Abstract
The study investigates the socio-environmental factors contributing to land conversion in District Swat, a region in northern Pakistan experiencing rapid landscape transformation due to expanding tourism. With its scenic beauty and growing appeal as a tourist destination, Swat has seen a dramatic shift in land use, particularly the conversion of agricultural and forested land into commercial infrastructure and urban settlements. The research employs a comprehensive approach, integrating structured household surveys, and multiverse techniques to identify and evaluate the drivers of the change. Key socio-environmental variables examined include population growth, unregulated infrastructure development, real estate speculation, changing land ownership patterns, and environmental degradation. The statistical findings reveal a highly significant relationship (p=0.000) between tourism growth and agricultural land conversion, while construction activity associated with tourism also shows a strong correlation (p=0.000) with deforestation and loss of green cover. Additionally, socio-cultural transformations, such as shifting livelihood practices and changing community values around land, are found, are found to be highly significant (P=0.000) in influencing land-use decisions frameworks, lack of environmental regulation, and the absence of sustainable planning as key factors compounding the problem, each of which is shown to have statistically highly significant effects (P=0.000). The study concludes that socio-environmental factors are highly related with land conversion. The study suggests strict policy measure to influence increasing land use in relation to climate change and land use.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Unseen Unsustainability: Addressing Hidden Risks to Long-Term Wellbeing for All
KEYWORDS
Socio-environmental-factors, Land-use, Tourism, Land-conservation
