Social Responsibility
l Poor capacity of DLDD related institutions for l Less focus on Innovative Financial Resource
exploring funds from both local and Mobilization
international sources such as Global l Absence of community contribution / local
Mechanism community managed funds
 47

15 National Action Programme - 2002 and

its Implementation
15.1 International Protocols
Pakistan has committed towards conservation of environment and natural
resources by signing and ratifying a number of international environment
agreements and protocols. It is party to conventions on biodiversity; climate
change; desertification; endangered species; hazardous wastes; wetlands;
etc. At the country's level, many laws and legislations pertinent to the
environment have been formulated and approved by the Federal and
provincial governments.

15.2 Financial Framework

Federal and provincial governments approved and implemented various
projects costing Rs.28.333 billion which to some extent contributed towards
realizing NAP objectives. However, in the absence of any inter-agency
collaboration, their impact was not appreciable.

Similarly, international NGOs like WWF-Pakistan, IUCN Pakistan, UNDP and

SCOPE undertook some projects in various regions of the country but no
effort was made to assess the impact of their interventions.

And finally, the then Ministry of Environment did not establish National
Desertification Control Unit that could have evaluated impacts of different
activities. This was because emphasis of the government remained focused
on Federal/Provincial Public Sector Development Programmes. Green funds
for environmental support services, fee on exports, conservation fee on
hunters and grazing fees on public lands could not be imposed as envisaged
under NAP.

There is, therefore, a need to develop an integrated financing strategy for NAP
implementation at the Federal and provincial levels in light of the
constitutional modifications made under the 18th Amendment.

15.3 Capacity for implementation

Institutional, technical, and financial capacity to implement NAP aligned with
the provisions of UNCCD and planning of sectoral projects remained weak. At
the time when NAP was developed through a wider consultative process,
some gaps in the capacity to integrate desertification control and NAP
48

implementation with planning process for various 5) Enabling Activity Project Document was
sectors were highlighted. Later during 2009, the prepared and got approved from the GEF-
Ministry of Environment undertook National UNDP for NAP alignment and strengthening
Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) exercise to UNCCD reporting processes.
review gaps in the implementation of NAP in the 6) Project proposal for NAP Alignment and
changing scenario. Strengthening National Reporting Processes,
requesting GEF/UNDP grant of US$148,500
The project cycle management, participatory was prepared and got approved for funding.
approach, coordination and capacity-building 7) Background paper on criteria and indicators
aspects were neglected while the NCSA, 2009 for SLM was prepared and shared with
highlighted the areas of knowledge management, stakeholders in a consultative workshop.
awareness, land use planning, data gathering, 8) Operational guidelines for development of
monitoring & evaluation, human and institutional local SLM funds prepared and contract
capacities. agreements for the establishment of 5 local
level SLM Funds were signed having
15.4 Pilot Phase Achievements community contribution from 8 villages in D.I.
There were 5 distinct outcomes which were to be Khan and Tharparker districts. Provided loans
achieved under the pilot phase. The major to the local community members for SLM
outcome was Outcome 4: on-the-ground interventions and recovered the amount in
interventions to demonstrate SLM practices in 11 installments.
pilot districts of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. A summary of 15.4.2 Capacity building of line agencies
outcome-wise achievements are given below: and other implementing partners for SLM
1) Conducted 10 national workshops, 15
15.4.1 Creating enabling environment for provincial/district workshops and training
mainstreaming SLM into sectoral policies workshops for 2,800 community activists.
and planning 2) Conducted in-country exchange visits for
1) Conducted sectoral reviews of National staff of SLMP, line agencies and CBO
Forest, Water and Agriculture policies in the members in the four provinces.
context of SLM, NAP & UNCCD. The reports 3) National Coordination Committee to combat
of the study on sectoral reviews of these desertification reconstituted & 4 provincial
policies in the context of SLM, NAP & coordination committees to combat
UNCCD, were printed and disseminated desertification established.
among stakeholders. 4) Training Need Assessment completed.
2) NAP review and gap analysis was conducted, 5) Four persons from SLMP Climate Change
report prepared, printed and disseminated Division and P&D Department, Government of
among stakeholders. Balochistan conducted an exchange visit to
3) Detailed UNDP project document and GEF China for one week. SLMP management
CEO endorsement form for the up-scaling participated in different international forums
phase of the SLMP prepared and got and meetings under UNCCD.
approved from the UNDP and GEF 6) Completed implementation of 2 Targeted
Secretariat. Research Projects in collaboration with PMAS
4) To mobilize provincial counterpart funding Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi and
(co-financing), provincial PC-Is for the up- PARC-Arid Zone Research Center, Quetta
scaling phase were prepared and got 7) Completed implementation of one Public-
approved from the respective Provincial Private Partnership project in collaboration
Development Working Parties (PDWPs). with Zimindara Seed Corporation (Private
 49

organization) and Barani Agricultural was printed and disseminated among

Research Institute, Chakwal; and stakeholders.
8) Completed implementation of Flood/Drought 8) Undertook GPS coordinates of on-the-ground
Early Warning System in collaboration with SLM activities implemented under SLMP to
the Pakistan Meteorological Department and map and verify the activities and their
WFP. covered area.
9) Conducting a study on Operational and 9) SLMP website was developed and up-dated.
policy aspects of the Rodh Kohi System in 10) Prepared performance indicators and
collaboration with University of Agriculture, monitored performance of pilot projects
Peshawar. under SLMP.
10) Conducted study on extent of desertification 11) Drafted sustainability/impact indicators for
in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on-the-ground SLM activities implemented
11) Developed advocacy & awareness raising under SLMP and shared with stakeholders in
material and prepared draft Communication a consultative workshop.
Strategy for SLMP.
12) Observes World Day to combat 15.4.4 Activities to demonstrate SLM
desertification each year on 17th June Practice
Implemented 11 pilot projects to demonstrate on-
15.4.3 Mainstreaming SLM Principles into the-ground SLM activities (2 in Punjab, 2 Sindh, 2
land use planning KP and 5 in Balochistan) covering 71 villages. The
1) Prepared draft guidelines for village and cumulative achievements under pilot projects are
national level land use planning for SLM. The given below:
guideline for village land use planning for 1) Dry afforestation/plantation: 1,493 acres
SLM in Urdu language was printed and 2) Rangeland reseeding: 1,900 acres
disseminated among stakeholders. 3) Water harvesting structures/ponds: 215
2) Trained stakeholders and prepared 4) Soil conservation/kana plantation: 405 acres
participatory GIS based village land-use plans 5) Rehabilitation of degraded land: 200 acres
for SLM of 62 project villages in collaboration 6) Low delta crops/dry-land fruit cultivation: 222
with local CBOs, line departments and NGOs. acres
3) Signed a Memorandum of Understanding 7) Shelterbelts/woodlots: 705 acres
(MoU) with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund to 8) Rod plantation/shelterbelts: 60 Avenue km
jointly fund SLM related interventions planned 9) Energy/hill side ditch plantation: 480 acres
under participatory GIS based village land use 10) Strengthening of earthen bunds: 35,500 feet
plans for SLM. PPAF provided financing for 11) Construction of Rod water diversion
three schemes costing Rs.2.16 Million in bunds: 16
villages in Lakki Marwat and Pishin districts. 12) Forest/fruit plant nurseries: 48
4) Trained stakeholders for GPS data collection 13) Micro irrigation system: 36 acres
and participatory ground truthing of satellite 14) Installed improvised irrigation system: 48
data. peter engines with water pumps
5) Geo-database of 63 villages was developed. 15) Excavated groundwater bore holes: 189
Present and future land use change maps for 16) Water distribution system through
SLM were prepared. underground piping and hydrants: 165 acres
6) Procured ASTER satellite data and prepared 17) Farm water inlet and gated structures: 143
baseline database and thematic maps of 14 18) Sowing of perennial grasses: 100 acres
districts. 19) Kandi pruning: 28,000 plants
7) Conducted a study on role of GIS/RS in SLM. 20) Citrus plantation in Mirani Dam area: 4,000
The report of study on role of GIS/RS in SLM plants
50

21) Animals vaccinated: 5,500 bunds; across the slope of the land on a contour
22) Kana leave spreading: 50 acres so that long slope is cut into a series of small
23) Kana chik-making machine: 4 ones and each contour bund act as a barrier to
24) Ban manufacturing and hammering machines the flow of water thus controlling run-off. To drain
to community: 25 excess water and rainstorms during monsoon
25) Kitchen gardening: 100 households season, grassed waterways and outlets were
26) Check dams: 4 provided. The tree plantation was made in the
27) Solar pumps: 5 eye-brow terraces along the contours, whereas
28) Dug wells: 6 the pasture species were planted in the contour-
29) Medicinal plants plantation: 12 acres bunded fields without much land shaping.
30) Bio-sand filters for 100 households Surface run-off decreased to 19% with the
adoption of eyebrow land shaping technique and
15.5 Successes of previous plans planting Leucaena plant with elephant grass.
Performance of Leucaena was at the top with
complementing UNCCD’s objectives
average growth rate of 23 cm/month; Eucalyptus,
Following are some of the prominent successes
Poplar, Mulberry, Guava, Plum, Apricot, Loquat
achieved during the implementation of pilot
and Ailanthus were also planted successfully.
phase of NAP:

