Recent large-scale tree cutting across the capital, officially attributed to public health concerns over pollen allergies, is also significantly driven by unplanned infrastructure development that has cleared vast tracts of vegetation, according to field evidence released by WWF-Pakistan.
A report said today the conservation organisation’s field assessments show that while the management of the invasive Paper Mulberry is a factor, substantial vegetation loss is directly linked to development activities. Land clearing for the proposed monument site on the H-8 Islamabad Expressway and for the Margalla Enclave Link Road has resulted in the loss of urban tree and vegetation cover across five and 10-15 hectares, respectively.
This evidence suggests that not all tree removal is limited to the allergenic Paper Mulberry, underscoring what the organisation calls a need for more structured, transparent, and science-driven urban tree management.
‘Any infrastructure-related tree removal must be preceded by legally compliant environmental impact assessments (EIAs), followed by transparent disclosure and avoidance-first planning to ensure long term ecological integrity,’ stated Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Director Forests at WWF-Pakistan.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has maintained that its operations target the Paper Mulberry to address public health issues related to seasonal allergies. WWF-Pakistan supports managing invasive species but stresses that all such activities must incorporate ecological safeguards to protect the city’s overall urban tree cover.
Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), a non-native and highly invasive species, has aggressively colonised natural vegetation pockets and parts of the Margalla foothills. It is known for suppressing native tree regeneration, ground flora, and associated wildlife habitats, with its complete eradication considered impractical due to its rapid and resilient growth.
Mr Khan warned of the broader ecological damage from extensive clearing operations. ‘Large-scale removal such as this disturbs soils, damages understory vegetation, displaces urban wildlife, and risks unintended removal of native species and natural regeneration,’ he cautioned.
In response, WWF-Pakistan has put forward a structured strategy for the gradual management and replacement of Paper Mulberry. The plan advocates for priority-based zoning, using GIS mapping to identify the species” extent and density to facilitate evidence-informed decisions rather than uniform, city-wide clearance.
The organisation recommends focusing on high-pollen exposure areas, such as schools and hospitals, for the targeted removal of pollen-producing male trees. This would be followed by ecological stump management to prevent regrowth and the on-site replacement with native species within appropriate planting seasons, all supported by sustained aftercare to bolster urban ecological resilience and full compliance with EIA regulations.