Abstract
Human population growth and the accompanying increase in anthropogenic activities pose a significant threat to forest ecosystems by reducing the natural services these ecosystems provide. Malam Jabba, located in the District Swat of Pakistan's Hindukush-Himalayan temperate zone, is known for its ecotourism, skiing, timber-producing tree species, medicinal plants, and unique biodiversity. However, a large portion of Swat Valley's population depends on the Malam Jabba forests for timber and fuelwood. This study investigates how deforestation rates have increased in response to the growing human population in Malam Jabba, District Swat. To monitor forest cover changes, we used remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) tools. Vegetation analysis was conducted using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based on multi-temporal satellite imagery from 1980, 2000, and 2020. Using a decay model, we calculated the deforestation rate from 1980 to 2020 and projected future rates using MATLAB, based on anticipated population growth. Our results show that over the last two decades, the average annual deforestation rate rose from 0.7% to 1.93%, coinciding with a population increase from 1.2 million to 2.3 million at a growth rate of 9% per year. Projections indicate that the deforestation rate will increase to 2.5% annually over the next 20 years, given the predicted 11.6% yearly population growth. Population growth in District Swat has severely endangered nearby forest ecosystems, and further increases in human activity, such as unsustainable tourism, fuel and timber collection, and urbanization, will likely exacerbate this trend. Based on our findings, we recommend: (i) the implementation of reforestation programs and sustainable forest resource use; (ii) the development of a long-term forest management plan that maintains equilibrium between forest density and population pressure; and (iii) prioritizing areas with extreme human impact for in-situ conservation efforts.