PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department has launched a pilot bamboo cultivation project in the province’s southern districts to promote climate resilience, restore degraded land, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
The initiative, titled “Pilot Bamboo Cultivation in Southern Districts for Livelihood Improvement and Climate Resilience,” is being implemented by the Research and Development (R&D) Directorate of the Forest Department. It will initially cover the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, and Kohat.
According to the department, the project is designed to address the growing impacts of climate change in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where prolonged droughts, declining soil fertility, land degradation, soil erosion, flash floods, and the depletion of natural resources have adversely affected both the environment and local livelihoods.
As part of the initiative, the department will undertake scientific and environmental assessments, establish a modern research nursery, and develop around 230 acres of pilot and demonstration plantations. Several bamboo species, including Bambusa vulgaris, will be tested to evaluate their suitability under the region’s climatic and soil conditions.
Officials said the project also aims to strengthen the capacity of local communities, particularly farmers and young people, through technical training, practical demonstrations, and guidance on bamboo cultivation, plantation management, value addition, and bamboo-based enterprises. The initiative is expected to generate new employment opportunities, promote green entrepreneurship, and support sustainable rural development.
The Forest Department highlighted that bamboo offers significant environmental benefits, including land restoration, soil erosion control, moisture conservation, biodiversity enhancement, and increased carbon sequestration. Once established, bamboo can be harvested for decades without replanting, making it a renewable and environmentally sustainable source of income.
The project aligns with the “Green Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Vision” of Chief Minister Muhammad Suhail Afridi and is expected to serve as a model for climate-smart forestry and sustainable land management across the province.
Officials expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to environmental conservation while strengthening climate resilience and improving the socio-economic conditions of communities in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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