Ghari Chandan Forest Tourist Destination & Source of Medicinal Plants
PESHAWAR, Oct 25 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first man made forest at Ghari Chandan in Peshawar having over 3.2 million trees raised under Billion trees afforestation project (BTAP) during 2014-17 has turned into a tourist destination and become unique source for medicinal plants useful for treatment of various diseases.
Gulzar Rehman, Conservator Southern Circle of the KPK Forest Department told APP on Sunday that 13 important medicinal plants useful in treatment of different diseases were invented by the experts of Directorate Non Timber Forests Produce (NTFP) during an extensive survey at Ghari Chandan forest developed by KPK Forest Department during the first phase of BTAP in 2014-17.
The 13 invented medicinal plants include Karaiza that useful in the treatment of ulcers, joint pain and liver infections, Aak/Spalmai recommended for preparation of different medicines, Spailanay used in medicines for management of fever, retention in urine, cough, Ispaghol for managing diarrhea, appetite suppressants, Khapyanga for blood purification, teeth treatment and Jabai/Asphagol which is anti dysentery.
Similarly, Kotelai medicinal plant that is useful in increasing energy of malnutrition patients and a general health tonic, Azghakey for treatment of cancer, fever, asthma, stomach and urine discharge, Prethenium Hysterophorus for treatment of skin infections, diarrhea, malaria and Sessay plant for treatment of headache and tooth ache were invented at Ghari Chandan forest located some 10 kilometers south of Peshawar.
Gulzar Rehman said the others invented medicinal plants include Maraghoni, Kareeza and Baum Dandi used in preparation of medicines for treatment of respiratory disorders, cough, fever and healing of wounds besides nerve and diarrhea treatment respectively were also invented during the survey. The Conservator Southern Circle said that these medicinal plants were invented by a 10 member expert team of the Directorate of Non Timber Forests Produce (NTFP) of KPK Forest Department led by Director Raj Muhammad during an extensive survey of Ghari Chandan on April 26, 2018.
“Ghari Chandan has become a great source for eco-tourism as domestic tourists and forest lovers along with families were coming for tourism and recreational purposes especially on the weekend in substantial numbers”, he said.
Residents of Peshawar, Khyber, Kohat, Charsadda and Nowshera districts were seen in substantial numbers on Sunday at Ghari Chandan. Terming Ghari Chandan forest as Changa Manga of Peshawar, he said around 3.2 million plants were raised in this first manmade forest of KPK where exotic species had achieved a height of 20 feet and 12 feet through indigenous plants like Shisham.
Besides a great source of honey and wildlife habitats, Garhi Chandan forest is bigger than Changa Manga and is currently full of nests of native and migratory birds besides making positive effects on the environment, combating pollution and increasing the frequency of the migratory birds coming from Central Asian States during winter to Pakistan. Ghari Chandan is one of 10 new small and big jungles raised in the province under BTAP, and has created breeding grounds for native and exotic wild species and migratory birds including falcons, bears, houbara, cranes, leopard, ducks, monkeys, foxes, wolves, jackals, pheasants and the national bird chakor.
KPK Forest Department had launched practical work on Ghari Chandan forest in 2014 after PTI government implemented Green Growth Initiative (GGI) focusing on six main sectors including forestry, protected areas and national parks, clean energy, climate resilience, water, sanitation and waste management.
Prior to BTAP plantations, he said it was a complete barren land with dunes of sands everywhere. PTI Government while capitalizing on GGI, had launched the country’s first ever ‘BTAP’ in November 2014 under which a record 1.20 billion plants including 600 million on 306,983 hectares through forest enclosures, 200 million on 263,213 hectares man made and 200 million through farm forestry were planted during 2014-17 in the province.
Gulzar Rehman said BTAP was the 4th biggest project in the green sector worldwide after China, India, and Ethiopia and the first in Pakistan. It has increased KPK’s forest covered area to a record 26.6% in 2017 from 20.3%in 2013, registering a 6.3% increase and efforts are underway to enhance it up to 30% by 2023 after bringing the vast land of merged areas (Erstwhile FATA) under afforestation cover.
