- Target:
- Chief Minister Of Sindh Pakistan
- Region:
- Pakistan
- Website:
- www.idosindh.org
On 28th June 2010 a summary moved from senior member Board of Revenue has been passed by Chief Minister of Sindh province of Pakistan on 3rd July 2010 to convert over 6 laces acres entire Riverine forest land of Sindh on both banks of River Indus. In summery it has been mentioned that it was decided on the directives of President of Pakistan during the meeting held on 22nd June 2010 at President House Naudero Larkana, for distribution in landless female peasants on ownership grounds. So the entire Riverine forest land of Sindh, over 6 laces acres has been converted in Revenue Status.
We know that it is a plan to hand over the forest land to like minded land lords, these land lords particularly close to forest minister Sindh have already submitted female lists mentioning forest names and claimed areas. In these areas remaining forest cover is also claimed. Principally forest land could not be distributed on ownership grounds but only Revenue land could be distributed. So for the Government to accommodate its friends, forest land was converted in Revenue status. This will be handed over in the names of poor women permanently on ownership grounds.
If they imposed such plan then:
• All the Riverine forest land will be converted in state of feudal.
• Due to agriculture cropping activities live stock will not be allowed to graze in the forest area, people will be discouraged of this business. This will be cause of shortage of meat, milk in province.
• There will be migration from Riverine area in significant numbers. Millions of people will be homeless as well as without livelihood with destructive socio economic impact on the people of the Riverine area.
• Remaining forest cover which also included in submitted women reclaim lists will be deforested.
• No single acre will be available to department for any new policy, program or project of forestry.
• After deforestation the remaining wildlife will be vanished from Riverine area.
• due to unplanned installation of tube wells, the under ground water flows which recharge the sweet water pockets in all over Sindh would be deprived off their capability to recharge these pockets. Entire Sindh will face drought of sweet water.
• A great disaster to environment as well as to socio-economic condition.
Dear Mr Chief Minister,
According to Forest act 1997, National Environmental Policy of Pakistan 2005 and National Conservation Strategy 1992, We can not change status of forest land particularly Riverine forest land for non forestry uses. Pakistan is signatory on UNs Millennium Development Goals-7 Target-9 under which Pakistan has promised with the world to increase forest cover from 4.9% to 6% by 2015, for this and other International commitments Pakistan has needed more forest land to achieve target, so any order/directive to reduce forest land would be considered as violation of the commitments. In mean time it is also threat to lives of millions peoples related to riverine area regarding livlihood.
As a representative of people of Sindh and custodian of natural resources of province it was your responsibility to convince Honorable President to withdraw his decision despite signing the summery.
We the undersigned demand that the government should withdraw this summery and support to INDUS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (IDO)'s suggestion that a forestry policy should be formed in consultation with all the stakeholders including local people, people from media, civil society and experts from Environment, Forestry, Agriculture, Irrigation, Fisheries, Economics and other related sectors. These stakeholders should be involved in implementing the policy. An independent autonomous board with representation of these all of the stake holders should review and discuss the proposed policy document for finalization approval and implementation. Nature has provided a chance because due to super flood in August 2010 riverine forest land will be inundated over 90%, so the 6 laces acres could be reforested in simple expeces through airial reseeding ad well as manual reseeding of Acacia with the help of local communities.
All the leased out land handed over to lessees for agro forestry should be cancelled because no need of agroforestry after flood. All the Riverine land should be declared as "ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE" with status of "PROTECTED AREA" regarding all the non forestry uses activities, to secure forest land from land grabbers who will try cultivation of crops after flood.
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The Stop converting forests in the Province of Sindh to forestless areas petition to Chief Minister Of Sindh Pakistan was written by zaindaudpoto and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.