Vegetation cover and frequency of desirable

15.5.1 Range Utilization Model in
grass/forests increased due to protection. Under
Pothowar Plateau rain-fed conditions of Pothowar, grass yield can
PARC initiated a research project at Lohi Bher be increased manifold if simply enclosed and
Range to evolve and test a package of grasses are clipped whenever ready for cutting.
technology for the Pothowar Plateau Rangelands. The increase in ground cover will also help to
The Lohi Bher Range covering about 435 ha is overcome the soil erosion problem. Thus, this
located about 20 km south-east of Islamabad. model demonstrated the technology for the
Number of interventions pertaining to range utilization/reclamation of gullied land for livestock,
improvement, vegetation dynamics, forage yield, crop production and afforestation under rain-fed
soil and water harvesting techniques were carried conditions.
out and data recorded. Range utilization model
developed at Lohi Bher Range provides useful
15.5.3 Range improvement through
package for introducing commercial ranching and
community participation
development of private livestock farms in the
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council initiated
Pothowar Plateau.
Operational Range Research Programme (ORP) in
Pothwar to ensure transfer of technology to the
15.5.2 Gully land management through
end users, in this case livestock farmers. It
soil conservation and water harvesting essentially involved application of known
Pothwar plateau is experiencing a serious rangeland interventions on the farmer's field by
problem of poor management and use of the farmers with the technical input from the
available land and water resources. PARC range scientists. Range improvement operations
launched a project entitled ''Management of land such as reseeding, planting of trees and shrubs
and water resources in gully-eroded area in and cultivation of fodder crops was done
Pothwar Plateau 'with the objective to optimize according to land suitability and with the active
land use and control water for making the soil participation of local farmers.
ideal for crops, pastures and trees to protect it
from erosion and other destructive influences. Within two years the forage production increased
five-fold improving the production potential,
Contoured trenches were constructed with small reducing soil erosion and providing better habitat
 51

for local fauna and flora. Forage crops such as 15.5.5 Rehabilitation of desert ranges
Dhaman, cowpeas and sorghum became so through reseeding
popular that about 60-70 percent of the farmers Artificial reseeding is prescribed when natural
in the area grow these fodders now. vegetation cannot recover within a short period
and there are few desirable species. In desert
The farmers have also started producing seed of rangeland, grass is often seeded in strips. In the
the fodder crops. Impressed with the outcome of Thal area, planting tufts of Cenchrus ciliaris and
ORP approach, several livestock farmers in the Lasiurus sindicus on shifting sand dunes
Pothowar tract are seeking technical help for dramatically increased forage yield. These
establishing small scale commercial species have been reseeded successfully over
ranches/livestock farms. thousands of hectares in Thal and Dhabeji
rangelands. Lasiurus sindicus has done well in
15.5.4 Salinity control and reclamation of sandy soils where annual rainfall is as much as
affected areas 350 mm.
In Indus basin region of the country majority of
the slat-affected soils are saline-sodic. Secondary Cenchrus ciliaris can be reseeded on all types of
salinity, which is related to modern irrigation rangelands with sandy, sandy loam, stony and
system in Pakistan, is the result of either (a) deep and red soils. These grasses perform well in
accelerated redistribution of salts in the soil the areas with annual rainfall between 150 and
profile due to high water table or (b) the use of 750 mm. With proper water distribution,
insufficient water to leach salts out of the soil. Dichanthium annulatum was seeded over a large
area in Rakh Miran (Dera.Ismail. Khan). It naturally
To tackle the problem of salinity and water occurs on heavier soils with higher rainfall and
logging, WAPDA undertook a programme of soil performs well in regions where rainfall exceeds
reclamation throughout the country in the early 400 mm per year.
sixties. Data have been collected in respect of
crop acreage, cropping patterns, cropping 15.5.6 Forage Reserve establishment in
intensity, crop yield and fertilizer application in the arid highlands of Balochistan
project area. Cropping intensity increased from Atriplex canescens, commonly known as four-
75% (pre-project) to 121% in 1985 as a whole wing saltbush is an evergreen shrub with dense
and 159% on selected farms. In the Soil foliage having extensive root system and is
Conservation and Rehabilitation Project (SCARP) adapted to wide range of soils and climates.
area, cropping pattern of rice, sugarcane, maize, Four-wing saltbush can successfully be
wheat and fodder increased considerably. Yield of established in highland Balochistan rangelands
major crops like rice, sugarcane, maize and by using proper soil moisture conservation
wheat improved considerably. techniques. The most desirable characteristics of
the plant include its extreme drought and cold
The development of animal husbandry is very tolerance and high quality browse especially
important as it is an integral part of agricultural during autumn and winter months.
development. There was a 67% increase in the
total population of cattle and buffaloes. Milk Four-wing saltbush has the tremendous capability
production increased by 56.8% while meat of re-sprouting after cutting/pruning. After
production increased by 66%. Hence, gross value establishment, stands cut few inches above
of production showed an increase of 116% over ground level during late autumn and winter re-
the base year. This has added to the prosperity sprout more vigorously during next spring season
and health of the people of the project area. with fresh and tender leaves and shoots. It shows
the potential of this plant as a fuel wood resource
52

in areas with a high demand for fuel wood in (PCRWR) with the objective to conduct site-
addition to forage for livestock. specific research in water, land and plant
resources of deserts for making them productive
There is a huge demand of fuel wood in highland and sustainable, and to control desertification for
Balochistan for cooking and heating rooms during developing a stable environment. The activities
winter period. Local shrubs are uprooted and are included; catchment area development for
used as fuel wood, which leads to the rainwater harvesting, establishment of ponds
degradation of rangelands. Four-wing saltbush from harvested rainwater to provide drinking
can be promoted as a sustainable source of fuel water for humans and livestock, conjunctive use
wood and can help reduce uprooting of local of rainwater and saline water, grass land
shrubs from already denuded rangelands. development, mustard cultivation under saline
water irrigation, and land horticulture under
15.5.7 Reclamation of salt-affected areas conjunctive irrigations, range land development,
Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) is widely jojoba cultivation and desertification assessment
distributed in the salt-affected areas of and mapping of Cholistan desert. Main grasses
Pakistan. This grass has been used to reclaim and browseable species successfully grown
large salt-affected areas in the Central Punjab included; Lasiurus sindicus, Panicum antidotale,
and the farmers are now making a good living Wild millet, Cenchrus ciliaris, Acacia nilotica,
by raising buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep. A Ampliceps (Acacia australina), Parkinsonia and
large number of small farmers are now adopting Atriplex.
this practice, thus reducing rural to urban
migration. This grass has the ability to improve 15.5.9 Restoration of land productivity in
the soil up to the extent that some moderately Barani lands
salt tolerant species as Brasica napus, barley Agency for Barani Areas Development (ABAD)
and some tree species have also been grown has been implementing integrated programmes in
successfully. rainfed areas to check land degradation. They
have been successful in restoring land
It was observed that penetration of Kallar grass productivity of agricultural land, biodiversity and
roots in sodic soils enhanced hydraulic vegetation cover in these areas. This is evident
conductivity, microbial activity, organic matter and from the extent of activities such as:
ultimately leaching of salts. Since Kallar grass has
a quite high lignin content (up to 25%), ploughing Terracing & leveling (22,444 ha), land reclamation
under the Kallar grass hay raises the stable (6,110 ha), gully plugging (8,786 ha), water
organic matter level of soils. It can be concluded disposal outlets (8,786 ha), fruit trees plantation
that where the soils are saline-sodic or sodic and (264,100 plants), social forestry (27.473m plants)
the supplies of irrigation water are saline, the and public forestry (5027 ha). ABAD has also
growing of Kallar grass can be a viable method initiated a number of activities for the
for the economic utilization of such soil and water construction of small dams, mini dams, dug
resources. At the same time for growing plants on wells, and to check the loss of water resource in
saline-sodic or sodic soils with good quality or Pothwar uplands and to harness the maximum
sweet irrigation water, Kallar grass may be used benefits from the available water resources.
as an ameliorative plant. These activities not only developed the water
resources but also reduced the soil erosion and
15.5.8 Desertification Control in Cholistan increased the vegetative cover that improves the
A project was executed in Cholistan by Pakistan environment and rejuvenates the economic
Council of Research in Water Resources activities.
 53

16 10-year Strategic Plan of the UNCCD

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has been
giving due attention to land degradation especially in dry lands where the
most vulnerable ecosystems exist. Ten years since its inception, the UNCCD
has now been recognized as an instrument that has the potential to make a
lasting contribution to the achievement of sustainable development leading to
poverty reduction. However, it is also recognized that a number of limiting
factors have troubled the effective implementation of the provisions of
UNCCD. Major factors include insufficient financing, weak scientific basis,
insufficient advocacy and awareness, institutional weaknesses and difficulties
in reaching consensus on priorities among the stakeholder.

Since the Rio Conference (1992), policy environment has changed

considerably. Adoption of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 and
outcomes of World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002 has
resulted in increased support to the least-developed countries (LDC), stronger
commitment for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and prospects of
global agricultural trade liberalization.

The following template indicates the UNCCDs yardstick to develop and

measure the composition and priorities that will result as a baseline to
develop a set of objectives, outcomes, inputs, indicators, and the indicative
budget for Pakistan:
54

The Mission
To provide a global framework to support the development and implementation of national and regional
policies, programmes and measures to prevent, control and

16.1 UNCCD 10-Year Strategy (2008 -2018)

The Vision
The aim for the future is to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and
to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental
sustainability.
Strategic Objectives Expected Impacts
1.1 People living in areas affected by desertification/land degradation
and drought to have an improved and more diversified livelihood base
1. To improve the living conditions of affected
and to benefit from income generated from sustainable land
populations management

1.2 Affected populations’ socio-economic and environmental vulnerability

to climate change, climate variability and drought is reduced

Indicators
S1: Decrease in numbers of people negatively impacted by the processes of desertification/land degradation and drought
S2: Increase in the proportion of households living above the poverty line in affected areas
S-3: Reduction in the proportion of the population below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption in affected areas

2.1 Land productivity and other ecosystem goods and services in

affected areas are enhanced in a sustainable manner contributing to
2. To improve the condition of affected ecosystems improved livelihoods

2.2 The vulnerability of affected ecosystems to climate change, climate

variability and drought is reduced

S-4: Reduction in the total area affected by desertification/land degradation and drought
S-5: Increase in net primary productivity in affected areas

3. To generate global benefits through effective 3.1 Sustainable land management and combating desertification/land
implementation of the UNCCD degradation contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and the mitigation of climate change

S-6: Increase in carbon stocks (soil and plant biomass) in affected areas
S-7: Areas of forest, agricultural and aquaculture ecosystems under sustainable management

4.1 Increased financial, technical and technological resources are made

4. To mobilize resources to support implementation available to affected developing country Parties, and where appropriate
of the Convention through building effective Central and Eastern European countries, to implement the Convention
partnerships between national and international
4.2 Enabling policy environments are improved for UNCCD
actors
implementation at all levels

S-8: Increase in the level and diversity of available funding for combating desertification/land degradation and mitigating the
effects of drought
S-9: Development policies and measures address desertification/land degradation and mitigation of the effects of drought
 55

Operational Objectives Outcomes

1.1 Desertification/land degradation and drought issues and the
synergies with climate change adaptation/mitigation and biodiversity
conservation are effectively communicated among key constituencies at
the international, national and local levels

1. Advocacy, Awareness-raising and Education 1.2 Desertification /land degradation and drought issues are addressed in
relevant international forums, including those pertaining to agricultural
To actively influence relevant international, national trade, climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and
and local processes and actors in adequately sustainable use, rural development, sustainable development and
addressing desertification/land degradation and poverty reduction
drought-related issues
1.3 Civil society organizations (CSOs) and the scientific community in the
North and the South are increasingly engaged as stakeholders in the
Convention processes and desertification/land degradation and drought
are addressed in their advocacy, awareness-raising and education
initiatives

2.1 Policy, institutional, financial and socio-economic drivers of

desertification/land degradation and barriers to sustainable land
management are assessed, and appropriate measures to remove these
barriers are recommended

