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What is NATURAL VEGETATION.Types of forests.Distribution in Pakistan.forest of Pakistan.Causes & disadvantages of

deforestation.Solution or remedies of the

problem caused by deforestation.

Natural vegetation refers to the garment of plants and trees that exist in the area before it is modified by man for activities such as farming,mining,lumbering and industrial, economic and urban development.

When natural vegetation is cleared by ManO grow crops of any kind, the new vegetation is known as Cultivated Vegetation. When natural vegetation such as forestsare burnt down by forest fires or human activities, and eventuallyregenerates after a lapse of many years called SECONDARY

Extensive, continuous areas of land Extensive, continuous areas of land dominated by trees are forest. The dominated by trees are forest. The forest area in Pakistan is very low. forest area in Pakistan is very low. Pakistan has very low vegetation Pakistan has very low vegetation cover (4.9%). About 4.8% of the total cover (4.9%). About 4.8% of the total area of Pakistan is forest area. It is area of Pakistan is forest area. It is considered as the low percentage as considered as the low percentage as for a balanced economy 20-25% of for a balanced economy 20-25% of the total area of the country should be the total area of the country should be under forest. ”Province-wise, NWFP under forest. ”Province-wise, NWFP has the highest percentage (15.6) has the highest percentage (15.6) under forests, followed by Sindh (4.2), under forests, followed by Sindh (4.2), Punjab (2.7) and Balochistan (2.1)”.Punjab (2.7) and Balochistan (2.1)”.

Natural forests are limited in Pakistan. The local population removed the natural forests by

over-cutting and over-grazing. In addition aridity has also damaged the growth of trees and plantation. One-third of Pakistan’s forest area is productive while the remaining

2/3 is kept for environmental improvement.

There are 2 kinds of forest namely:

Productive forestProtection forest

Productive forests are those where tree density is high and forest canopy is closed. These forests have great commercial value and are used for the production of timber and other products.

Protection forests are planted alongside railway tracks and roads. Their main function and objective is to protect the soil and prevent it from eroding. They are meant to keep the environment clean and pleasant by lowering the temperature. They provide shady places for recreation.

The following types of forest found in Pakistan.

ALPINE FOREST:The Alpine forests are found above the tree-

line (4000 meters). They are available in the Northern Areas districts of Chitral, Dir, Swat and Kohistan. The extreme cold weather obstruct the full growth of trees as a result stunted growth of silver , fir, jhimpir and birch takes place in sheltered nooks.

CONIFEROUS FORESTS:The Coniferous forest takes place from 1000 to 4000 meters.

They are found in Northern Areas, Swat, Dir, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad districts. They are also available in Rawalpindi. The largest area of Coniferous forest is in NWFP followed by Northern Areas. They also occur on Balochistan hills at the highest of 1500 to 3000 meters in Quetta and Kalat divisions. Chilghoza and Pencil Jhimpir are the two most common species with limited commercial value.

SUB-TROPICAL DRY FOREST:These forests are found on the foothills of Gujrat, Jhelum,

Rawalpindi and Attock districts in the Punjab province. The districts of Mansehra, Abbottabad, Mardan and Kohat of NWFP are covered with these forests upto the height of 1000 meters. They are dry evergreen forests with some deciduous patches. The trees are used mostly as firewood. Very small quantity of timber is also extracted.

from these forests. Open areas are covered with grasses and used for grazing.

TROPICAL THORN FOREST:The tropical thorn forests are widespread in Punjab

plains. They, are also found on a small area in Sindh and scattered patches in southern and western Balochistan. They are also known as rakhs as they are dominated by scrub and thorny hardwood trees. They are generally 6-10 meters high. The most common species found are acacia, frash, jand, bakain and karir. The wood found here is used as firewood.

THE RIVERAIN OR BELA FOREST:Riverain or Bela forest are found in the narrow belts

along the Indus River. In the local area they are known as Bela forests. They are found in Sindh and cover active flood plains which are inunadated annually. Babul and Shisham are the most common variety found here.

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MANGROVE FOREST:These forests occur in the coastal wasteland from

Karachiu to kutch covering an area of 0.26 million hectare and support a unique mangrove type with trees of stunted growth. The Indus and the Hab deltas are covered with mangrove forests. Due to lack of water they have stunted growth of trees. The main variety forests here is Avicenia officanilis. Mangrove forests are the best source of firewood.

