ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (APP): The Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI), the country\u2019s leading forestry research and training centre, is poised to become a degree-awarding institution\u2014a strategic advancement that will enhance Pakistan\u2019s capacity to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation through education and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Anwar Ali, Director of Forest Education and Forestry Research at PFI, told Wealth Pakistan that the institute is ready to launch a new suite of degree programs aimed at producing a skilled workforce for the country\u2019s green sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have planned to start three undergraduate programs, including BS in Climate Change and BS in Biodiversity and Wildlife Management, along with higher degrees such as MS, MPhil, and PhD in Forestry, Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Wildlife,\u201d Dr. Anwar revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis expansion will create a new generation of professionals capable of addressing Pakistan\u2019s pressing environmental challenges.\u201d The planned transformation of PFI into a degree-awarding institution is expected to fill a critical gap in Pakistan\u2019s environmental education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Anwar highlighted that almost all practicing foresters in the country are PFI graduates. \u201cAt PFI, students not only receive classroom education but also hands-on training from researchers. This blend of research and teaching makes our graduates uniquely skilled,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encouraging young people to consider a career in forestry, he said, \u201cIf you are a true nature lover and have enthusiasm, then the sky is the limit. This is a field where you can contribute directly to the planet\u2019s survival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCities and countries with strong forestry education and policies are always more climate-resilient and economically competitive. For Pakistan, investing in forest education today means a healthier environment, stronger disaster resilience, and new opportunities in the global carbon market tomorrow,\u201d Dr. Anwar remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that Pakistan\u2019s forests are not just natural resources but critical shields against disasters. \u201cForests are essential for our survival and resilience in the face of prolonged droughts, catastrophic floods, rising temperatures, heatwaves, and other extreme weather events,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that Pakistan\u2019s vast rangelands, barren lands, and agroforestry resources could support green projects on a massive scale. \u201cAround 60 percent of the country is rangeland, which makes us unique. With agroforestry systems already in place, the scope for reforestation and afforestation projects is enormous,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlighting the transformation of forestry as a discipline, Dr. Anwar said it had evolved far beyond timber harvesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur ecosystems play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, watershed and soil protection, and climate change mitigation. Increasingly, private actors are entering the sector to develop projects for carbon and biodiversity credits,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Anwar described carbon credits as a key financial tool for Pakistan to tap into the global carbon market. \u201cThere are three main ways to generate carbon credits: carbon removal or sequestration, emission avoidance, and emission reduction. When you remove one tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere, that is counted as one carbon credit,\u201d he said. He said that with proper management of forests and range lands, Pakistan can earn significant revenues through carbon credits while also contributing to global climate goals. \u201cForestry is no longer just about planting trees; it\u2019s about integrating Pakistan into the international green economy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (APP): The Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI), the country\u2019s leading forestry research and training centre, is poised to become a degree-awarding institution\u2014a strategic advancement that will enhance Pakistan\u2019s capacity to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation through education and innovation. Dr Anwar Ali, Director of Forest Education and Forestry Research at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n