Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change due to low forest cover, rising temperatures, glacier melting, floods, droughts, and agricultural decline. With only 4.2 million hectares of forest, impacts are severe. Government initiatives like the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami and mangrove restoration aim to improve resilience and environmental sustainability.

This study evaluated oak regeneration along a forest–mine gradient over 14 years, highlighting the key facilitating role of nurse shrubs. Results show that while acorn supply drives recruitment near forests, shrub cover significantly improves seedling survival and growth in harsh reclaimed mine conditions, supporting shrubs as effective nature-based restoration tools.