FOREST TYPES OF PAKISTAN PAKISTAN
The total area of forests in Pakistan is 4.224 million ha which is 4.8% of the total land area. However, it may be mentioned here that the farmland trees and linear planting along roadsides, canal sides and railway sides covering an estimated area of 466,000 ha and 16,000 ha respectively do not constitute forests within the context of legal, ecological or silvicultural silvicultural/managem /management ent definition of forests. forests. The situation situation is also similar, similar, but to a lesser extent, in the case of miscellaneous plantations over an area of 155,000 ha. If the area of these three categories of plantations is excluded from total forest area of 4.224 million ha, then the latter is reduced to 3.587 million ha which is approximately 4.1 % of the total area. As recognition of the multiple values of forests has grown, so have concerns for their disappearance. In Pakistan, subtropical, temperate, riverain and mangrove forests are being lost because of questionable land use practices and the ever-increasing demand for timber and firewood. As a result, more responsible management approaches are being demanded that can accommodate complex economic and ecological needs. Designation of selected forest forestland landss as national national parks, parks, area area for agro-fo agro-fores restry try practic practices es and the developm development ent of plantations plantations and a forest forestation ation practices practices are are needs of the hour. hour. Total Forest Area under the control of the Forest Departments (including Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas) is 4.26 million hectares. The per capita forest area is only 0.037 ha compared to the world average of ONE ha. Main reason for this is that more than 70% land area of Pakistan is Arid and semi-Arid with annual rainfall of 250-500 mm: too low and erratic to sustain natural vegetation and to plan a forestation/regeneration programmer.
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Forest Areas and Rangelands (in ha.) Forest Type Coniferou s Irr. Plantation s Riverain Forests Scrub Forests Coastal Forests Mazri Lands Linear Pltns. Private Pltns. Range Lands TOTAL:
NWFP Punjab Sindh Balochistan Northern Azad Total Areas Kashmir 1105 29 131 285 361 1911 -
142
82
-
2
-
226
-
51
241
5
-
-
297
115
340
10
163
658
1
1287
-
-
345
-
-
-
345
24
-
-
-
-
-
24
-
-
-
-
6
2
4
159
-
-
-
-
-
159
150
2683
490
787
2104
195
6409
1555
3249
1168
1086
3049
557
10664
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FOREST TYPES OF PAKISTAN 1.
Littoral and Swamp forests
2.
Tropical dry deciduous forests
3.
Tropical thorn forests
4.
Sub-tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests
5.
Sub-tropical pine forests
6.
Himalayan moist temperate forests
7.
Himalayan dry temperate forests
8.
Sub-alpine forests
9.
Alpine scrub
(1) Littoral and Swamp forests. 3|Page
The world world Littor Littoral al and Swamp Swamp forest forestss cover cover at least least 14 millio millions ns hectors hectors and 257500 257500 hectors of these are found in Pakistan which is 7 th largest Littoral and Swamp forests in world. world.
Forest Forest is evergreen. evergreen. The root produce produce aerial outgrowt outgrowths hs from the soil which
protrude from the wet ground like fingers; fingers; these are called pneumatophores. pneumatophores. The seed germinate on the mother plant before shedding and fall on wet ground in the form of small seedling. This phenomenon is called vivipary. This forest is not important from the point of view of timber production. Mangrove forests are teem teeming ing with with life life.. They They are are natura naturall habit habitat at to a larg largee numbe numberr of insec insects ts,, micr micro o organisms, birds, different mammals as well as snakes. Mangrove areas act as physical breeding grounds and nurseries nurseries for fish, shrimp shrimp and crabs. During winters, winters, many guest birds from from north north also come come to breed breed here. It It also protects protects the the coast against against tidal tidal erosion. erosion.
DISTRIBUTION: These forests occur at elevation 0-20 ft. These are more or less gregarious forests of low height which occur in the Arabian Sea around the coast of Karachi and Pasni in Balochistan and along the coast of Gawader. is Avicennia ia marina (timer ) (99%). Other species like FLORISTIC: The main species is Avicenn Rhizophora Rhizophora have disappeared over a period of time due to heavy cutting. According to latest estimates, these forests cover an area of 207,000 ha.Ceriops ha.Ceriops tagal .also .also present.
(2) Tropical thorn forests 4|Page
In upper Indus plains these forests are known as Rakh forest while in lower Indus plains as Desert forests. In open low forests in which thorny usually hard wood species predominant. These trees have short bole and low branching crowns. Regeneration occurs by root sucker. They are primarily used as firewood.
DISTRIBUTION: these these fore forest stss occur occur at eleva elevati tion on 1200 1200 ft. ft. The types types of fore forest st naturally growing over the whole of Indus plain except for the driest parts and area covered by annual inundation. inundation. They They are most most widespread widespread in the the Punjab plains plains but also also occupy small small areas in southern Sindh and western Balochistan.
