MITHI: Leaders of Karo­on­jhar Sujag Forum, rights activists, members of civil society and common people living in Thar have urged high-ups of the Sindh government to protect various types of trees in Parkar and other areas of the desert region.

Talking to Dawn on Wed­nes­day, they showed deep concern over unchecked fel­l­ing of trees, which were already facing extinction due to droughts and greed of people who cut them down and sold them to the timber mafia.

They said some people were involved in extracting the gum resin from the trees/shrubs of Gugaral (commiphora mukul) trees by applying various chemicals after making cuts in the branches of trees. “This lethal practice going on for years is believed to be the main reason for desertification in the desert district, especially in the Parkar region,” added Prof Noor Ahmed Janjhi, a writer and environmentalist, from Thar region.

He said it was high time to create awareness among people regarding the importance of trees and their positive effects in the wake of devastating impacts of climate change.

He maintained that there was an urgent need to launch a massive drive against the trends contributing to desertification in the area where people were also dependent on trees both for their food and the fodder for their animals during the drought years.

Prof Janjhi said it was not only need of the hour to protect the existing species of flora and fauna, but also to plant more trees in the arid zone of the country to combat the looming threats of climate change which, he said, was attaining intensity in Thar in various shapes.

When contacted, forum’s leaders Allah Rakhio Khoso and Zulfikar Ali, Moham­mad Saleem told this repor­ter that various mafias were involved in the extraction of gum from Gugaral trees by using toxic chemicals.

They deplored the fact that despite their campaign to save the beautiful hills of Karoonjhar from further extraction of precious granite and felling of trees, a number of greedy people in connivance with the officials of the relevant department and local influential figures were busy in destruction of trees, shrubs and herbs having medicinal properties.

They alleged that despite a strict ban imposed by the home department of Sindh on cutting trees and using the chemicals to get gum, the practice was continuing in the presence of police and other state institutions deployed in the region bordering India.

“Some policemen were also tortured by those involved in the illegal practice when they tried to stop them from using the toxic chemicals on the trees a few days back,” they added.

They maintained that unless Karoonjhar hills were declared a national park by the Sindh government, such illegal activities would continue to deface Parkar region.

Khalil Kumbhar, a Thari poet, said that cutting of trees and hunting of rare species in the whole district were among the top issues of the vast region. He dem­an­ded that a complete ban on them be ensured to leave the same beautiful Thar for the coming generations.

Mr Kumbhar informed that the gum being extrac­ted from shrubs was being sold at Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 per 40kg in the markets of big cities.

Advocate Kashif Bajeer said illegal practices of extrac­ting the gum, china clay and granite had already caused massive damage to the environment and the ecology of the region. He demanded punitive actions against those directly invol­v­ed or those who were abetting them in their criminal activities.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019