Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab/1.4.40

Keyword: Livelihood, agricultural transformation, agro-pastoral, adaptation, diversification, Karakoram, global warming.

Abstract: The country, Pakistan has only five percent (5%) land cover is under forest which is on decline rapidly. Most of the forest is in the northern areas but several factors are influencing negatively. Climate change phenomenon has expedited deforestation. With increase in population, pressure on forest in Baltistan has also increased while climate change factors are unfavorable for its regeneration. Present study was aimed at investigation into community perception on climate change and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Baltistan. Research revealed that forest cover has on decline (either highly decreasedor decreased) like vegetation cover which has also decreased, particularly near villages more as compared to pastures. Similarly, temperature has increased in winter and spring as compared to summer and autumn. Snowfall has decreased during spring more as compared to winters. Contrast to snowfall, rainfall has increased in spring followed by winter, autumn and summer. Glacier sizes are shrinking and monsoon floods have highly increased flowed by melt water increase in channels. Due to change in other climatic factors, crop sowing, fruiting and harvesting periods have prolonged and have a backward shifting trend. Diseases on the plants have increase but in contrast annual yield has increased. Overall indigenous biodiversity has decreased but new bird species have increased. We conclude that there is a visible but unfavorable change is underway forcing every corner of life to shift and adjust itself with new adaptation strategies. Agro pastoral communities in the area feel a threat to their livelihood options if these pathetic changes continue in the future as their reliance has increased on natural resources and ecosystem services for their survival. Climate change and forest decline are some physically verifiable factors and phenomenon and not a simple scientific theory in the lives of rural communities of Baltistan like rest of Gilgit-Baltistan. Government, non-government and civil society organizations need to consider diversification of livelihood options and impacting on adverse factors contributing into climate change undesirably in the area.

Total View: 2424

Downloads: 695

Page No: 0907-0911

Cite this Article:

Rehana Batool, Tika Khan, Rehmat Karim, Sultan Ahmed et al."Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective". International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology(ISSN: 2456-1878),vol 1, no. 4, 2016, pp.0907-0911 AI Publications doi:10.22161/ijeab/1.4.40

Rehana Batool, Tika Khan, Rehmat Karim, Sultan Ahmed, P.(2016).Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective. International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology(ISSN: 2456-1878).1(4), 0907-0911.10.22161/ijeab/1.4.40

Rehana Batool, Tika Khan, Rehmat Karim, Sultan Ahmed, P.(2016).Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective. International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology(ISSN: 2456-1878).1(4), pp.0907-0911.

Rehana Batool, Tika Khan, Rehmat Karim, Sultan Ahmed. 2016."Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective". International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology(ISSN: 2456-1878).1(4):0907-0911.Doi:10.22161/ijeab/1.4.40

Rehana Batool, Tika Khan, Rehmat Karim, Sultan Ahmed."Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective", International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology,vol.1,no. 4, pp.0907-0911,2016.

@article { rehanabatool2016climate,
title={Climate and forest cover changes in district Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: A Community Perspective},
author={Rehana Batool, Tika Khan, Rehmat Karim, Sultan Ahmed , R},
journal={International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology},
volume={1},
year= {2016} ,
}