“There is a need to create strong coherence between national focal points and provincial contexts in order to get successful results from REDD+ to improve the livelihood of indigenous community and strengthen our national economy.” -Kanwar M Jawed Iqbal 2011

The forests in Pakistan, though diverse in nature, are quite low in cover. A great variety of species flourish owing to the country’s climatic conditions and physiographic characteristics. Pakistan recently joined the UN-REDD Programme and it has to meet REDD-plus demands of immediate formation of national level policies. REDD is a unique plan under the UNFCCC agenda that aims to arrest and contain deforestation on the one hand and enhance carbon stocks on the other in the existing forests. For Pakistan, there exists enormous opportunities to manage its natural and productive forests following the precepts of this new mechanism of REDD. This can provide a way to enhancing its carbon stock in existing forests.

However, the country’s forest cover is vanishing unchecked and the current rate of deforestation is the highest in Asia. As per new trends, forest carbon has been taken as a commodity which is tradable worldwide under the new REDD regime. Pakistan needs to amend its legislation to accommodate present trends for viable utilisation of its potential. The paper looks at the national policies and strategies and analyses the prospects of REDD-plus projects in the country in terms of regulatory framework and in accordance with the Forests Dialogue (2009) “key areas of concern and focus are the clarification and strengthening of tenure, property and carbon rights”.

References:
<http://www.envoinfo.com/2011/07/redd-to-improve-the-livelihood-of-indigenous-community-and-strengthen-our-national-economy/> accessed 14 August 2011.