Historic Initiative: Balochistan Launches Large-Scale Pine Forest Rehabilitation in Sherani and Zhob
For the first time in the history of Balochistan, the provincial government has implemented a comprehensive vision for the protection, restoration, and sustainable development of forests and wildlife. Under this historic initiative, a detailed assessment of fire-affected pine forests in Sherani and Zhob districts has been carried out.
The activity, conducted under government directives, is being executed on a large scale with highly organized and effective measures. The project, part of the Pine Rehabilitation Initiative, is led by Chief Conservator Forests (North) Ali Imran and supervised by Conservator Zhob Circle Syed Sharaf Agha, with active participation from DFO Sherani Zubair Sherani and field staff.
The field team conducted extensive visits to fire-affected forests in Torghar, Sharglai, and Sar Lakai, observed the seed ball dispersal campaign, and lauded the involvement of local communities. Overall, the team’s planning, performance, and constant field presence have been deemed highly satisfactory.
Conservator Syed Sharaf Agha highlighted that a massive fire in May 2022 devastated large areas of valuable pine forests in Sherani, fueled by drought, strong winds, and rugged terrain. During firefighting efforts, two to three brave community volunteers were martyred while combating the blaze, a sacrifice still honored by local residents and the Forest Department. With support from Iranian water carrier jet planes, the fire was eventually brought under control under the supervision of then-Forest Secretary Dostin.
The pine forests cover approximately 30,000 to 40,000 acres and are critical for ecological balance, biodiversity, and the local economy. Thousands of mature trees and saplings were destroyed in the fire, posing a major challenge for restoration. In the current rehabilitation phase, over 1.5 million seed balls have been distributed in the affected areas, with active participation from local communities. Forest department officers and volunteers are continuously monitoring the process in the field.
Explaining the seed balls, the Conservator noted that they are small clay or compost pellets containing seeds, designed to protect them from sunlight, birds, and insects. Upon rainfall, the pellets dissolve, allowing seeds to germinate naturally. This method is particularly effective for challenging mountainous terrain and sensitive seeds like pine.
Forest and Wildlife Secretary Abdul Fattah Bhanger praised the team’s efforts and instructed that the operation be carried out in an even more coordinated, systematic, and accelerated manner to ensure long-term results.
This marks the first time that such scientifically based, large-scale measures have been undertaken for pine forest restoration in Balochistan. The initiative is being hailed locally as laying a strong foundation for the complete rehabilitation of pine forests in the future.
