Moreover, rising energy needs driven by rapid urbanisation have increased demand for coal and oil extraction, which has toxic effects on water systems and local aquatic habitats. Similarly, the mining of raw materials such as gold, iron, aluminium and silicon leaves deep scars on the landscape, causing long-term degradation of natural habitats across the world.
Species extinctions, dead waterways and deforestation are an existential threat to all humans, animals and plants. When forests are cleared, animals lose their homes and food sources, while plant species disappear. Tree cutting accelerates land degradation, reduces its capacity to absorb rainwater and disrupts transpiration, a major source of tropical rainfall. Floods occur more frequently, destroying food chains and economic assets. Clearing forests for timber, firewood and other uses undermines soil fertility and weakens ecosystems, affecting wildlife and communities that depend on forests for food and livelihoods.
One of the most serious impacts of deforestation on climate is the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to reduced photosynthesis, which intensifies global warming and disrupts cool and humid environments. Trees are the Earth’s carbon warehouses, as they absorb carbon from the air and store it in their leaves, trunks and roots. When trees are cut or burned, this carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. The resulting rise in greenhouse gases fuels droughts, forest fires and more frequent and intense hurricanes and typhoons.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about 10 million hectares of forests — an area roughly the size of Portugal — are cleared every year. Tree felling in tropical regions alone releases more than 5.6 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, contributing to rising temperatures. UNEP data suggest the planet could warm by 2.5°C to 2.9°C this century, triggering widespread climate conundrums. Cutting fossil-fuel emissions and restoring forests are therefore essential to slowing climate change and keeping global warming below 1.5°C, as envisaged under the Paris Agreement.
In Pakistan, there is a clear correlation between rampant deforestation and worsening climate impacts, including cloudbursts, landslides and wildfires. According to Global Forest Watch (GFW), 1,769 high-confidence Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) fire alerts were reported between January 27, 2025 and February 2, 2026. Declining forest cover in Azad Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and other regions has increased the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, leading to environmental degradation, disruption of human settlements and displacement of vulnerable communities. GFW data also indicate that Pakistan lost approximately 9.5 thousand hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2024.
Forests not only maintain soil productivity but also protect mountains from fragmentation and erosion. They support rich biodiversity and play a vital role in stabilising the climate. Conservation has therefore become indispensable for sustainability of forests which can be further boosted by integrating advance technologies and meaningful engagement with local communities for promoting ecotourism and protecting areas with rare tree species. The government should enforce robust measures and promote practices such as smart logging to safeguard forest land.
In Britain, for example, it is illegal to cut down trees without permission. Similar conservation mechanisms should be adopted in Pakistan. Large-scale replanting would further strengthen conservation efforts and serve as a nature-based solution to slashing greenhouse gas emissions. By allowing existing trees to grow old, carbon in large quantity can be sequestered. Furthermore, recycling timber, paper and cardboard can reduce the demand for wood products and slow the rate of tree felling. One tonne of wastepaper is equivalent to approximately 17 trees. Therefore, recycling and reusing wastepaper helps conserve forest resources. In addition, the use of alternative renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the exploitation of forest wood as a domestic fuel in rural areas.
Protecting natural ecosystems and ensuring sustainable forest management are among the most effective ways to curb climate pollution. The role of urban forests in mitigating the climate stress is also widely recognised. Thus, these forests must be encouraged to build the resilience of cities. Moreover, policymakers must make strategies to ensure sustainable forest management, which also regulates hydrological cycles and buffers extreme temperatures harmful to human health. The government needs comprehensive legal, policy and implementation reforms to address ecological devastation and climate insecurity. Like other developing countries, Pakistan must address the complex drivers of deforestation — population growth, housing construction and agricultural expansion — because curbing large-scale logging is essential to combating climate crisis.