2.2 Affected country Parties revise their national action programmes

(NAPs) into strategic documents supported by biophysical and socio-
economic baseline information and include them in integrated investment
frameworks
2. Policy Framework
2.3 Affected country Parties integrate their NAPs and sustainable land
To support the creation of enabling environments for management and land degradation issues into development planning
promoting solutions to combat desertification/land and relevant sectoral and investment plans and policies
degradation and mitigate the effects of drought
2.4 Developed country Parties mainstream UNCCD objectives and
sustainable land management interventions into their development
cooperation programmes/projects in line with their support to national
sectoral and investment plans

2.5 Mutually reinforcing measures among desertification/land

degradation action programmes and biodiversity and climate change
mitigation and adaptation are introduced or strengthened so as to
enhance the impact of interventions

3.1 National monitoring and vulnerability assessment on biophysical and

socio-economic trends in affected countries are supported

3.2 A baseline based on the most robust data available on biophysical

and socio-economic trends is developed and relevant scientific
approaches are gradually harmonized

3.3 Knowledge on biophysical and socio-economic factors and on their

interactions in affected areas is improved to enable better decision-
3. Science, Technology and Knowledge making

To become a global authority on scientific and 3.4 Knowledge of the interactions between climate change adaptation,
technical knowledge pertaining to drought mitigation and restoration of degraded land in affected areas is
desertification/land degradation and mitigation of the improved to develop tools to assist decision-making
effects of drought
3.5 Effective knowledge-sharing systems, including traditional
knowledge,5 are in place at the global, regional, sub regional and
national levels to support policymakers and end users, including through
the identification and sharing of best practices and success stories

3.6 Science and technology networks and institutions relevant to

desertification/land degradation and drought are engaged to support
UNCCD implementation
56

Operational Objectives Outcomes

4.1 Countries which have carried out the national capacity self-
assessment (NCSA) implement the resulting action plans to develop the
necessary capacity at the individual, institutional and systemic levels6 to
4. Capacity-building tackle desertification/land degradation and drought issues at the national
To identify and address capacity-building needs to and local levels
prevent and reverse desertification/land degradation 4.2 Those countries which have not previously undertaken capacity
and mitigate the effects of drought needs assessments engage in relevant assessments processes to
identify capacity needs for tackling desertification/land degradation and
drought at the national and local levels

5.1 Affected country Parties develop integrated investment frameworks

for leveraging national, bilateral and multilateral resources with a view to
increasing the effectiveness and impact of interventions

5.2 Developed country Parties provide substantial, adequate, timely and

predictable financial resources to support domestic initiatives to reverse
and prevent desertification/land degradation and mitigate the effects of
5. Financing and Technology Transfer drought
To mobilize and improve the targeting and 5.3 Parties increase their efforts to mobilize financial resources from
coordination of national, bilateral and multilateral international financial institutions, facilities and funds, including the GEF,
financial and technological resources in order to by promoting the UNCCD/Sustainable land management (SLM) agenda
increase their impact and effectiveness. within the governing bodies of these institutions

5.4 0Innovative sources of finance and financing mechanisms are

identified to combat desertification/land degradation and mitigate the
effects of drought, including from the private sector, market-based
mechanisms, trade, foundations and CSOs, and other financing
mechanisms for climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity
conservation and sustainable use and for hunger and poverty reduction

5.5 1Access to technology by affected country Parties is facilitated

through adequate financing, effective economic and policy incentives
and technical support, notably within the framework of South-South and
North-South cooperation
 57

17 Sustainable Development Goals

Also known as the Global Goals, the idea of Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) was conceived in September 2015, as a successor to the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). One of the goals aims to combat desertification,
restore degraded land and soil including land affected by desertification,
drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by
2030. It has, therefore, become a strong vehicle for driving UNCCD
implementation, while at the same time contributing to other SDGs, including
those relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity
conservation, ecosystem restoration, food and water security, disaster risk
reduction, and poverty.

Pakistan has accorded the highest priority to achieving these goals that will
enable it to join the league of upper middle class countries by 2030. The
government’s Vision 2025, which is premised on seven pillars – (i) developing
human and social capital; (ii) achieving sustained, indigenous and inclusive
growth; (iii) governance, institutional reform & modernization of the public
sector; (iv) energy, water & food security; (v) private sector led growth and
entrepreneurship; (vi) developing a competitive knowledge economy through
value addition; and (vii) modernization of transportation infrastructure &
greater regional connectivity - has identified the kind of enabling environment
that is essential to flourish economically, socially, politically, and culturally.
When fully achieved, this would result in sustainable consumption and
production leading to efficient use of natural resources to reduce
vulnerabilities to climate change and achieve food, water, and energy security.
This approach will thus minimize pressure on natural resources and help in
achieving sustainable development.

The agenda of SDGs, thus, complements Pakistan's "Vision 2025" that

reflects its developmental needs and priorities and provides a policy
framework for the integration of new goals in its national economic and
development planning.

The Global Mechanism, in close collaboration with the UNCCD Secretariat,

will support interested countries in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality
(LDN) target setting process, including the definition of national baselines, and
measures and targets to achieve LDN by 2030.
58

18 Land Degradation Neutrality

Simply put, land degradation is the reduction or loss in the biological and
economic productive capacity of land. Land degradation is mostly caused by
human activities (by default or by design) and worsened by natural processes.
Currently, the cost of land degradation touches US$490 billion per year which,
in fact, is much higher than the cost of action to prevent it. About 40% of the
world’s degraded land occurs in areas with the highest incidence of poverty
and directly impacts the health and livelihoods of an estimated 1.5 billion
people. There are, however, clear economic and environmental actions that
can prevent and reverse land degradation. For example, the adoption of SLM
could deliver up to US$1.4 trillion in increased crop production.

In 2008, the Commission on Sustainable Development emphasized that a link

exists between climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. Still,
many countries are facing great challenges in harnessing their land resources
for sustainable and equitable development. For this purpose, a concerted
global effort to halt and reverse land degradation, restore degraded
ecosystems and sustainably manage land resources is essential. Land
rehabilitation and ecosystem restoration can also help recover productive
capacity and other important services affected by mismanagement. A target
to achieve land degradation neutrality would help mobilize resources and fulfill
our commitment to more responsibly manage land resources.

To address the multiple Sustainable Development Goals in a synergistic and

cost effective manner, countries can now formulate voluntary targets to
achieve LDN, according to their specific national context and development
priorities. These targets will also support the implementation of the countries’
National Action Programmes.

Under the LDN Target Setting Programme, all participating country Parties will:
l receive technical guidance on how to effectively assess and define
national baselines related to the indicator frameworks of the SDGs and
the UNCCD, and how to establish relevant measures and targets to
achieve LDN by 2030;
l have access to cutting-edge technical expertise on demand via an online
LDN target setting help desk; and
l have the opportunity to participate in international capacity-building and
knowledge exchange events
 59

Affected country Parties will also receive direct assistance in financial opportunities to link its
technical and financial support for their national targets with national priorities.
LDN target- setting processes, including:
l specialized expertise; 18.1 Monitoring of LDN
l access to the best available data; There is a pressing need to give policymakers
l support for conducting a multi-stakeholder simple messages based around a few indicators,
consultation process, mainstreaming LDN for example:
into national SDG agendas; and l Capitalize work done on the UNCCD
l assistance in identifying LDN investment progress indicators
opportunities, in order to link LDN target l Flexible and tiered approach
setting with implementation l Trends in land cover/land uses changes
l Trends in land productivity
LDN, thus, provides ample opportunities to l Trends in soil organic carbon stocks
Pakistan for having access to specialized l Socio-economic conditions
expertise, best available data for process l National local relevant indicators
formulation, consultation processes, and
60

19 Institutional mechanism for NAP

implementation
Unlike other multilateral environmental agreements that have finite number of
stakeholders, UNCCD seeks to involve a wide spectrum of stakeholders from
international, national and grass-root levels. Moreover, the sectoral canvas of
UNCCD is extremely broad involving all institutions concerned with land
management and reclamation, soil conservation, water resource use, forestry,
agriculture, range and livestock, and drought management. Besides, social
and financial sector institutions, both governmental and non-governmental,
operating in deserts and dry land areas are also regarded as key facilitators in
sustainable land management and in the control of desertification. Federal
Ministries, provincial departments, local governments, community
organizations, non-government organizations, R&D institutions, and academia
are all players in the implementation of UNCCD in Pakistan.

Before the initiation of NAP, all of these institutions at national, provincial,

district, local and grass-root levels, had already been providing services
towards increasing productivity of lands and halting the process of land
degradation. However, all of their efforts were implemented as “stand alone”-
in isolation of one other. From 2002 onwards, a new trend evolved -
consultations between different stakeholders and joint initiatives on
combating desertification. Within a few years, these institutions started
frequently interacting, fast assuming the form of a national network on
UNCCD. Implementation of NAP requires inter-agency cooperation for joint
programming, planning and in some cases, require joint implementation and
day-to-day operational coordination to achieve its objectives. For example,
range improvement, development, and management cannot be carried out
without joint programming by Forest, Livestock, Agriculture and Soil
Conservation departments besides the active involvement of herders and
community-based organizations (CBOs). Hence, a strong coordination
between the departments /agencies to implement joint NAP-related
programmes is required.