As a result of BTAP, KPK has exceeded 25% forest cover as per international standards which is a big achievement for the country. KPK Forest Department has achieved remarkable successes in the green sector during the last two years and has planted over 167 million saplings on around 31, 342 hectares during 2019-20 besides distribution of 44 million free plants among farmers and the general public and about 71 million seedlings were grown in 3550 established enclosures.
Similarly, departmental nurseries on 688 hectares and nurseries on 469 hectares through women were raised, according to officials documents. Forest change detection was done via interpretation of satellite images through SUPARCO by assessing 1,496 forests enclosures and 2067 afforestation sites undertaken under BTAP, which reflected an overall positive change of 60.13pc and 70.81pc respectively and hence BTAP plantations in KPK has been validated.
The project has been extended to merged areas (erstwhile Fata) for which an Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) was approved by PDWP amounting Rs1559.151 million for 2020-2024 besides the approval of 360 more posts for forest department to conserve and protect the green gold. MOUs have been signed with education, industries and agriculture departments to plant 35 million saplings including 26.3million through forest department and 8.7 million through public sector organisations, NGOs and farmers during the monsoon season.
Each water bottling industry or those industries utilising fresh water for manufacturing of their products have been subjected to plantation of 10,000 plants through the industries department aimed at increasing forest cover and maintaining the water table. Work on Eco tourism Policy (EC) has been initiated and a concept paper for the establishment of Recreational Parks (RP) by converting bigger chunk of plantations of Ghari Chandan and Mathani Azakhel forests for promotion of ecotourism were submitted for approval.
Creation of Knowledge Parks concept has been introduced and accordingly one such park is already established at Kata Kanre in Kohat. Urban forest policy is in the pipeline and a baseline for ecotourism policy has been prepared.
Work on Forests Vision 2030 is in progress and activities of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) project for scientific management of forest resources and infrastructure development has been accelerated in Hazara. Pioneered to formulate KPK’s first ever REDD+ strategy and Range Management Policy (RMP), the forest department has been declared as a forest force for which 450 forest staff were trained through FC for combat operations against the timber mafia and maintenance of weapons.
Waiving off duties on timber import to reduce pressure on natural forests, approval of SOPs for control of forest fire and Plantations Trees Act (PTA) besides the establishment of three pheasantries at Bajaur, Mohmand and Kurram having 263 pheasants was achieved. An MOU has been signed under which German Support Program (GIZ) would extend financial support to 10BTAP and the World Bank has pledged to provide funds for the project.
A pledge made with BONN Challenge NGO based at Germany has been fulfilled by the KPK Government after restoring & rehabilitating a record 348,000 hectares depleted forests under billion trees project before the committed time which was a great honour for Pakistan. WWF, BONN Challenge, IUCN, COP-21, and UN General Assembly had recognised and appreciated BTAP.
Forest Department KPK has saved a huge amount of Rs 5 billion in the first phase of BTAP having a total allocation of Rs22 billion by completing all its targets on Rs17 billion. The project has been proved as an oasis for thousands of jobless labourers and daily wagers during the testing times of COVID19 lockdown.
More than 66,291 jobless laborers of others sectors were provided with green jobs in the 10BTAP during the COVID19 lock down in Pakistan including over 22,000 in KPK. As many as 123,170 (CFTs) were seized and confiscated, 1028 vehicles involved in illegal transportation of forest produce were impounded and Rs41.771 million fine recovered during the last five years. As many as 209 habitual forest offenders were arrested, 918 convicted and 141,468 kanal encroached state lands were retrieved mostly in Galiyat, DIKhan and Malakand regions.
An Environmental Tribunal (ET) was setup for swift disposal of cases against timber mafia, pollution emitting marble, chip boards and polythene plastic bags’ units and others. Likewise, Rs784.08 million revenue has been deposited in the provincial kitty besides Rs2773.487 million collected under forest development fund (FDF) during the last five years.
Forest Ordinance 2002 has been extended to merged areas and 38 new forest check posts were setup for protection of the green gold. As many as 2,060 village development committees and 200 women organisations have been formed for effective supervision of whopping plantations. As many as 13 forest officials have laid down their lives and six disabled for life in fighting against forest fire and timber mafia in last two years.
Under the PM’s Green Stimulus package around 65,000 youth would be provided employment in ‘Green Nigehabaan’ initiative under the 10 billion trees project in the country including Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
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