The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Forestry Department plans to plant more than 550,000 trees across 10,000 kanals of land in the Spin Khak area of Nowshera under its peri-urban forestry initiative.
The project, launched by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on August 14, is being carried out under the multi-billion Peshawar Revitalization Plan.
Peshawar Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Shakeel said the plantation would cover the entire 10,000-kanal area by March next year. The department will maintain the plantation for four years before handing the land back to the local community.
As part of the project, the department will plant indigenous species including kikar, sheesham and beri. More than 20,000 olive plants, along with black pepper, will also be planted to create financial benefits for local residents and encourage community participation in maintaining the forest.
Fruit-bearing trees, including pomegranate, jujube, apricot and plum, will also be planted in different parts of the area.
To support the plantation, the department is constructing two rainwater reservoirs and plans to install two solar-powered tubewells. The reservoirs are also expected to help improve the local water table.
The Peshawar Forest Division planted at least 50,000 plants at the site on September 6 as part of its Defence Day Plantation drive.
Local residents have provided jointly owned land for the project under an agreement with the Forestry Department. Community members are also expected to receive employment opportunities as laborers and through other project-related work.
The department previously planted more than 45,000 trees in the nearby Jabori Khattak area.
Spin Khak and Jabori Khattak are both located around 30 minutes from the Ghari Chandan urban forest, which was developed under the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Programme between 2014 and 2019.
Officials said Ghari Chandan has started generating financial returns for the local community. Eucalyptus coppicing generated Rs. 12 million last year, while revenue is expected to reach Rs. 60 million this year.
Around 80% of the proceeds go to the local community, while the remaining funds are used for further plantation and hiring forest guards.
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