Although these institutions have undertaken various projects complimenting

the NAP objectives in the past, all these efforts were in isolation and no
collaborative arrangement had ever been adopted. Major reason for lack of
coordination was because of the fact that “National Desertification Control
Cell” could not be established at the Federal and the provincial levels.
 61

19.1 The Bottom-up Approach through their CBOs/WOs, economic and social
When local actors participate in decision-making interest groups (NGOs), local government
about the strategy and in picking up of priorities representatives, etc. It may, however, be ensured
to be pursued, it leads to bottom-up approach. that capacity-building is made an essential
Based on past experiences, however, it has been component of the bottom-up approach, involving:
concluded that the bottom-up approach may not l awareness raising, training, participation, and
be considered as alternative or opposed to top- mobilization of the local population to identify
down approach, but rather be used to the strengths and weakness of the area
complement it, in order to achieve better overall concerned;
results. l participation of different interest groups in
drawing up a local development strategy; and
Policies and approaches based on bottom-up l establishment of criteria for selection of
approach should be designed and implemented appropriate actions (projects) to deliver in
in the way best adapted to the needs of the accordance with the strategized priorities
communities targeted to be served. The best way
to do so would be to invite local stakeholders to Any interventions to be initiated in the rural areas
take the lead and participate in development at under NAP should henceforth follow the bottom-
local level. This becomes all the more important up approach, subject to local adjustments but
where there are structural problems in agriculture, without harming its basic philosophy and
forestry, environment, livestock management and purpose.
many more facets of local conditions to improve
the quality of rural life. The following Conceptual Framework has been
developed to clarify how the bottom-up approach
The involvement of local actors includes, among in regard to NAP should function:
others, the local population at large preferably
62

Fig. 26: The Bottom-up Approach for NAP Implementation

 63

19.2 Schematics for NAP To ensure sustainability of NAP, a National

Desertification Control Cell (NDCC) shall be
implementation
established in the MoCC to coordinate the
The United Nations Committee to Combat
implementation of NAP, to provide policy
Desertification (UNCCD) shall act as a fulcrum to
guidance and strategic direction to enhance
maintain equilibrium between the imperatives of
coordination and harmonization among various
its 10-Year Strategy to combat desertification and
ministries and departments, besides INGOs,
the requirements of Pakistan, through the Ministry
regarding the control and prevention of further
of Climate Change (MoCC), in line with its
desertification.
national priorities. The MoCC in turn, shall be
Then, there is the Sustainable Land Management
represented by its Focal Point. Besides
Programme (SLMP) that acts as a coordinating
coordinating between the two entities – UNCCD
body and bridging entity and provides technical
and MoCC – regarding matters pertaining to the
and financial support to NCCD and its various
control of desertification, the Focal Point shall
sub-committees in convening meetings till the
also ensure the timely submission of periodical
time the NCCD gets fully established besides the
National Reports to the UNCCD.
establishment of a fully functional National
Desertification Control Cell (NDCC).
The National Coordination Committee for
Desertification (NCCD) representing the MoCC
The Technical and Monitoring Sub-Committee of
shall be established to provide policy support to
the NCCD shall have the twin responsibility of
sustainable land management besides identifying
combatting desertification and reducing poverty
factors contributing to desertification and to
besides providing technical support during
devise strategies to counter the adverse effects
projects’ formulation. The Sub-Committee shall
of desertification. It shall also liaise with provincial
also provide support in hiring of specialist and
coordination committees established to combat
admin staff and see to it that the projects are
desertification at the provincial levels.
progressing as planned.

The MoCC may revisit the mandate of National

The Budget and Finance Sub-Committee shall
Coordination Committee for Desertification
develop policy guidelines to maintain and
(NCCD) from time to time to bring it in line with
improve the financial status of NAP, recommend
the changing environmental and socio-economic
long-term financial plan for NAP, review annual
challenges, coordinate with provincial planning
budget besides monitoring the adherence to the
and development departments, get NAP
budgetary provisions.
approved, allocate budget (local and foreign
exchange), formulate task-based sub-
The following organogram has been included to
committees, establish National Desertification
give a brisk view of how various components of
Control Cell (NDCC), and liaise with national and
NAP will be implemented:
international organizations and agencies.
64

Fig. 27: Schematics for NAP Implementation

 65

19.3 Constitution of National planning; preparing legal, policy and financial

frameworks for DLDD;
Coordination Committee to Combat
l Coordinate and facilitate the target-oriented
Desertification (NCCD) research on the causes and consequences of
A National Coordination Committee was first desertification;
notified on October 6, 1998 that was l Facilitate promotion of education, public
subsequently superseded by another notification awareness and capacity building of
of May, 1999 with 24 members. It had the stakeholders for addressing DLDD;
following Terms of Reference (ToRs): l Identify and recommend projects for donor
i. Review and periodic update of National support, especially for promoting sustainable
Action Programme for Combating management of land and conservation of
Desertification to address the changing needs water resources;
ii. Strengthen inter-agency coordination and l Advise on integrating/addressing the impacts
advise the respective of climate change on land and water
Ministries/Departments/Institutions on the resources and recommend appropriate
specific actions to be taken by them for measures for mitigation and adaptation to
combating desertification climate change;
iii. Coordinate and facilitate on the causes and l Make recommendations for
consequences of desertification and mainstreaming/integrating implementation of
coordinate information for reporting to CCD UNCCD and NAP into sectoral policies and
Secretariat national economic development planning,
iv. Promote education and public awareness and and;
capacity-building of stakeholders for l Facilitate effective implementation of the 10-
combating desertification year Strategic Plan of the UNCCD,
v. Identify and recommend projects for donor development of Integrated Financing Strategy
support (IFS) for SLM & NAP and implementation of
UNCCD COP and Centre for Research on
Meanwhile, not a single meeting of the NCCD Innovation and Competition (CRIC) decisions.
was convened when, it was reconstituted and
notified in December, 2012. It had the following
19.3.1 The need for reconstitution of
ToRs:
NCCD
l Provide guidance for implementation of the
Given the enormity of task and international
UNCCD and National Action Programme
obligations under the UNCCD, the significance of
(NAP) to combat desertification and mitigate
assignment to effectively implement the
impacts of drought;
provisions of National Action Programme to
l Facilitate periodic updating of the NAP to
Combat Desertification in Pakistan, there is a
address emerging challenges of
need to reactivate, revamp, and realign its scope
Desertification, Land Degradation and
and mandate. There is also a need to constitute
Drought (DLDD) in Pakistan and to bring NAP
two Sub-Committees – Technical & Monitoring
in line with the 10-year strategic
Committee; and Budget & Finance Committee -
plan/decisions of the Conference of parties
to effectively meet the challenges and objectives
(COP) for implementation of UNCCD;
of sustainable land management and to ensure
l Strengthen inter-ministerial/inter-agency
poverty alleviation and to address similar
coordination for specific actions to be taken
objectives set-forth by other UN Conventions
by them for combating land degradation and
(e.g., CBD; UNCCC).
desertification;
l Make recommendations to Federal/provincial
governments for developing proper land use
66

19.3.2 Reconstitution of National comprehensive implementation strategy in

Coordination Committee on line with the provisions of UNCCD
Desertification 2) Oversee the implementation of NAP at the
Federal level
Based on the requirements discussed above,
3) Extend policy-based guidelines to
there is a need to reconstitute the NCCD in
provincial/territorial action programmes
accordance with its proposed role. As such, the
4) Assist in resolving issues and constraints to
NCCD may have the following composition:
achieve targets aligned with the provisions of
1) Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change,
UNCCD
Government of Pakistan Chairman
5) Liaise with international donors to ensure
2) Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security
sustained inflow of funds and technical
& Research, Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad
assistance
Member
6) Based on the experiences of pilot projects,
3) Inspector General of Forests, MoCC, GoP,
the NCCD will approve NAP for subsequent
Islamabad/UNCCD Focal Point Member
period
4) National Project Director SLMP, MoCC, GoP,
Islamabad Member
5) Chairman National Disaster Management 19.3.4 Other Functions of the NCCD
Authority GoP, Islamabad Member In support of its mandate and to ensure effective
6) Chairman, Planning & Development Board, implementation of National Action Programme,
Government of the Punjab Member the NCCD may:
7) Secretary, Planning & Development, Govt. of 1) notify and establish the National
Sindh, Karachi Member Desertification Control Cell (NDCC) having all
the necessary staff and equipment to
8) Secretary, Planning & Development
effectively execute the functions of NAP and
Department, Government of KP, Peshawar
to support PAPs;
Member
2) notify and constitute a Technical and
9) Secretary, Planning and Development
Monitoring Sub-Committee;
Department, Govt. of Balochistan, Quetta
3) notify and constitute a Budget and Finance
Member
Sub-Committee;
10) Secretary, Planning and Development
4) notify and establish a National Desertification
Department, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir
Fund; and
Member
5) accord approval for staff and equipment and
11) Secretary, Planning and Development
other requirements of NDCC
Department, Gilgit-Baltistan Member
12) Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan,
Karachi Member 19.4 The Need for the Establishment
13) Chief, National Desertification Control of Technical & Monitoring Sub-
Cell/National Project Coordinator, SLMP-II Committee
Member/Secretary Being a policy and strategy-making body, besides
dealing with international donor agencies, the
19.3.3 ToRs of the NCCD NCCD will be hardly left to look after the
The NCCD shall act as an overarching body to implementation of NAP that in itself is a gigantic
oversee the implementation of NAP at the Federal task. With such limitations on part of the NCCD, it
level and to coordinate Provincial Action will be appropriate to constitute Technical and
Programme (PAP) based activities at Monitoring Sub-Committee (T&MC) to ensure
provincial/state levels. Following are the proposed smooth, seamless and timely execution of a
ToRs for NCCD: number of activities under NAP.
1) Develop policy guidelines and a
 67

19.4.1 Composition of Technical & a) Concentrate its efforts on preventing land

Monitoring Sub-Committee degradation and desertification
The T&M Sub-Committee shall comprise of b) Ensure coordination with all the concerned
specialists in environment/climate change; research institutions and relevant
forestry; rangelands management; watersheds NGOs/INGOs
management; agriculture; soil conservation; c) Ensure sustainable management of natural
GIS/RS; water management; poverty alleviation; environment and man-made resources
disaster risk management; rural support; d) Ensure full participation of concerned
sustainable land management; conflict resolution; communities in all the relevant activities and
community organization and participation; etc. strive to reduce the extent of poverty to the
maximum extent possible
19.4.2 Membership of T&M Sub- e) Oversee afforestation and general
improvement in environmental conditions,
Committee
besides activities concerning agriculture,
Following shall be the composition of T&M Sub-
range management, livestock, watershed
Committee:
management, water-smart technologies,
1) National Project Director SLMP, MoCC, Govt.
water management, reduction of rural
of Pakistan Chairman
poverty, etc.
2) Inspector General of Forests, MoCC, GoP,
f) Provide technical support in:
Islamabad/UNCCD Focal Point Member
l projects’ formulation to control
3) Chairman National Disaster Management
desertification and enhance extension
Authority Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad
programmes;
Member
l hiring of specialist consultants and
4) Director General, Pakistan Meteorological
managerial staff;
Department, Islamabad Member
l closely monitoring progress made under
5) Director General, Soil Survey of Pakistan,
various projects purported to control land
Islamabad Member
degradation and progress being made to
6) Director General, Pakistan Forest Institute,
enhance the socio-economic well-being
Peshawar Member
of concerned communities;
7) Chairman, SUPARCO, Pakistan Member g) Ensure that the projects remain on track
8) Member Natural Resources Management, h) Frequently liaise with the NCCD to keep it
PARC, Islamabad Member abreast of the project-related activities,
9) Representative of University of Arid including progress made and problems faced,
Agriculture, Rawalpindi Member if any;
10) Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan, i) Advise the NCCD on additional measures
Islamabad Member required in the interest of programme;
11) Chief Executive Officer, National Rural j) Recommend inter-sectoral adjustments and
Support Programme, Islamabad Member allocation of resources - men, material, and
12) Sr. Director, WWF-Pakistan, Islamabad financial
Member k) Provide any other support/guidance as and
13) Chief, Desertification Cell/National Project when required
Coordinator, SLM Member/Secretary l) Propose and guide research concerning SLM
and other relevant disciplines
19.4.3 ToRs of T&M Sub-Committee
The T&M Sub-Committee shall deal with
technical aspects of NAP implementation and
have the following ToRs:
68

