Pointing out that environmentalists have expressed grave concern over the illegal cutting of trees, the report also has it that this might lead to serious disturbance in the ecological balance of the province.
Recalling that, as a sequel to launch of around 15 forest management plans in 2000-01 mostly funded by Asian Development Bank, the stock area had increased by 200 percent under control of the forest department by June 2000, but rampant illegal woodcutting has resulted in unofficial disposal of about as much as 50 percent of the growth.
Again, attributing massive illegal cutting of trees, to a mafia, with the tacit support of a number of politically influential farmers, the report has pointed to the need of an inquiry to reveal startling facts of corruption and financial mismanagement.
Reference, in this regard, has been made to inquiry reports of two conservators of forests, both pointing to embezzlement of millions of rupees, besides identifying the culprits. More to this, a reference regarding corruption has already been submitted to NAB pertaining to loss of around rupees 100 million by six top officials of the forest department.
Mention may also be made here of the revelation in the news report that when the forest department was free of political interference, 1,610 offences were detected during three years, and an amount of Rs 5.59 million was recovered, as value plus compensation, besides dismissal or compulsory retirement of the culprits.
Early last month the NAB was reported to have started investigation into alleged misappropriation of Rs 11.833 million in the Sindh Forestry Development project. The amount was, reportedly, released during 2002-04, for "reforestation of harvested and irrigated area for plantation on 2500 hectares in Thatta and Badin districts, under the provincial government's Rs 61.55 million scheme in 2002, for completion by 2007.
However, although the amount was stated to have been used for the desired purpose, it was found, on inspection, that no planting had taken place. The official executing the scheme was reported to have maintained that the plants had died due to poor maintenance.
Consequently, the Finance Department was stated to have stopped further release of funds for 2004-05. While the irregularity, reported to the department in April last, remained unheeded, the Finance Department directed the Sindh Forest Department to fix the responsibility for wastage of government money. Worse though is happening to forests in Sindh, it goes without saying that the situation elsewhere in the country is none the happier.
It will be noted from all available indications, that the ambitious plans for forestry development in the country have failed to yield the desired results.
This should leave little to doubt about the fact that even the efforts of a decade for implementation of the 25-year National Forest Master Plan, drawn in 1992-93, the forest area in the country could register only an increase of no more than 0.33 million hectares, out of the total reported area of 59.45 million hectares.
This increase, resulting from investment of billions of rupees, would appear to be no more than a drop in the ocean. That was probably why the government launched, two years ago, an 'Incentive-oriented Package' for farmers to increase the forest area.
Moreover, the Environment Division of the Federal Government was also reported to have prepared a Rs 1.15 billion project for forest promotion by the farmers. However, viewed in the perspective of the vital role of forests, in a variety of ways the overall situation as now obtaining, will appear as leaving a great deal to be desired.
This is, however, not to say that the government is averse to doing the needful. But intentions alone can hardly be expected to yield the desired results. This has reference to a news report appearing in April, about the preparation of a comprehensive National Forest Policy within next two months, as a part of the Draft Environment Policy.
According to it, the government was carrying out intensive institutional and legal reforms both at the federal and provincial levels to promote good forest governance. However, that initiative is yet awaited.