Millions of cubic feet of timber, worth billions of rupees, are lying on the ground as fallen timber, commonly known as windfall, in different forest areas, including Allai, according to representatives of the Forest Owners Association of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The representatives said these natural resources could generate substantial revenue if utilised through legal and regulated channels.
Addressing an emergency press conference at the Abbottabad Press Club, Forest Owners Association President Alauddin Khan, along with Khanzada Khan, Bahat-ur-Rehman, Zia-ur-Rehman, Arif Mahmood, Ehsan-ur-Rehman and Syed Afzal Shah, expressed concern over attempts by certain individuals to portray legally owned timber in Allai as illegal.
They maintained that the timber in question was legally owned by local forest owners and should be allowed to be utilised under the applicable procedures.
The representatives explained that timber harvesting had been an ongoing process, recalling that a ban was imposed in 1992, followed by a 10-year plan in 2002. They said the plan was approved by three departments: Revenue, Forest and Administration.
They warned that stopping legal forestry operations could encourage illegal logging and lead to widespread destruction of forest resources.
According to the association, forests belong to their respective owners, and harvesting trees through authorised channels generates substantial government revenue through income tax and various duties. They added that the entire process operates under formal monitoring by the relevant authorities.
The representatives also pointed out that forests were classified in 1872, stressing the importance of maintaining a regulated system for forest management and timber utilisation.
They emphasised that unregulated and illegal tree cutting could cause extensive damage to forest resources.
The association further stressed the importance of replanting trees after harvesting and called for greater public awareness through organised tree-planting campaigns to ensure the protection and sustainability of forests.