19.5 The need for the establishment 7) Representative, P&DD, Govt. of Sindh
Member
of a Budget and Finance Sub-
8) Representative, P&DD, Govt. of Balochistan
Committee
Member
To effectively cater to the financial needs and
9) Representative, P&DD, Govt. of Gilgit-
requirements of National Action Programme, a
Baltistan Member
Budget and Finance (B&F) Sub-Committee is
10) Representative, P&DD, Govt. of Azad Jammu
proposed. Typical task areas for the Sub-
& Kashmir Member
Committee may among others, include budgeting
11) Chief Executive, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation
and financial planning, financial reporting, and the
Fund, Islamabad Member
creation and monitoring of internal controls and
12) Director, Finance, IUCN, Pakistan Member
accountability policies and practices.
13) Director, Operations, WWF-Pakistan
Member
Besides looking after the financial matters of NAP,
14) National Project Coordinator, SLMP,
the Budget and Finance Sub-Committee may
Islamabad Member/Secretary
also look after the financial functions of National
Desertification Control Fund and ensure proper
19.5.2 ToRs of B&F Sub-Committee
maintenance of the financial books; monitor the
The B&F Sub-Committee shall have the following
financial matters of NAP; review and recommend
ToRs:
for approval annual -and supplementary budgets
l Develop policy guidelines to maintain and
and contingent allocations and disbursements
improve the financial status of the programme
relating to unforeseen expenditures pertaining to
l Review and recommend long-term financial
NAP.
plan for NAP on behalf of NCCD
l Review and recommend to the NCCD, annual
19.5.1 Composition of B&F Sub-
operating budget and capital budget
Committee
consistent with the long-term financial plan
Besides members nominated by the respective
and policies of the NAP
governments, members appointed to B&F Sub-
l Monitor adherence to the budgetary
Committee need to have a strong background
provisions
and experience with developing and managing
l Institute corrective actions to bring the
budget for public and private sector projects and
budget and other financial targets and
proposals.
requirements in compliance with the
objectives set forth for NAP
The B&F Sub-Committee shall have the following
l Guide and support NCCD regarding other
composition:
sources of funding for NAP from various
1) Representative, Ministry of Climate Change,
international donor agencies, corporate
Govt. of Pakistan Chairman sector, and philanthropists
2) Representative, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of l Perform any other function as and when
Pakistan Member required, or desired by the NCCD
3) Representative, Ministry of Planning and
Development, Govt. of Pakistan Member
19.6 Technical Cooperation
4) Representative of National Desertification
So far, technical assistance received for
Control Cell Member
desertification control in Pakistan has been
5) Representative, P&DD, Govt. of Khyber
limited. More technical assistance shall be sought
Pakhtunkhwa Member
from other country parties of CCD or from
6) Representative, P&DD, Govt. of the Punjab
developed country parties.
Member
 69

Technical cooperation shall be needed to improve desertification control

and develop the capacity in: l Improve coordination, documentation, and
l Land use changes, early warning, dissemination of research and information on
assessment and mapping of desertification; desertification
l Information system on desertification; and l Building capacities of the federal and
l Monitoring, evaluation, and impact provincial-territorial levels concerning
assessment implementation of NAP and PAPS
l Any other assistance required during the l Scaling up the capacities of the federal and
currency of NAP provincial/territorial levels to enhance
integration of adaptation and mitigation
19.7 National Desertification Control measures into their development plans
(through PC-Is) as well as policies and risk
Cell
management practices in desertification-
The National Desertification Control Cell (NDCC)
related activities
shall be established in the Ministry of Climate
l Facilitate the development of effective
Change (MoCC), Government of Pakistan,
information management systems and
Islamabad. The Cell is purported to ensure
integration into planning processes
sustainability of the National Action Programme,
l Provide technical support leading to
headed by a qualified and experienced person of
meaningful adjustments in the on-going
a higher status with adequate technical,
developmental programmes, in line with the
administrative and support staff shall be
changing socio-environmental conditions
established.

19.7.1 The Purpose and Objectives 19.8 National Desertification Control

The Cell shall act as National Focal Point (NFP) to Fund
coordinate the implementation of NAP, to provide
policy guidance and strategic direction to 19.8.1 The Context
enhance coordination and harmonization among To effectively sustain the National Action
various ministries and departments and INGOs Programme to combat desertification and to
regarding the control and prevention of further reduce poverty in arid and semi-arid regions of
desertification. the country, a need is felt to establish a special
fund to be called “National Desertification Fund”.
Following shall be the specific objectives of Establishment of the Fund may preferably be
National Desertification Control Cell: done by an Act of Parliament to provide it legal
l Coordination of policies and decisions cover to effectively support the National Action
concerning desertification Programme. This will not only afford credibility to
l Effectively engage various stakeholders in the Fund but may also win the confidence of
order to develop mechanisms to control international donors who may generously
desertification contribute to it to ensure that it serves as an
l Provide support to NCCD to enhance instrument of sustainability.
partnership with the international donor
agencies in aligning and harmonizing the 19.8.2 Salient Features of the Proposed
technical and financial support in line with the Fund
provisions of UNCCD These may include:
l Review policy decisions and the state of their l The Fund shall be established through a
implementation and report to the NCCD notification with at least Rs.500 million and
l Coordinate resource mobilization efforts for invested in a government-backed financial
implementation of decisions pertaining to portfolio
70

l Finance certain costs that are bound to be 22) Representative of P&D, Govt. of Gilgit-
funded by NAP, but may not be readily Baltistan Member
available while activities are carried out, must 23) Representative of P&D, Govt. of Azad Jammu
continue unhindered. & Kashmir Member
l Certain activities that are not covered under 24) Director, Finance, IUCN, Pakistan Member
the National Action Programme but are 25) Director, Finance WWF-Pakistan Member
essential for meeting its objectives, may also 26) Any other person Member
be financed from the proceeds of NDF.
l Meet the routine expenses of community- 19.8.4 Mandate of B&F Committee
based organizations (CBOs) including office In terms of National Desertification Fund, the B&F
space, furniture and fixture, computers, Committee shall have the following functions to
telephones, stationary, electricity and heating perform:
expenses and the Petrol, Oil and Lubrication l Develop a detailed procedure for the
(POL) charges besides other expenses of establishment and investment of National
concerned communities Desertification Fund
l Cater to needs of technical requirements of l Develop a procedure for audit of the Fund
the stakeholder communities, such as l Consider tapping additional resources to
training, information dissemination, education augment financial status of the Fund
and communication, inter-district l Perform any other function as and when
cooperation, exposure visits, farmer days, required
seminars and workshops, community field
days, even environment-based research. 19.8.5 Sources of Funding
This may include national and international
19.8.3 The Budget and Finance sources besides contributions to the Fund from
Committee the budgetary allocations for the Annual
Besides looking after the finances of national Development Programme. A pre-determined
Action Programme, the Budget & Finance percentage of royalties from timber, firewood, and
Committee may also look after the financial charcoal; medicinal plants; and mining industries,
matters of NDF. As earlier suggested, following is as well as fines and penalties collected by the
the composition of B&F Committee already concerned government departments, shall
proposed under NCCD: henceforth be deposited in the Fund. Funds may
15) Representative of the Ministry of Finance, also be raised from local philanthropists and the
Govt. of Pakistan Chairman private sector, especially such industries that are
16) Representative of the Ministry of Planning known for contributions to such causes.
and Development, Govt. of Pakistan
Member International donor agencies including UNDP,
17) Representative of National Desertification European Union, GIZ are already active and
Control Unit Member implementing certain environment-related
18) Representative of P&D, Govt. of Khyber projects by direct assistance to government or
Pakhtunkhwa Member through international NGOs. Once NAP is
19) Representative of P&D, Govt. of the Punjab approved and the setup to implement is fully
Member functional, a request shall be made to
20) Representative of P&D, Govt. of Sindh international agencies / partners, based on the
Member portfolio of new projects of interest.
21) Representative of P&D, Govt. of Balochistan
Member Additional international sources of funding may
be solicited from the following international
agencies:
 71

l UN Agencies (e.g. UNDP, UNEP, UNCCD, irrigation and drip irrigation

UNICEF, FAO, WHO) l Establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks
l Bilateral agencies (e.g. USAID, GIZ, SNV, for protecting crops and soil conservation
CIDA, DANIDA, Saudi Fund, Kuwaiti Fund, l Introduction and propagation of promising
Embassies, DFID, JICA, OPEC Fund) and land plants like saltbush, Salicornia,
l International Funding Agencies (e.g. IFAD, Tamarix, Vetiver grass, Jojoba
ADB) l Agro-forestry systems of raising trees in
l International Foundations (e.g. Ford conjunction with crops.
Foundation, MacArthur Foundation l Reclamation of saline and waterlogged areas
l International NGOs (e.g. World Vision, Action by planting salt tolerant trees and shrubs.
Aid, Care International, Plan International) l Pumping water by renewable energy
l International Relief Organizations (e.g. ADRA, l Soil and water conservation
Catholic Relief Services, Islamic Relief l Ground water management
Agency) l Irrigation efficiency & water management
l ITTO (International Tropical Timber
Organization 3) International Waterlogging and Salinity Research
Institute

19.9 Organizations that may be l Research on waterlogging and salinity

l Solving issues concerning groundwater,
involved in desertification control
surface water and environment
Following are some of the known organizations,
l Developing economically feasible solutions
both in public and private sector that have
and dissemination
specialized skills in a number of fields and could
l Farmer days and workshops
be involved in NAP to combat the adverse effects
l Coordinates with other institutes
of desertification in Pakistan. Needless to say,
l Managing and supervision of its allied
that a meeting of all the below-mentioned
organizations (Mona Reclamation
organizations would greatly help in knowing first
Experimental Project, Bhalwal; Lower Indus
hand, the skills, the expertise and the personnel
Water Management and Reclamation
engaged with them in their endeavors to improve
Research Project, Hyderabad; International
the natural environment of Pakistan coupled with
Sedimentation Research Institute, Pakistan;
better living and working conditions, especially
SCARPs Monitoring Organization, Lahore
for the rural poor.
4) University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
1) Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources
l Reclamation of saline areas
l Desertification assessment and mapping of
the Cholistan Desert 5) Agency for Barani Areas Development,
l Rain-water harvesting in Cholistan Rawalpindi
l Tree plantation using rain water and ground l Soil and water conservation in rain-fed areas
saline water l Afforestation and range development
l Sand dune fixation and stabilization l Water resources development
l Reclamation of desertified land by the l Women training and extension
introduction of Jojoba, Atriplex l Farm to market roads
l Design and preparation of sand trappers l On-farm water management
l Micro enterprise development
2) Pakistan Agricultural Research Council l Rural infrastructure development
l Development of desert reclamation
techniques by planting of drought tolerant
plants with rainwater harvesting, pitcher
72

