Can REDD+ reverse the growing deforestation and degradation of forests?
Syed Mahmood Nasir* and Ch Javed Ahmed** Pakistan is reported to have lost 0.625 m ha or 25% of its forests between 1990 -2005. The basis of these estimates and causes of deforestation at the country level are not well documented. However, relatively detailed information is available on deforestation and forest degradation for Hazara and Malakand civil divisions, which have the highest percentage of forests in the country. Therefore, these forests were selected for an analysis of the situation and examination of the potential of REDD+ to reverse the processes of deforestation and degradation. Fischer, et al (2010) reported that in Hazara and Malakand forested areas decreased from 677,230 ha to 570,221 ha (15.8%) over a period of 12 years (1996-2008). This change in land use added 93,815 ha of forest-land into rangeland and 13,194 ha into agricultural use. In addition to net loss of forest, in the same period, forest degradation resulted in 32 per cent decrease in high-density, 27 per c
