Balochistan Forest department and BRSP signs
for natural resource protection
Quetta, The Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department and the Balochistan Rural Support Program (BRSP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in protecting natural resources, raising environmental awareness, preventing forest fires, promoting afforestation, and addressing the impacts of climate change.
The agreement was signed by Secretary Forest and Wildlife Balochistan, Imran Gichki, and BRSP Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tahir Rasheed, in the presence of senior officials. Under the MoU, both institutions will jointly work on the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of forests, rangelands, water resources, wildlife habitats, and other natural assets, with active involvement of local communities to encourage responsible resource use and environmental protection.
Key areas of collaboration include forest fire prevention, timely reporting, training of community volunteers, firefighting measures, and rehabilitation of affected areas. The partnership also aims to curb illegal logging, poaching, unauthorized exploitation of wildlife, and unregulated grazing through strengthened community-level monitoring systems.
Both organizations will jointly participate in tree plantation campaigns during spring and monsoon seasons, engaging rural populations, educational institutions, civil society, and the private sector. The Forest Department will provide locally available, eco-friendly saplings from its nurseries, while BRSP will mobilize communities through its extensive field network.
The MoU also highlights cooperation in agroforestry, soil and water conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and rural livelihood stability. Additionally, the two sides will promote fuel-efficient technologies and renewable energy alternatives to reduce dependence on wood fuel and ease pressure on forests.
Future collaboration will extend to climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and carbon finance initiatives, with joint efforts to secure support from national and international financial institutions and development partners.
To ensure effective coordination, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) comprising representatives of both organizations will be established, meeting quarterly to review progress and plan upcoming activities. The MoU will initially remain effective for five years, with the possibility of extension by mutual consent.
Officials hailed the partnership as a significant step toward safeguarding Balochistan’s natural resources, promoting ecological restoration, empowering local communities, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.