IRRIGATED FORESTS/PLANTATION:The development of irrigated man-made forests is a

special characteristic of Pakistan. The first irrigated forest was planted in 1866 at Changa Manga, 90 km south-west of Lahore. The purpose was to supply firewood to the railway steam engines. But in 1888 Dandot coal-field was discovered and the firewood was no longer required.

∂From an ecological point of view, forest help to maintain pleasant environment by preventing the pollution and getting moisture

through its roots.

∂Forests provide oxygen gas to humans and inhale our carbon

dioxides.

∂Decomposition of leaves helps in humus formation, which maintains the fertility of the soil. This ensures food supply to millions of people.

∂From an ecological point of view, forest help to maintain pleasant environment by preventing the pollution and getting moisture

through its roots.

∂Forests provide oxygen gas to humans and inhale our carbon

dioxides.

∂Decomposition of leaves helps in humus formation, which maintains the fertility of the soil. This ensures food supply to millions of people.

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∂From a commercial and industrial point of view, forests provide raw material to various

industries e.g. timber, paper etc.

∂Forests promote tourism, and provide employment in the forest

department. There are many employment opportunities that

depend on the forest.

∂Forests provide valuable medicine herbs used in

medicines.

∂From a commercial and industrial point of view, forests provide raw material to various

industries e.g. timber, paper etc.

∂Forests promote tourism, and provide employment in the forest

department. There are many employment opportunities that

depend on the forest.

∂Forests provide valuable medicine herbs used in

medicines.

When the number of forest are reduced and the forested area is

curtailed, deforestation takes place. It is generally accepted that for a

balanced environment and economy about 25% of the land area should be

under forest. Deforestation is a dangerous process which lays its

adverse impact on country’s environments and economy.

Large forests tracts have to be removed to grow crops. In order to construct dams and barrages, millions hectares of land were cleared to provide irrigational facilities for the agricultural land to meet the food requirements of the growing population.

Increasing urbanization also causes deforestation. Sprawling growth of cities has converted forest areas into residential colonies.

The forest areas have to be cut down to make roads for providing smooth and better transport facilities for moving industrial and agricultural products to the market

Forests are cut down to meet the demands of industry because wood is required as construction material for building.

In Pakistan nearly 50% of heating and cooking requirements are met by 20.88 cubic metres of fuel wood every year. In fact, 76% of the rural population depends on wood for heating and cooking which results in excessive cutting of trees.

Deforestation destroys the Deforestation destroys the habitats of millions of species habitats of millions of species of plants and animals that will of plants and animals that will need the areas of forest to need the areas of forest to survive. Thus, it may lead to survive. Thus, it may lead to the extinction of these species, the extinction of these species, causing havoc in the biological causing havoc in the biological food chains and the delicate food chains and the delicate balance of the ecosystem of balance of the ecosystem of these areas.these areas.with the fast depletion of with the fast depletion of forest areas our land will forest areas our land will become infertile.become infertile.

The removal of trees adds to the high The removal of trees adds to the high levels of carbon dioxide needed in the levels of carbon dioxide needed in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a green atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a green house gas, and when there is too much house gas, and when there is too much of it global warming results.of it global warming results.

With heavy rainfall the water runs down With heavy rainfall the water runs down the hills speedily carrying large quantity the hills speedily carrying large quantity of silt and limestone. If there are no of silt and limestone. If there are no trees to hold the soil together and slow trees to hold the soil together and slow the water flow, the surface run-off may the water flow, the surface run-off may cause heavy floods.cause heavy floods.

Deforestation’s dreadful effects on our environment. Once an area is cleared of vegetation, it requires a lot of effort and money to regenerate it. The following measures could be helpful to solve the problems caused by deforestation:

• Supplying irrigation facilities to the deforested areas. Commercial species of trees, which grow rapidly, should be planted.

• By reserving land for fuel wood plantation only, the valuable species of trees could be saved.

• Creating awareness among the people by the government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the community workers, about the hazards of deforestation.

• The supply of natural gas to northern areas will make life easier for the population and will eventually help to ease the pressure on the

environment.• By improving the techniques of raising nurseries and planting trees, deforested areas could be regenerated in a short period• Planting fruit trees on the slopes of hills would provide food to the local people and would help to protect the soil.

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