SOCIOLOGY OF DEFORESTATION IN DISTRICT UPPERDIR

Abstract

The level of deforestation is on the rise, and forests are declining every day in the world. The number of trees is falling day by day everywhere in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hilly areas like Upper Dir tehsil Barawal. Economic purposes such as selling timber obtainedfrom trees are the major motivations for people to engage in deforestation. Research is carried out with perspective to find out the socio-economic motives of deforestation, and to record the degree of deforestation. A handsome number of 250 randomly chosen persons, including both male and female were intervie'wed in Upper Dir Barawal region. Questionnaires were the main source of data collection by dint of which nature of research became quantitative. Niche theory advocates competition in the society. It says when there is competition in the society; environmental factors will damage like deforestation give birth. People of the region wanted to gain the resources by cutting the trees. 70% of the respondents said that they were engaged in deforestation for the economic purpose as they were poor. 64% of the respondents argued that illiterate people were engaged in deforestation. 70% of the respondents agreed to the fact that education might help to overcome deforestation. The research hypotheses were tested through regression. The researcher concluded that lack of education and lack of awareness about the importance offorests are the major factors for deforestation. As the locals are illiterate and poor resultantly they are engaged in deforestation.