Rome (TDI): Pakistan received major international recognition as its flagship initiative “Reversing Deforestation and Degradation in High Conservation Value Chilgoza Pine Forests” was honored as one of the UN World Restoration Flagships at FAO headquarters.
The ceremony was part of Food and Agriculture Organization’s 80th Anniversary and the World Food Forum in Italy.
Implemented between 2018 and 2025 under The Restoration Initiative, the project represents a strong collaboration between the government of Pakistan, ministry of climate change, provincial forest departments, and the FAO of the United Nations.
The work focuses on conserving and restoring Pakistan’s unique Chilgoza pine forests across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah, Advisor to the Prime Minister, highlighted that the initiative restored 3,800 hectares of degraded forest land, developed sustainable forest management plans for 69,000 hectares, and planted over one million Chilgoza pine seedlings.
Read More: EU Lawmakers Seek Stronger Climate, Trade, Development Ties With Pakistan
More than 30,000 households directly benefited through training, tools, and innovative technologies. He underscored that these achievements were delivered in some of the most remote and ecologically sensitive mountain regions, where access challenges and harsh environments demand strong collaboration with local communities.
The success fully reflects the power of community-led restoration to protect biodiversity while enabling dignified livelihood opportunities.
Dr. Shah noted that the government has already begun scaling up this integrated restoration approach in other fragile ecosystems through domestic public financing, demonstrating long-term commitment and strong sustainability beyond project cycles.
“We are grateful for this global recognition and the partnerships that made this achievement possible,” he said. “Pakistan remains dedicated to expanding this model to safeguard our natural heritage and secure a greener, more resilient future for our people.”
During his visit to FAO, the Advisor also held a high-level meeting with the FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, to further strengthen collaboration in agriculture transformation, ecosystem restoration, and rural development.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