6) Arid Zone Research Institute, Bahawalpur 12) Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar
l Arid horticulture l Dry land Afforestation
l Establishment of grasses on sand dunes l Agro-forestry
l Medicinal plants of areas l Watersheds/rangeland development and
management
7) Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, Islamia l Rangeland development and management
University, Bahawalpur
l Selection and propagation of salt tolerant and 13) Soil Survey of Pakistan, Lahore
drought resistant shrubs, trees and grasses l Land capability classification
l Studies on desert plants with emphasis on l Soil-Vegetation Surveys
their morphogenic and ethno-botanical l Soil classification
characters and medicinal value
l Studies on nomadic lifestyle and socio- 14) Global Change Impacts Study Center
economic aspects of the desert dwellers l Mathematical Modeling
l Regional Climate System Modeling
8) Cholistan Development Authority, Bahawalpur l Crop Simulation Modeling
l Colonization and allotment of Government l Watershed Modeling
land l Climate scenarios
l Development of water resources and surveys l Climate extremes
for sweet ground water l Food and water security
l Development of communication facilities
l Drought relief and management The Center uses the following models that could
be useful for NAP:
9) Sindh Arid Zone Development Authority, Karachi l Regional Climate Models
l Development of water resources l Watershed Models
l Communication facilities l Crop Simulation Models
l Agricultural and livestock development and l Water Management Models
relief and rehabilitate l Environment Models

10) Water and Power Development Authority 15) Climate Change, Alternate Energy and Water
l Salinity control Resources Institute
l Soil reclamation l Climate change/variability analysis, impact
assessment and adaptations
11) WAPDA Environment Cell l Risk assessment and management of
l Carrying out Environmental Impact hydrological extremes
Assessment (EIA) and Initial Environmental l Cryosphere monitoring
Examination (IEE) of Hydropower Projects l Water balance analysis and modeling at basin
l Implement Environmental Management Plans scale
(EMPs) according to EIA l Land use change assessment, monitoring
l Monitor Environmental & Social parametres and planning
during feasibility, design, construction and l Remote sensing based agro-met advisory
operation phase of the projects services for farmers and other stake holders
l Help WAPDA in facilitating in environmental l Database development and management
auditing l Develop and strengthen national and
l Evaluate and comment on the environmental international collaboration to implement
reports prepared by consultants and other climate adaptive water management and
agencies climate resilient agriculture in Pakistan
l Characterization and classification
 73

l Resource inventories 21) Sustainable Development Policy Institute

l Training l Policy advice and research and advocacy
l Implementation of policies, programs, laws
16) Punjab Forestry Research Institute Gatwala, and regulations based on sustainable
Faisalabad development
l Agro-forestry l Strengthening civil society
l Afforestation l Dissemination of research findings and public
education
17) Punjab Forest Department l Contribution to building up national research
l Forestry Sector Development Project capacity

18) Forest Department 22) Society for the Conservation and Protection
l Forestry Sector Development Project Environment
l Combating drought and desertification in Dry
19) Arid Zone Research Centre (AZRC), Quetta lands
l Soil and water conservation l Water and sanitation
l Range/livestock development and l Climate change adaptation and mitigation
management l Social mobilization
l Socio-economic and anthropological studies l Environmental law
of and area/desert communities l Biodiversity conservation
l Selection of food/forage/crops for and areas l Ecosystem services

20) International Union for Conservation of Natural 23) Aga Khan Rural Support Programme
Resources l Social and economic emancipation
l Business and Biodiversity: highlighting l Rehabilitation
opportunities and benefits of a more l Infrastructure development
sustainable approaches l Development of marginal lands
l Climate Change: assessing risks and l Communities organization, activation and
restoration of ecosystems mobilization
l Economics in relevance to Biodiversity and l Local governance
Ecosystem
l Ecosystems Management: through climate 24) Pakistan Institute for Environment and
regulation and protection Development Action Research
l Environmental laws l Increasing irrigation efficiency
l Forests: Regulating climate and sustaining l Education
communities l Poverty alleviation
l Gender Equity and Equality for sustainable l Enterprise development
development l Human and institutional development
l Environmental Policy l Participatory actions and learning
l Protected Areas Management Strategies l Urban development
l Water management in dry lands through l Water & environmental sanitation and school
adaptive strategies improvements
l Identification and management of key
biodiversity areas 25) Rural Development Foundation
l Heritage Assessment and Conservation l Organization of rural development
committees
l Management capacity-building
74

l Formulation of community-level projects l Evidence-based research

l Development of linkages with government l Sensitization of the policy and law makers
and non-government organization l Working on “Pakistan 2047”; “Tracking
l Organization of seminars and events SDGs”; and “Sustainable Cities”
l Information dissemination
19.10 Stakeholders and their Role in
26) Leadership for Environment and Development,
NAP Implementation
Pakistan
The following matrix presents the possible roles
l Incorporating learning, knowledge
that various agencies and representatives may
management and public policy engagement
have in the implementation of NAP:
l Design and implementation of projects

Stakeholder Description Role

Farmers, local l Farmers, pastoralists and l Provide support in problem identification

communities herders living within the l Provision of solution to certain problems
Programme areas
l Having a wealth of experience in local conditions and
customs to be used in NAP implementation
l Put to use the invaluable indigenous knowledge

l Being owners of the process, take full interest in NAP

Government l Represented in NAP by the l Coordinate all the NAP-based activities implemented
concerned ministries / through line departments and other interest groups
departments l Assigns responsibilities to stakeholders

l Ensures that all the obligations under the UNCCD are

complied with
l Mass mobilization

l Sustained financial support

INGOs/NGOs l National, local and international l Promote popular participation

NGOs involved in l Compliment government’s effort
environmental, development and
l Provide funding and/or technical support for NAP
other activities in different parts
activities
of the country
l Provide relevant literature and guidance

l Assist NAP in documentation, wed-development and

uploading, etc.

Academia l Research institutions, l Assist and carry out research in various areas of
universities and research concern
scholars l Training

l Capacity-building

Business Sector l Business and industrial l Funding of some of NAP activities

community, banks, etc.

Community elders l Local chiefs, maliks and l Mobilize and sensitize local communities

nambardars

Others l Philanthropists l Funding some of the NAP activities

 75

20 National Action Programme to Combat

Desertification in Pakistan
20.1 The Vision
Strive to ensure that our planet remains green, resilient, vibrant, safe,
biologically diverse, and provides respectable livelihood options leading to
eradication of poverty and hunger.

20.2 The Mission

Strengthen the capacities of institutions, line agencies and professionals to be
able to disseminate information, raise awareness, conserve, use and manage
land, water and biodiversity to arrest and reverse the process of land
degradation, that leads to desertification, in order to promote sustainable
development and ensure the eradication of poverty.

20.3 The Goal

Implement strategies and activities aligned with the provisions of UNCCD to
combat desertification in Pakistan.

20.4 The Purpose

Identify factors that contribute to the process of desertification and suggest
credible and pragmatic measures through a cross-cutting, coordinated, and
bottom-up approach leading to control land degradation, mitigation of the
effects of drought, and combatting desertification.

20.5 The Scope

National Action Programme contains a description of the state of country's
environment with reference to the phenomenon of desertification, its causes
and effects and implication of the current land use practices in the backdrop
of the existing socio-economic conditions. It goes on to identify problems and
issues, which needs to be addressed. It recommends strategy to intensify
efforts at national, provincial, regional and district level to adopt such
measures and steps with the active involvement of the all stakeholders
including the community organizations and NGOs which help in reversing the
trend of desertification and land degradation to improve the quality of life of
the affected people.
76

20.6 Rationale for combating l Gender considerations in issues relating to

community-based activities necessary for
desertification
reducing the effect of desertification;
A major activity in reversing desertification is the
l Providing cost-effective solutions and
establishment of permanent and temporary
methodologies that easily lend themselves to
vegetative cover on the land. This, however,
community and district level operation and
should be done in the context of economic
maintenance;
growth, environmental sustainability and
l Proposing solutions that are socially
enhanced livelihoods. Considering that most
acceptable that will permit the use of limited
economic activities in Pakistan are land-based,
human and financial resources available;
community participation in all activities designed
l Ensuring a balance between economic
to combat desertification is critical to the
desirability of interventions in the low income
achievement of the desired impact. The Action
community context that will, at the same
Plans to combat desertification are, therefore,
time, ensure conformity to environmental
proposed with the view that the component
standards; and
activities would be planned to accommodate the
l Creating awareness of the environmental
following principles:
issues inherent in reversing desertification
l Full involvement of the communities to ensure
that they make informed choices based on a
thorough understanding and implications of 20.7 Programme Objectives, Impacts,
each option; Indicators, and Outcomes
l Developing a sense of community ownership These have been elaborated in the Matrix that
of desertification control measures and the follows.
required capacity for operation and
maintenance of any facility resulting from
such a measure;
 77

Alignment of National Action Programme with UNCCD Strategy

NAP 10-Year Strategy (2017-30)
The Vision
To implement the provisions of UN Convention to offset the adverse impacts of Land Degradation and Drought
leading to Desertification in KP / Punjab / Sindh / Balochistan /G-B /AJK
Strategic Objectives Expected Impacts
1.1 Communities in affected areas have multiple option of income
1. Objective 1:
generation from SLM
To enhance and diversify livelihood options of the
1.2 There is marked reduction in threats to communities because of
stakeholder communities
environmental vulnerabilities like land degradation droughts and floods

Indicators
1. Number of people directly affected by drought and land degradation decreased
2. Number of households living below poverty line reduced
3. Number of people having nutrition and dietary deficiencies decreased

2.1 additional land area formerly affected by degradation brought under

2. Objective 2: plough leading to enhanced livelihood options
To improve areas of affected ecosystem by 2.2 Resilience of sites of given ecosystems increased in the face of
implementation of SLM provisions climate variability

4. Area affected by land degradation and drought reduced

5. Productivity of agricultural and other commodities increased over X number of hectares compared with pre-project situation

3. Objective 3: 3.1 Biodiversity conservation and sustainable management increased in

To generate provincial/territorial benefits through the target areas through adoption of practices in line with the provisions
effective implementation of the provisions of NAP of SLM practices