Locality factor; Means annual temperature varies from 75F TO 80F while mean annual rainfall is 30 inch down to 5 inch with variation from year to year. nilotica(kikar)) Zizyphus mauratiana. mauratiana. (Ber), Tamarix aphylla FLORISTIC; Acaca nilotica(kikar (Farash) and Salvadora oleoides (Pilu, wan), prosop wan), prosopis is cmeraria cmeraria (Jand),Haloxylan.
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(3) Tropical dry deciduous forests These are forests of low or moderate height consisting almost entirely of deciduous species. Their canopy is typically light though it may appear fairly dense and complete during the short rainy season.
DISTRIBUTION: This type does not occur extensively in Pakistan but there are limited areas in the Rawalpindi foothills carrying this vegetation type, all much adversely affected by close proximity to habitation or cultivation. The forests occur at elevation 1200-2000 ft.
LOCALITY FACTORS: The spring is hot and dry but there is much rain in late summer up to 37 inches in the year. (Kamlai, Kembal) Kembal) Bombax ceiba FLORISTIC: The chief tree species are Lannea (Kamlai, (Semal), Sterculia, Sterculia, Flacourtia Flacourtia (Kakoh, Kangu), Mallotus Mallotus (Kamila, Raiuni) and Acacia catechu (Kath). Common shrubs are Adhatoda (Bankar, Basuti, Bansha), Gymnosporia (Putaki) and Indigof and Indigofera era (Kathi, Kainthi), dalbergia sissio (shisham).
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(4) SUB-T SUB-TROP ROPICA ICAL L BROAD BROAD-LE -LEAVE AVED D EVERGR EVERGREEN EEN FORE FORESTS STS:: These are xerophytes forests of thorny and small-leafed evergreen species. Commonly theses are known as scrub forests. These forest consist of branchy trees forming forming a canopy if complete closure or scattered trees with a shrub growth. These trees and shrubs are mostly thorny and evergreen, but some ,like olive and pomegranate are not thorny.
Distribution; These scrub forest occurs at height of 1500-5000 feet. These forests found in Gujrat, Margalla Hills, Attock and Malakand. Actully broadly speaking, these forests occur occur throug throughout hout the country country at suitab suitable le elevati elevation on merging merging downwards downwards with with the subsubtropical pine forest.
LOCALITY FACTORS; Temperature runs high in summer and long dry seasons. FLORISTIC; Olea cuspidata (Kau) and Acacia modesta modesta (Phulai), Dodonaea viscose viscose (snatha). Acacia modesta (phulai). Pistacia Pistacia integerrima integerrima..
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(5) Sub-tropical pine forests; Generally Generally known as Chir pine forests, forests, having canopy which may be up to 120ft. high with trees up to 7-8ft girth. There are heavy needle falling May and forests are in variously burnt unless special protection measures are taken. These are open inflammable pine forests sometimes with, but often without, a dry evergreen shrub layer and little or no Underwood. Chir forest forestss found found betwee between n 3500-55 3500-5500 00 ft. elevati elevations. ons. Abbotabad, Distribution; Chir Manshera, Kashmir, Dir, swat.
LOCALITY FACTORS; Mean annual temperature lies between 60F0 to 72F0 and monsoon rainfall is usually 30-50 inches. Pinus roxburghii roxburghii), ), quercus incana, incana, (white oak) Pyrus pashia, FLORISTIC; Chir pine ( Pinus pistacia integerrima, integerrima,
(6) HIMALAYAN MOIST TEMPERATE FORESTS:
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These are the evergreen forests of conifers. They also extend into dry temperature forest and to smal smalll exte extent nt into into sub sub alpin alpinee fore forest st.. Loca Locall lly y with with some some admixt admixtur uree of oak oak and deciduous broad-leaved trees fall in this category. Their undergrowth is rarely dense, and consists of both evergreen and deciduous species.
Distribution; These forests occur between 4500 feet to 10,000 feet elevation. Mainly these are found in Murry, Kaghan, AJK, and Nathiagali.Shogran.
LOCALITY FACTORS; Rainfall is permanent feature of monsoon and rain is quite inpredictable.
