Land use and land cover change are affecting the global environment and ecosystems of the different biospheres. Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of these changes is of utmost importance as they often results in several global environmental consequences such as land degradation, mass erosion, habitat deterioration as well as micro and macro climate of the regions. The advance technologies like remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) are helpful in determining/ identifying these changes. In the current study area, changes in carbon stocks, notably in forest areas, are resulting in considerable dynamics of carbon stocks as a result of climate change and carbon sequestration. This study was carried out in the Diamer district of the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Pakistan to investigate the change in cover change/land use change (particularly Forest Land use) as well as carbon sequestration potential of the forests in the district during almost last 25years. The land cover, temporal Landsat data (level 1, LIT) were downloaded from the USGS EROS (2016), for 1979-1989, 1990-2000 and 2001-2012. Change in land uses, particularly forest cover was investigated using GIS techniques. Forest inventory was carried out using random sampling techniques. A standard plot of size 0.1 ha (n=80) was laid out to determine the tree density, volume, biomass and C stocks. Simulation of C stocks was accomplished by application of the CO₂FIX model with the data input from inventory. Results showed a decrease in both forest and snow cover in the region from 1979-2012. Similarly decrease was seen in tree volume, tree Biomass, dynamics of C Stocks and decrease was in occur tree density respectively. It is recommended we need further more like project such as BTAP (Billion Tree Afforestation Project) and green Pakistan project to increase the forest cover, to control on land use change, protect forest ecosystem and to protect snow cover.

Forests are valuable natural resources, beneficial for the storage of carbon, production of oxygen, protection of soil and controlling the water cycle. Despite forests providing different services to the environment, they are being destroyed at an alarming pace. Forest cover change in Murree, Pakistan over the past few years has created different climatic issues. There was a research gap on the detection of forest cover change along with climate variation in the past few years in Murree, so there is a dire need to highlight the above problem in the respective site. Further, it was equally important to keep an eye on the drivers of deforestation to give or suggest solutions accordingly to curb deforestation. The main objectives of this study are to assess forest cover change in subtropical Chir pine forests in Murree, Pakistan over the last 20 years (2001–2021) and to correlate forest cover change with the climatic variables (minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation) of the study area during this time span (2001–2021). This research also intends to identify the main drivers of deforestation in the study area. Five land-use land-cover (LULC) categories are demarcated and classified by applying a supervised classification technique (MLC) through GIS. The accuracy of classified images is assessed and analyzed using KAPPA analysis for the agreement of the image classification. Climatic data are interpolated by empirical Bayesian kriging (EBK) interpolation and it was correlated with forest cover change graphically. Drivers of deforestation are identified through a questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS. The results showed that forest area has decreased 8.26% in Murree from 2001 to 2021. Fuelwood (54%), agriculture expansion (22%), timber production (16%), and urbanization (8%) are recorded as drivers of deforestation in the study area. Climatic variables (maximum and minimum temperature and precipitation) had also shown variation in Murree, as the average maximum temperature has risen 0.26 °C, the average minimum temperature has risen 1.71 °C and annual rainfall has decreased 139.8 mm in the past 20 years (2001–2021), showing that forest decline has caused an increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall in Murree.

Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) present environmental and socioeconomic issues throughout the Globe, but many also provide unexplored possibilities for sustainable resource use. This study examines the dual purpose of Broussonetia papyrifera (Paper Mulberry), a very invasive plant in South Asia, as a biomass source for bioenergy and as unconventional livestock feed. A narrative review approach combined current literature with contextual information from recent fieldwork under review in Pakistan. The results suggest that Paper Mulberry has desirable traits for producing briquettes and bioethanol. Its leaves are nutritionally similar to traditional forages used in small livestock systems. The review also emphasizes the implications of employing IAPS concerning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly 7, 13, and 15. Despite the potential, there are still obstacles to technological readiness, awareness, and policy alignment. The study concludes that the sustainable use of IAPS, such as Paper Mulberry, can aid in ecological restoration, rural development, and clean energy transitions with careful planning and collaboration across sectors.

This study intends to evaluate the birch forest's current status and identify the main threats to the birch forest in District Skardu, Baltistan, Pakistan. This study aimed to investigate the connection between problems and anthropogenic activities, and threats, which had negatively affected the ratio of Birch trees in District Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan. The research has highlighted the importance of forest-based industry as its socioeconomic impact on the local community. A questionnaire was used to determine the socioeconomic importance and hazards facing the birch forest, highlighting issues like fuelwood gathered, deforestation, climate change, and catastrophic events. Additionally, Tehsil Roundu, District Skardu, used random fixed plot sampling to evaluate the forest. The studies stated 75% of people in rural areas including the urban area used Birch forest for, packing purposes, furniture making, and other anthropogenic activities due to mentioned factors it declared as threatened species. In the previous studies and records of 10 to 15 years, comparatively the Birch forest has declined 5 to 6%, which is a serious threat and environmental challenge. About 88% of people responded that deforestation is the primary driver in the reduction of Birch forest status, the studies also revealed that 75% of local communities used it for fuel wood and furniture making, 69% believed that it could be best used for multiple disease treatment.

This study investigates the population census and socioeconomic impacts of Salix species in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. Comprehensive field surveys and structured interviews were carried out in Danyore, Hunza, and Nagar to measure species density and evaluate community dependence on these essential resources to measure species density and evaluate community dependence on these essential resources. Comprehensive field surveys and structured interviews were conducted in Danyore, Hunza, and Nagar to measure species density and evaluate community dependence on these essential resources. The findings show statistically significant (p < 0.05) variations in tree height and diameter among areas and an uneven distribution of Salix tetrasparma throughout the region, with Nagar showing the highest density. According to socioeconomic data, 42.2% of respondents know Salix's medicinal advantages, while 91.1% utilize it for fuelwood. The sustainability of these species is threatened by overexploitation and habitat degradation despite their vital significance in agroforestry, land restoration, and handicraft production. The study offers important baseline data to guide conservation plans, sustainable management techniques, and governmental efforts to protect Gilgit-Baltistan's Salix species' ecological and economic value.