Deforestation: A Growing Threat to Ecological Balance and Agricultural Productivity
As monsoon clouds gather over Nowshera, anxiety grips farmers living along the River Kabul, as sudden rises in water levels can transform their fertile fields into flooded expanses within hours. For these farmers, like 33-year-old Malyar Khan from Mohib Banda, floods are not merely a seasonal occurrence but a recurring threat to their livelihoods built over years of hard work.
Standing beside his two acres of maize field, Malyar was diligently draining floodwater with a large water pump, assisted by his brothers Hussain Khan and Kamal Khan. The previous night’s torrential rains had caused the River Kabul to swell, inundating their maize and orchard crops, prompting them to bring a pump from Pabbi Bazaar to salvage whatever they could.
"The heavy rains suddenly raised the water level in the River Kabul, and our crops were inundated," Malyar recounted, his eyes brimming with sorrow over previous floods that had also damaged his agricultural land. His story encapsulates the growing vulnerability of communities living along the Kabul River, particularly in Nowshera, Charsadda, and Peshawar, where low-lying settlements and agricultural lands remain exposed to flash floods during monsoon seasons.
Recent heavy rains in upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral and Dir, have once again elevated water levels downstream, inundating low-lying areas and causing environmental degradation and financial losses for farming communities. However, beyond these recurring disasters lies a more profound environmental concern: the steady degradation of the province’s forests, which exacerbates flood risks.
Taheedul Haq, former Conservator of Forests in KP, emphasized that Pakistan is among the countries highly vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events, with the 2010 and 2022 floods serving as stark reminders. He noted that deforestation has significantly contributed to increasing flood risks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where forests, often described as the province’s "green gold," are under immense pressure from rapid population growth, poverty, unemployment, and growing demands for fuel and timber.
"The connection between forests and flood protection is crucial," Haq explained. Healthy forests slow down rainfall runoff, enabling water to infiltrate into the soil, reducing erosion, and helping stabilize river watersheds. "When trees are removed, rainwater can flow rapidly over exposed slopes, carrying soil and debris into rivers and streams, enhancing the likelihood and severity of flash floods."
For residents of flood-prone areas like Nowshera, Charsadda, and Peshawar, this environmental degradation is becoming increasingly evident in recent years.
