Pakistan earns global praise as its Chilgoza Pine Forest Restoration Project wins a top UN award for reversing deforestation and supporting local livelihoods.
Pakistan’s flagship Chilgoza Pine Forest Restoration Project has brought international pride to the nation after receiving the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration World Restoration Flagship Award in Italy. The recognition was announced during the 80th anniversary celebrations of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Forum, honoring Pakistan’s successful efforts in restoring and conserving its unique forest ecosystems.
The award-winning initiative, titled “Reversing Deforestation and Degradation in High Conservation Value Chilgoza Pine Forests,” has been active since 2018 under The Restoration Initiative (TRI). The project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial forest departments, and the FAO, focusing on reversing environmental degradation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to officials, the project has successfully restored around 20% of degraded Chilgoza forests, equivalent to 3,800 hectares of land. This achievement has been made possible through a community-driven approach that includes income-generating programs, sustainable harvesting, and the establishment of pine nut processing units to benefit local livelihoods.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah emphasized that the initiative demonstrates Pakistan’s long-term commitment to environmental sustainability and inclusive forest management. He noted that the Chilgoza pine forests not only help combat climate change but also sustain rural economies.
Chilgoza pine nuts, often called “green gold,” hold significant economic value for Pakistan, generating over $25 million annually through local and international trade. The FAO’s restoration model for these forests is now being expanded nationally, supported by $3 million in funding from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forestry Department and additional domestic resources.
Environmental experts hailed the recognition as a milestone for Pakistan’s climate action efforts, highlighting that the Chilgoza restoration project sets an example of how ecological conservation and community development can go hand in hand.