FLORISTIC; Cedrus deodara (Deodar, diar), Pinus wallichiana wallichiana,, Abies pindrow(fir) pindrow(fir) Picea smithiana smithiana(spruce (spruce)) These forests forests are divided into a lower and an upper zone, in each of which definite species species of conifers and/or oaks dominate. In the lower zone, Cedrus deodara (Deodar, diar), Pinus diar), Pinus wallichiana, wallichiana, Picea smithiana smithiana and Abies and Abies pindrow (Partal) are the main conifer species in order order of increas increasing ing altitud altitude, e, with with Quercus incana (rin, rinj) at lower altitudes and Q. dilatata above 2130 m. In the upper zone Abies pindrow and Q. semecarpifolia semecarpifolia are the dominant tree species. There may be pockets of deciduous broad-leaved trees, mainly edaphically conditioned, in both the zones.
(7) Himalayan dry temperate forests
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These are open evergreen forest with open scrub undergrowth. Both coniferous and broadleaved species are present. This type occurs on the inner ranges throughout their length and are mainly represented in the north-west.
DISTRIBUTION: generally occur at elevation of 5000-11000 ft extending to 12000 ft on southern aspects. In the inner mountain ranges which are beyond the effective reach of the South-West monsoon. Areas, where these are growing include Northern Areas Chitral, Neelam, Neelam, Kaghan vally, vally, hogher hogher parts of Suleiman Suleiman range range Ziarat and Shingarh. Shingarh.
LOCALITY FACTORS: The annual total rainfall is less than 30 inches and this type of forest it confined to hilly country and most it on steep rocky slopes. Dry zone zone Cedrus deodara (deodar), Pinus gerardiana FLORISTIC: Dry gerardiana (Chalghoza) and/or Quercus and/or Quercus ilex are the main species. Higher up, blue pine communities occur and in the driest inner tracts, forests of blue pine, Juniperu pine, Juniperuss macropoda (Abhal, Shupa, Shur) and some Picea some Picea smithiana smithiana (e.g. in Gilgit) are found locally.
sub alpin alpinee fore forest stss Abis pindrow and pinus (8) SUB-ALPI SUB-ALPINE NE FORESTS FORESTS:: In sub wallichina stand singly and in groups over in irregular and sometimes dense, lower story is of broad leaved trees in which Betula utilus is typically dominated at higher elevation. (Betula utilus { (birch),} (birch),} in early days the barks of Betula of Betula utilus was used as writing material because at that time paper was not invented. 10 | P a g e
DISTRIBUTION: Sub-alpine forests zone is topmost tree formation in Himalaya being developed developed between between 11000 11000 to 12000 ft on northern northern aspects. aspects. It is found Kashmir Kashmir,, upper dir, swat, Chitral and Hazar.
LOCALITY FACTORS: mean annual temperature is 50 F0 or less. These areas receive appreciable amount of snow and rainfall. utilizes(birch), Juniperus Juniperus communis communis and FLORISTIC: Abies pindrow (fir), batula utilizes primula. primula.
(9) ALPINE SCRUB: At this zone quite a limited no. of species exists. The stems are generally flexible and adapted to snow pressure. Good herbaceous flora is also present. Under this type are included shrub formations 1 m to 2 m high extending 150 m or more above the sub-alpine forests.
DISTRIBUTION: Generally about 1100 ft. Altitude and above. Alpine are present in Kashmir.Hazara, Upper DIR. FLORISTIC: The characteristic genera are Salix, Salix, Lonicera Lonicera (Phut), Berberis Berberis (Sumbul,
Sumblue Sumblue), ), Cotonea Cotoneaste sterr with with Juniperus Juniperus and occasio occasionall nally y Rhododendron Rhododendron or Ephedra (Asmania).
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Map showing Forest area of Pakistan Map Credit: Credit: UNEP Environment Environment Ass Assessm essment ent Program Programme me for Asi Asia a and the Pac Pacific ific (http://www.rrcap.unep.org http://www.rrcap.unep.org))
References and Credits: •
Dr. K.M. K.M. Siddiqui Siddiqui,, Directo Director-Gen r-General eral Pakistan Pakistan Forest Forest Institut Institutee Peshawa Peshawarr ASIA-PA ASIA-PACIFI CIFIC C FOREST FORESTRY RY SECTOR SECTOR OUTLOO OUTLOOK K STUDY, STUDY, WORKING WORKING PAPER SERIES, ASIA-PACIFIC FORESTRY TOWARDS 2010, (FAO)Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, August 1997
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Microsoft®
Encarta®
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Encyclopedia
2004
http: http://en //enca carta rta.ms .msn.c n.com om © 19971997-20 2004 04 Micros Microsoft oft Corpo Corporat ration ion.. All Righ Rights ts Reserved. •
UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific
•
Biodiversity Action Plan for Pakistan © 2000 by Government of Pakistan, Worl World d Wide Wide Fund Fund for for Natu Nature re,, Paki Pakist stan an and and Inte Intern rnat atio iona nall Unio Union n for for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Pakistan
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United States Geological Survey
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Pakistan at a Glance, The World Resource Institute
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