Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation implementation in northern Pakistan

• Deforestation and forest degradation caused by diseases is significant in Pakistan.
• EDGAR and REAS CO2 emission inventories are not representative over Pakistan.
• NDVI and calculated forest area has increased from year 2000–2012 over selected site.
• Study site has huge potential of generating carbon credits and financial revenue.

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is a mechanism to cut down GHG emissions and to protect the threatened forest ecosystems. Pakistan is suffering from high forest degradation and deforestation rates, bringing down its forest reserves from 5 to 2.5%. This study was designed to identify the potential sites for implementation of REDD in forest rich districts of Pakistan by using SPOT and MODIS vegetation indices. Change in forest cover was assessed during the time period of 2000–2012 in addition to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released and/or absorbed over the study area. Results showed an increase in NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) by 9.7 and 11.6% based on SPOT and MODIS observations, respectively. On the other hand CO2 emission inventory data from EDGAR (Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research) and REAS (Regional Emission inventory for ASia) showed an overall increasing trend which is mostly due to anthropogenic sources. Finally, CO2 emissions calculated using carbon stock data and forest cover change exhibited a net sequestration of atmospheric CO2 with huge potential of REDD implementation in the selected district of Dir, Pakistan.