Amid rising temperatures, canopy trees plantations vital to enhance rainfall prospects

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2026) Amidst intensifying climate challenges, environmentalists and forestry experts are urging city planners and public to embrace planting of native conopy trees to boost chances rains to beating rising temperature in the country.

These green giants are not only purify the air and provide shade to people, but its also help cool cities and may even boost chances of rainfall imperative to combat air pollution and scorching heat during summer.

“Canopy trees like Siris, Pipal, Bakin, and Shisham are nature’s air conditioners and its large scale plantation will help control rising temperatures,” said Tauheed Khan, former Conservator of Forests Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) while talking to APP on Sunday.

"The chances of rains becomes dim while cutting conopy trees down for housing schemes as urban expansion had left cities like Peshawar choking on heat and air pollution," he said.

Once blessed with rich forest cover and biodiversity, Peshawar is now reeling from the environmental cost of rapid urbanization and axing of canopy trees.

The memoir of Mughal Emperor Zaheeruddin Babar, spoke of thick forests and abundant wildlife around the city that were now disappeared.

Today, the view from Surey Bridge near Balahisar fort offers a stark contrast where a grey haze of pollution hovering over buildings, once a lush green canopy, were now reduced to concrete structures while encroachment marred historic gardens of Shahi Bagh and Wazirbagh.

According to Tahueed Khan, Pakistan is home to over 200 native tree species, and nine unique forest ecosystems, many found nowhere else in the world.

“A single healthy canopy tree can supply oxygen to four people and absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide daily,” he said. In fact, just one hectare of such trees can absorb six to eight tons of CO2 every day.

This becomes all the more critical as Peshawar and other urban centers face a dangerous rise in PM2.5 — fine particulate matter that poses serious health risks.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) KP officials said that PM2.5 particles are small enough to bypass the body’s defenses, settling deep in the lungs and bloodstream, causing heart attacks, strokes, and chronic respiratory diseases.

EPA studies found PM2.5 level pollution in Peshawar up to 52 micrograms per cubic meter, which is over three times of the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) limit.

These pollutants can stay in the air for days, and the only sustainable solution lies in planting and preserving canopy trees, which naturally filter the environment.

While the provincial government launches seasonal plantation drives, experts highlighted systemic flaws in tree selection, care, and follow-up mechanism, resulting negative outcomes of springs and monsoon plantations.

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Wajid Ali, former KP Forest Minister, criticized the preference for ornamental or non-native species especially eucalyptus over cost-effective and hardy indigenous trees.

“We saw failed attempts to plant date palms on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, despite past failures in Islamabad’s Blue Area. These species simply aren’t suited to the region’s climate,” he said.

In addition, Peshawar's native birds and aquatic life are dwindling due to deforestation and habitats loss. Once a haven for Cranes and Houbara Bustard, Peshawar’s outskirts are now quiet. Rivers Swat and Kabul have also seen a sharp decline in Mahseer and Trout populations, both affected by warming waters and polluted runoff.

Latifur Rehman, spokesperson of KP Forest and Environmental Deptt told APP that 10 billion trees project, led by the KP government, has shown grest promise that greatly increased afforestration area in KP.

A total of 10 new forests including first man-made Ghari Chandan modeled after Changa Manga was established near Peshawar where millions of native saplings, particularly canopy species, have been planted to combat rising temperature, reduce air pollution, and help bring back rainfall patterns,” he shared.

The government is now scaling this initiative through the billion trees plus program, prioritizing canopy trees to fight urban heat and restore ecological balance besides boost chances of rainfall.

He said all available resources, field formations, and institutional capacities are being mobilized to safeguard the province’s forests from the growing threat of wildfires and environmental degradation.

He said comprehensive arrangements were made for the monsoon plantation campaign 2026 with a target to plant 1.4 million saplings across the province on Pakistan Independence ie 14 August.

This massive plantations drive will surpass the previous plantation record established by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department on 23 March 2026, setting a new benchmark in community-driven afforestation and green development.

The campaign symbolizes not merely the planting of trees, but the sowing of hope, sustainability, and prosperity for future generations.

"A nation that plants today secures the shade of tomorrow." Through collective action and unwavering dedication, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is charting a path toward a greener landscape, cleaner environment, and a more sustainable future.

Canopy trees are not just green ornaments but they are lifelines for overheated, overbuilt cities. Their roots hold more than soil and hold the promise of clean air, cool shade, and even the possibility of rains.