6. Vegetation cover and biomass increased in SLM-implementation areas

7. X number of hectares in target locations brought under sustainable management practices

Objective 4: Impact:

To mobilize resources to support NAP’s 4.1 Resources (financial & technical) increased at national and provincial
implementation through effective partnerships / territorial levels due to implementation of the provisions of UNCCD
between provincial/territorial and national actors 4.2Policies at the provincial/territorial level framed to in accordance with
the provisions of UNCCD

8. sustained inflow of funds to combat desertification ensured through multiple sources

9. Sectoral policies result in synergies to address desertification at national and provincial/territorial levels
78

NAP 10-Year Strategy (2017-27)

Mission
To arrest and control land degradation process by developing national and provincial/territorial programmes and
policies and to control the adverse effects of DLDDs
Operational Objectives Outcomes
1.1 People in general and key stakeholders in particular, are effectively
sensitized to the consequences of DLDD and associated issues
Operational Objective 1: Advocacy, Awareness-
pertaining to biodiversity at the provincial/territorial level
raising and Education
1.2 DLDD issues get due attention at all the provincial/territorial forums
To mobiles print and electronic media to influence
including Agriculture, Livestock, Climate Change, Water, Energy and
parliamentarians and policy makers in addressing
Rural Development & Livelihoods
issues of desertification and land degradation
1.3 NGOs and the Research Institutions are actively involved and
engaging stakeholders in awareness-cum-demonstration trials to mitigate
concerns of DLDD and ensure SLM

2.1: Drivers of land degradation and desertification identified and

solutions proposed for the redressal of these issues

2.2: Pakistan revises and updates the NAP to integrate the emerging
challenges in land use and makes available the required financial
Operational Objective 2: Policy Framework resources to ensure implementation of proposed corrective measures
To develop Provincial/Territorial Policies and 2.3 Planning Commission of Pakistan integrates SLM guidelines with its
guidelines on DLDD and translate them into actions future development plans
to address the issues of land degradation and
2.4 Integrates UNCCD objectives in all future projects of various
desertification
segments of SLM and ensure that all the provinces/state shall devise
their PAPs in line with national objectives

2.5 DLDD issues are addressed encompassing biodiversity, DRR

activities to reinforce the impacts of interventions

3.1: KP/Punjab/Sindh/Balochistan/G-B/AJK develops an effective

monitoring framework to implement the provisions as set forth in PAP

3.2: NAP and PAPs establish baselines on biophysical and socio-

economic trends and support relevant research institutions to strengthen
research in allied discipline of SLM

Operational Objective 3: Science, Technology and 3.3: Make better decisions, there is now greater understanding of the
Knowledge ecological and socio-economic aspects of the target areas

To attain a status of technical knowledge to 3.4: A better understanding of the implications of climate change and its
effectively tackle the issues of DLDD consequences is proving useful to make better and timely decisions

3.5: Because of effective networking, a blend of traditional and innovative

knowledge base is available and proving a useful tool to assist policy
makers in making pragmatic decisions

3.6: Networks on relevant scientific institutions are actively working to

ensure the implementation of the provisions of UNCCD

4.1 Based on needs of areas of concern, build capacities at all the levels
to effectively take upon the consequences of land degradation leading to
Operational Objective 4: Capacity-building desertification
To build capacities based on local needs and 4.2: Areas where no capacity-building has been done, are being
priorities to prevent the harmful effects of DLDD approached to assess their needs and develop modules to forestall the
consequences of land degradation leading to desertification
 79

Operational Objectives Outcomes

5.1: Investments by the financial institutions are made effectively to
double-up the efforts leading to better natural and man-made
environment

5.2: Financial institutions are providing timely and adequate resources to

Operational Objective 5: Financing and Technology hold and reverse the adverse effects of land degradation
Transfer
5.3: In line with the provisions of UNCCD, financial resources are ensured
To ensure the involvement of financial institutions in for sustainable land management
the advancement of cause of conservation and
5.4: Besides financial resources made available by the traditional
control of land degradation
sources, efforts are made to hunt for inventive resources leading to the
conservation of biodiversity in tandem with improvement in the financial
lot of the local communities

5.5: Sustained availability of financial resources is ensuring effective

incentives and technical support leading to better mechanism to control
land degradation and community welfare

20.8 Integrated Financing Strategy The IFS is, thus, a part of the action plan defined
above i.e., it is its financial strategy. Based on the
(IFS) to combat desertification in
needs and priorities already identified, the IFS will
Pakistan establish a Strategy for optimizing the use of
The IFS is a process to be undertaken by existing financial resources as well as mobilizing
Pakistan with the assistance of the Global new resources in order to support the
Mechanism (GM) to leverage national, bilateral implementation of NAP.
and multilateral resources to increase the
effectiveness and impact of interventions to The following matrix details the framework for six
further the implementation of the UNCCD in line thematic areas, activities planned, agencies to be
with the Strategy. An IFS leads to the involved along with the indicative budget to
development of an Integrated Investment combat land degradation that leads to
Framework (IIF), or when one exists, supports its desertification:
implementation.
80

Thematic Activities Participating Outputs Budget

Areas Agencies (m. Rs.)
l Hiring a specialist to conduct evaluation of 1) Ministry of Climate l Materials and strategies 500.000
previous awareness and environmental Change, GoP on awareness-raising
education programmes/activities, determine 2) Ministry of Planning developed concerning
their effectiveness, locate gaps, and design and Development, land degradation, global
a new strategy of implementation GoP warming, climate
l develop and implement awareness-raising 3) Ministry of change, etc. and their
strategies about sensitivity to the Information & implications world-wide
environment as a whole and problems Broadcasting, GoP and in Pakistan
associated with its misuse through: 4) Ministry of National l Reproduce booklets
Food Security & developed by WWF-
m a comprehensive effort through
Research, GoP Pakistan on the role of
messaging, grassroots outreach, media
5) Ministry of Women Islam in the conservation
1. Public relations, government affairs, budget, etc.;
Development, of biodiversity are
Awareness m a series of words and phrases that are Social Welfare and reproduced (with their
most persuasive to key audiences, based Special Education, permission and
on specific research; GoP acknowledgement) and
m utilizing messaging to proactively engage 6) Ministry of Tourism, disseminated
key audiences on relevant issues and GoP
l Package the information
programmes and asking them to respond 7) Radio Stations; TV
appropriately for key
to a specific call for action to help achieve channels
stakeholder groups such
the goal; and 8) NGOs; CBOs; WOs
as Judiciary, ministers,
m a variety of activities that help concerned 9) Association of heads of departments
agencies and stakeholders to adapt to, newspapers
and senior officers, law
learn, and understand more about the 10) Land developers
enforcement officers,
threats and consequences due to (DHA, Bahria Town,
farmers, foresters,
desertification CDA)
biologists,
11) Religious scholars
l Motivating people for active participation in conservationists,
12) Lawyers
environmental protection, improvement and agriculturists, soil
Association
sustenance scientists, etc.
13) Celebrities
l Instill in the concerned stakeholders the l A webpage on the NAP
necessity for conservation of bio resources website developed to
l Evaluation of environmental programmes in upload all the
terms of social, economic, ecological and information for use by
aesthetic factors various interest groups
and individuals as
l Emphasize and ensure Environmental
mentioned under
Education in both formal and non-formal
“Activities”
systems of education
l Involve celebrities in environmental
campaigns and ensure their whole-hearted
participation: it can be an enormous help if
a celebrity takes on a cause as his/her own,
not only because he/she can make a direct
contribution but also because the status of
a cause can rise in direct relation to that of
the celebrity
l Protecting the environment for sustainable
development to preserve forest cover;
minimize cutting of trees and use trees for
aesthetic pleasure
l Establish a website for NAP and upload all
the information for the benefit of planners,
researchers, educationists, students and the
public in general
 81

Thematic Activities Participating Outputs Budget

Areas Agencies (m. Rs.)
Build capacities and to mobilize resources to 1) Ministry of Climate l A multi-sectoral 3.000.000
combat desertification to reduce its impacts in Change, GoP committee established
Pakistan through the development of a 2) Ministry of Planning to coordinate the
scientifically based mechanism that provides and Development, development and
continuous and reliable information about the GoP implementation of the
state of desertification in the country. This may 3) Ministry of National provisions of NAP
be achieved through the following activities: Food Security & l MoCC strengthened to
l Develop ToRs for NAP Coordination Research, GoP effectively implement the
Committee and its two sub-committees on 4) Relevant Line provisions of NAP
implementation and finances Agencies through the appointment
l Establish NAP Coordination Cell in MoCC 5) Relevant NGOs, of additional staff and
CBOs, CSOs, WOs procurement of
2. Capacity l Hire consultants to develop modules based
building and on baseline data to target district-wise land equipment, and other
Institutional degradation, soil stabilization, water necessities and hiring of
Strengthe- management, rainwater harvesting office space
ning and techniques, soil analysis, ecological
Coordination zonation, community mobilization, land
capability mapping, level and extent of
poverty
l Pooling together the existing (but scattered)
capacities among governmental and non-
governmental organizations
l Formulate legislations and mandates
regarding desertification control
l Rectification of information and databases
on desertification and updated at different
scales through specialized environmental
information systems and implementation of
GIS/RS tools
l Establish a Training Unit within the
Coordination Cell capable of planning,
coordinating and initiating activities related
to combating desertification
l Establish a National Fund to combat
desertification; ToRs to be decided
l Conduct a series of workshops and
technical meetings (on regular basis) to
define the mandates for line agencies and
develop a plan that feed information to the
Cell for further processing
l Introduce Sustainable Land Management as
an elective subject at 9th to 12th classes
l Introduce SLM as a specialized course at
BS level in all the public and private sector
universities
l Offer scholarships for MS in SML in HEC-
recognized foreign universities
l Provide grants and involve universities in
research pertaining to causes of land
degradation and desertification and to
suggest remedial measures
82

