Causes of Deforestation and Its Geological Impacts in Swat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The most alarming threat to the forest are human being, their actions results transformation of forest lands representing one of the excessive forces in worldwide ecological change and one of the great drivers of biodiversity loss. Human activity is continuous and has a profound impact. Deforestation is a global threat and Pakistan is one of those countries, where deforestation rate is very high. This study was designed in order to find out the causes and impacts of deforestation and forest degradation in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, by incorporating the view of local people through a questionnaire. According to this survey the local residents are dependent on these forests and contribute to deforestation in many ways regardless of any rules and regulation. Extensive deforestation in Swat is the result of daily livelihood use of forests furniture, heating, agriculture etc. Unemployment and poverty also plays a key role in forest degradation. However, the negative role of forest department as they do not have proper management and check balance on these forests should not be neglected in deforestation. In the current study the geological impacts like landslides and soil erosion has also been discussed as 78% of the local residents were also aware of the fact that with degradation of forest this hazard increases.