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Environmental Risk Assessment in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains of Northern Pakistan: Palas Valley, Kohistan

Author

Listed:
  • Noor Ul Haq

    (Department of Geography, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25100, KP, Pakistan)

  • George Kontakiotis

    (Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Earth Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece)

  • Hammad Tariq Janjuhah

    (Department of Geology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal 18050, KP, Pakistan)

  • Fazlur Rahman

    (Department of Urban & Regional Planning, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25100, KP, Pakistan)

  • Iffat Tabassum

    (Department of Geography, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25100, KP, Pakistan)

  • Usman Khan

    (Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via SanCamillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Jamil Khan

    (Department of Geography, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25100, KP, Pakistan)

  • Zahir Ahmad

    (Department of Geography, Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, PB, Pakistan)

  • Naveed Jamal

    (Department of Geography, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25100, KP, Pakistan)

Abstract

Forest cover in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountains of northern Pakistan has changed dramatically due to community dynamics such as population growth, household dynamics, and intensive economic activity for people’s livelihoods. Demographic development is one of the major factors influencing forest cover change in a previously sparsely populated environment. An abrupt upsurge in population exerts adverse effects on the local natural resources, specifically forests. The present research shows an increase in population from 1980 to 2017, the development of human settlements, and a long-term decline in forest cover. This study was conducted in the Palas valley in the HKH mountains using GIS and remote sensing (RS) technology. Analysis of the changes between 1980, 2000, and 2017 was done using ArcGIS and the maximum likelihood algorithm for supervised classification of Landsat MSS TM ETM+ and Sentinel 2A satellite images. We used Euclidean distances and buffer analysis techniques to identify that most changes occurred within 1 to 3 km of the settlement’s proximity in each period. We also found changes in forest cover to be much greater near settlements than elsewhere in the study area. According to the findings of the study, population explosion and other socio-economic factors have imposed excessive pressure on vegetation cover, resulting in the loss of 17,076 ha of forests in the remote Palas valley.

Suggested Citation

  • Noor Ul Haq & George Kontakiotis & Hammad Tariq Janjuhah & Fazlur Rahman & Iffat Tabassum & Usman Khan & Jamil Khan & Zahir Ahmad & Naveed Jamal, 2022. "Environmental Risk Assessment in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains of Northern Pakistan: Palas Valley, Kohistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:24:p:16679-:d:1001794
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Khuc, Quy Van & Tran, Bao Quang & Meyfroidt, Patrick & Paschke, Mark W., 2018. "Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Vietnam: An exploratory analysis at the national level," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 128-141.
    5. Zeb, Alam & Hamann, Andreas & Armstrong, Glen W. & Acuna-Castellanos, Dante, 2019. "Identifying local actors of deforestation and forest degradation in the Kalasha valleys of Pakistan," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 56-64.
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