Thematic Activities Participating Outputs Budget

Areas Agencies (m. Rs.)
l Develop ToRs for Policy Analysts 1) Ministry of Climate l New policies developed 200.000
l Hire Policy Analysts with expertise in Change and/or existing policies
relevant sectors 2) Ministry of Planning amended as appropriate
and Development to facilitate the reduction
l Conduct analysis of the existing policies to
3) Ministry of Law and in land degradation by
determine their impacts on land
Justice & Human involving all the relevant
degradation, determine gaps and develop
Rights stakeholders as
policy guidelines in alignment with UNCCD
4) Islamabad High mentioned under
l The government of Pakistan has made Court Bar “Participating Agencies”
efforts to involve NGOs in policy-making Association
processes since it ratified the UNCCD and 5) Relevant
its participatory policy-making discourse in INGOs/NGOs
3. Policy 1997; adopting the same spirit while 6) Relevant
Formulation formulating implementation mechanism for CBOs/WOs
NAP, will lead to outcomes in line with the
provisions of UNCCD
l Host public consultations on the results of
the policy analysis and use
recommendations and public comments to
develop or amend policies already in
practice
l Develop procedure for annual review of
policies and the status of their
implementation
l Identify and get agreement of key senior
personnel to lead policy review
l Develop a compensatory mechanism
reflecting economic incentive for investment
in SLM

l Recruit consultants having experience in 1) Ministry of Climate l Existing legislations 100,000

legislative and legal affairs to look into the Change revised, if necessary and
existing laws and rules as applicable from 2) Ministry of Law, draft new regulations in
time to time Justice and Human line with the provisions
l Review the existing legislation and rules and Rights of UNCCD so that it has
regulation prescribed and in practice and 3) Attorney General’s effect in the formulation
formulate new Rules of Business pertaining Office of legislative reforms
to laws related to desertification monitoring 4) Ministry of l Both types of
and control Information
legislations enacted
4. 5) Relevant
l Host public consultation on draft legislation through the national
Legislative INGOs/NGOs
and rules Assembly and notified
Reforms
l Finalize draft legislation based on by the Government of
and Legal
comments from stakeholders Pakistan through the
Framework
Ministry of Climate
l Develop training module on enforcement
Change
with respect to land degradation
infringements
l Identify law enforcement officers for training

l Train enforcement officers within the Police

Service, Law Department, and other
government agencies to improve their ability
to respond to land degradation
infringements
l Conduct in-house training sessions every 6
months
 83

Thematic Activities Participating Outputs Budget

Areas Agencies (m. Rs.)
l Hire staff for supervision of restoration and 1) Ministry of Climate l Sites for rehabilitation 4,000.000
rehabilitation activities Change and located,
l Develop regulations for operations, 2) Ministry of Planning management plans,
management and rehabilitation of degraded & Development specific to each site
lands 3) Ministry of National through a multi-
Food Security and stakeholder participatory
l Develop criteria and procedure for
Research process, developed
identification of sites for rehabilitation
4) Soil Conservation
l Identify key agencies and CBOs/CSOs/WOs 5) NARC
for implementation of the provisions of PC- 6) Relevant
Is and build their capacity to adequately INGOs/NGOs
carry out the required activities 7) Relevant
5. Site
l Identify capacity needs of the stakeholders CBOs/WOs/CSOs
Restoration
and provide capacity development
& Rehabili-
assistance
tation
l Engage key stakeholders in planning and
rehabilitation of priority sites and collect
baseline data
l Conduct a series of trainings in land
degradation, soil conservation and
stabilization, water management, rainwater
harvesting techniques, soil analysis,
ecological zonation, community
mobilization, land capability mapping,
assessment of poverty and other trainings
that may be needed later on
l Details of topics, agencies responsible for
implementation and areas of
implementation have been included under
sub-title “Possible Projects proposed to be
launched under NAP”

l Hire consultant for Evaluation of activities 1) Third party l Independent periodic 60,000
l Host public consultations on the results of evaluation through evaluation conducted
the evaluation and plan for a new NAP the Ministry of regarding the
implementation strategy Climate Change implementation of
projects and
l Host further consultations in the preparation
programmes
and finalization of the new NAP

Total Cost 7,860,000

84

21 Possible Projects proposed to be launched under NAP

Following are certain topics proposed for implementation of NAP agenda for Pakistan:

Project Title Location Implementing Collaborating

Agency Agency/Expert
1. Enhancement and creation of l The whole of Pakistan l Respective Line l Awareness-raising
awareness-raising about the causes Agencies Experts for each of the
l Gilgit-Baltistan
and consequences of land line agency
degradation leading to desertification l AJ&K
2. Afforestation of dry lands l Southern KP l Forest Department l Irrigation Department

l Southern Punjab l Water Management

l Northern Sindh

l South-western
Balochistan
l Southern AJ&K

l Eastern Gilgit-
Baltistan
3. Enhancement of grazing capacity of l Northern KP l Forest Departments l Soil Conservation
Alpine pasture l Northern AJ&K

l Gilgit-Baltistan
4. Afforestation and rehabilitation of l Northern KP l Forest Department l Bio-engineering experts
mountain slopes and stabilization of l Northern AJ&K l Civil Engineers
degraded watersheds
l Gilgit-Baltistan l WAPDA

5. Afforestation of degraded forests l The whole of Pakistan l Forest Departments l Local CBOs

l Gilgit-Baltistan

l AJ&K
6. Adoption of agro-forestry l The whole of Pakistan l Forest departments l Agro-forestry specialists
Prescriptions for degraded and l Gilgit-Baltistan l Local CBOs
l Agriculture
marginal Lands
l AJ&K departments
7. Introduction of agricultural and l The whole of Pakistan l Forest departments l Agricultural and
horticultural practices adapted to dry l Gilgit-Baltistan l Agriculture Horticultural experts
lands departments
l AJ&K
8. Better water management l Southern KP l Water management l Water management
(conservation and harvesting) l Southern AJ&K departments specialists
practices for Dry lands
l Gilgit-Baltistan

l South-western
Balochistan
l Northern Sindh

l South Punjab

9. Floods and Landslides Control l Northern KP l NDMA l PDMAs

l Northern and Central l Forest Department
AJ&K l Bio-Engineers
l Gilgit-Baltistan l Watershed Management
l Northern & Central Specialists
Punjab l Soil Conservationists
l Northern Sindh
 85

Project Title Location Implementing Collaborating

Agency Agency/Expert
10. Drought mitigation and management l Southern KP l Water Management l Water Management
practices Departments Specialists
l Southern AJ&K
l Forest departments l Drought Management
l Gilgit-Baltistan
Specialists
l South-western
Balochistan
l Northern Sindh

l East-central Punjab

11. Soil stabilization and management of l Northern KP l Soil Conservation l Forest Departments
fragile eco-systems l Central and Northern Department l Watershed Rehabilitation
AJ&K Experts
l Gilgit-Baltistan

12. Wise use of water-smart l Pakistan l Agriculture l Forest Departments

technologies l Gilgit-Baltistan Departments l Water Management
l AJ&K Specialists
13. Assessment of forests, rangelands l Pakistan l Forest Departments l Specialists in Forests,
and wildlife to update knowledge for l Gilgit-Baltistan Rangelands and Wildlife
future planning Management
l AJ&K

14. Strengthening/establishing l Pakistan l P&DDs l Desertification Specialists

desertification control cells l Gilgit-Baltistan

l AJ&K
15. From conventional to high income l Pakistan l Horticulture l Agriculture Departments
cash crops l Gilgit-Baltistan departments.

l AJ&K

16. Putting marginal and wastelands to l Balochistan l Agriculture l Horticulture Departments

better cultural practices l Southern KP departments
l Central Punjab
17. Integrated farming practices l Pakistan l Agriculture l Agricultural, Livestock
including Agro-Silvo-Pastoral l Gilgit-Baltistan departments and Poultry specialists
practices l Livestock department
l AJ&K
l Poultry breeding
departments
18. Value-addition through semi- l Northern KP l Small & Medium-sized l Mechanical and electrical
processing of fruits and nuts l Gilgit-Baltistan Development Authority engineering specialists
(SMEDA)
l AJ&K
19. Rehabilitation of water-logged areas l Punjab l Agriculture l Water Management
and improvement / establishment of l Sindh Department l Hydrology
drainage system
l Forest Departments
20. Reclamation of saline and sodic soils l Punjab l Soil Conservation l Agriculture departments
l Sindh departments
21. Conservation and sustainable l Pakistan l Forest departments l BD specialists
management of biodiversity l Gilgit-Baltistan l Wildlife departments

l AJ&K

22. Assessment of degraded lands l Pakistan l All the line l SUPARCO

through the application of GIS l Gilgit-Baltistan departments l Forest Resource Center,
technology
l AJ&K KP
l WWF-Pakistan
86

Project Title Location Implementing Collaborating

Agency Agency/Expert
23. Adoption of improved livestock l Pakistan l Livestock departments l Livestock Management
feeding and management practices Specialists
l Gilgit-Baltistan

l AJ&K

24. Intensification of sand dunes l Punjab l Forest Departments l Dry Afforestation

stabilization through dry afforestation l Sindh Specialists
25. Introduction of water recharge l Pakistan l Hydrology l Hydrologists
techniques and water-smart l Gilgit-Baltistan
departments
technologies
l AJ&K

26. Enhancement of eco-services of l Sindh l Forest Departments of l Sociologists

mangrove forests through l Balochistan Sindh and Balochistan
rehabilitation and by ensuring fuel
wood alternatives to Local
communities
27. Growing of fruit trees in water- l Deserts of Sindh, l Agriculture l Forest Departments
deficient areas Punjab and Departments l Water Management
Balochistan Specialists
28. Development of national and l Pakistan l SUPARCO l Soil Survey Department
provincial land use plans through l Gilgit-Baltistan
GIS/RS techniques
l AJ&K
29. Reversal of the effects of
desertification in selected areas by
Involving local communities
30. Exposure visits of professionals to
areas where NAP-based activities are
in progress
31. Research and Education: l Pakistan l Universities of l Educationists;
l Calorific Intake before and after the l Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan, Gilgit- Researchers
Implementation of NAP-based Baltistan and AJ&K
l AJ&K
Interventions l Research and Training
l Alleviation of poverty and its Institutes
impacts on socio-economic well-
being of stakeholder communities
l Financial analysis of conventional
versus improved agricultural
practices
l Financial analysis of semi-
processed nuts and fruits facilities
l Determination of optimum sizes of
land for integrated land use in
various ecological regions
l Reducing dependence on wood-
based energy and contribution to
carbon sequestration
l Impacts of climate change on
various land use practices
l Capacity Need Assessment of print
and electronic media concerning
land degradation
l Policy review and feedback for
different sectors concerning DLDD
 87

Project Title Location Implementing Collaborating

Agency Agency/Expert
32. Introduction of desertification control l Pakistan l Provincial/State l -
as an elective subject at Matric and l Gilgit-Baltistan Education
FSc Level Departments
l AJ&K

33. Introduction of desertification control l Pakistan l Higher Education l Universities in Pakistan,

as a specialization at BS Level l Gilgit-Baltistan Commission especially in Gilgit-
Baltistan, and AJ&K
l AJ&K

34. Financial support for MS in l Pakistan l Higher Education l Universities in Pakistan,

desertification control in foreign l Gilgit-Baltistan Commission especially in Gilgit-
universities Baltistan, and AJ&K
l AJ&K
89