Climate-Smart and Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Forest Pest Management in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Review
Keywords:
Forest pests, climate change, climate-smart forestry, integrated pest management, PakistanAbstract
In Pakistan, climate change and unsustainable forest management techniques are further endangering forest ecosystems due to outbreaks of pests. Increased temperatures, change in precipitation patterns and extreme weather conditions have added to the growth and development of populations of forest pests, which are becoming threatening to the biodiversity, stability of the ecosystem and forest productivity as well. This review evaluates climate wise and novel practices to forest pest management in Pakistan with the aim of sustainable and adaptive practices that may produce less impact on the environment. The research summarizes the literature on biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), remote sensing technology and community based forest management practices. Early warning systems, pest-resistant tree species, and adaptive silvicultural practices are mentioned as the examples of climate-smart strategies, which could help to reduce the risks associated with pests. Also, new technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drones, and predictive modeling, are mentioned as means to enhance monitoring and decisions. The results show that conventional pest management practices cannot serve to meet the emerging challenges in the changing climatic conditions. Thus, the combination of modern technologies and sustainable practices is the key to efficient pest control in forests. The review wraps up by highlighting the necessity of policy backing, stakeholder involvement, and additional research in building robust forest management infrastructures in Pakistan.
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