ECOLOGISTS warn that largescale tree-felling may cause a drastic reduction in rainfall in Pakistan's Baluchistan and transform the beautiful orchard valleys into a barren landscape.

According to some estimates, over 1 million trees in various jungles of the province were hacked down by the local populace. If there is no let up in the tree-felling, the next 3 or 4 decades are likely to be far from green, they say.