Islamabad forest fires threaten carbon sink and public health on World Environment Day

Recurring forest fires in Islamabad's Margalla Hills National Park are destroying a critical carbon sink and worsening air quality in the capital. The article reports that fires along Trail 3 may be deliberately set by illegal logging networks, accelerating deforestation and releasing stored carbon. This weakens the park's ability to absorb CO2 and regulate local temperatures, contributing to the urban heat island effect. The damage extends to biodiversity, with bird species abandoning the area due to habitat loss. Smoke and particulate matter from the fires pose direct health risks to residents. The piece calls for stronger enforcement of environmental laws, surveillance of vulnerable zones, and action against illegal logging. For anyone tracking nature-based carbon solutions or urban climate resilience, this is a concrete case of how forest degradation undermines both carbon accounting and public welfare.