ISLAMABAD: The high-resolution satellite imagery made available by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has identified a major environmental crisis in the Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) since a devastating series of forest fires swept across central AJK, impacting an estimated 3,176.7 hectares (7,849.6 acres) of vital natural forest, shrubs, and grasslands.
Suparco sources told The News on Friday that satellite analysis conducted on May 29 this year compared against pre-fire imagery from May 9 confirms that the blazes have torn through 38 distinct locations, primarily concentrated in the Sudhnoti, Kotli, and Poonch districts of the AJK. The catastrophic event is directly linked to a recent severe heat-wave. The prolonged extreme temperatures caused widespread vegetation dryness, essentially turning the forest floor into a massive fuel source that allowed the blazes to ignite and spread rapidly.
According to the sources, the visible burn scars on the latest medium-resolution satellite data highlight a growing ecological crisis for the region, as Central Azad Kashmir’s dense mountain forests are highly valued for playing a crucial role in regional watershed protection and ecological stability. Environmental experts have warned that the aftermath of these fires would be felt for years to come.
The fires directly coincided with the breeding season of local birds and animals, threatening wildlife populations at a critical time. The destruction of young seedlings and saplings has severely compromised the forest’s ability to naturally regenerate, leaving the cleared, charred land highly vulnerable to the colonization of invasive, fire-tolerant grasses and shrubs that can permanently alter the local ecosystem. “These forests are the backbone of the regional watershed and climate stability. The scale of this damage, spanning three major districts, demands urgent ecological restoration and stronger climate adaptation strategies. Satellite images reveal scale of devastating Kotli Sattian forest fire,” the sources reminded.
Earlier surveys revealed that the devastating forest fire fuelled by a recent intense heatwave has decimated an estimated 3,037 hectares (7,504.7 acres) of natural forest tree cover across 25 locations in the ecologically sensitive Kotli Sattian region of Punjab. The satellite data of the Suparco verified it. The comparing satellite imagery from May 9 to May 29 this year data highlights severe post-fire losses in the Chir pine forests, which critical sub-watersheds depend on for the Indus and Jhelum basins.
Experts have warned that the ecological aftermath extends far beyond the immediate burn scars; the disaster has severely disrupted the peak breeding season for local birds and wildlife, destroyed vital young seedlings and saplings, and opened the door for invasive, fire-tolerant grasses and shrubs to colonise the damaged terrain. Sources claimed that while local communities and Forest Department personnel have successfully contained the blaze in several areas, active fires continue to spread across neighbouring slopes, driven by strong, hot winds that threaten further environmental degradation.
