Causes and effects of deforestation on Union Council Ashkot, Neelum Azad Jammu and Kashmir: a community perspective.

3 Abstract: Deforestation remains as a major ecological problem in most developing countries. Forests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are diverse in nature and contribute significantly to the country's economy. But most of lowland forests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are facing major problem of forest degradation. Scholarship on the causes of deforestation reveals that it is a complex process and involved multidimensional factors that leads to deforestation. The present study was conducted to measure the perspectives of the local community regarding the causes and effects of deforestation on Union Council Ashkot, district Neelum. A survey was conducted for this purpose. Three villages of union council (Jura, Bandi and Ashkot) were selected using purposively sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was designed. Data was collected from 200 respondents through convenient sampling technique. Findings of the study highlighted commercial/ illegal logging and ineffective role of forestry department as the main causes of deforestation. Deforestation has also affected the living standard/income of the local community. It has also affected agricultural productivity of the area and decreased the availability of fuel wood, fodder for local community. Deforestation has also caused soil erosion and change in temperature and rain patterns in the study area.