FOREST

IN PAKISTAN
WHAT IS FOREST?
A large area of land covered with trees
and under growth either naturally or
artificially.

 The forest is a complex ecosystem

consisting mainly of trees that buffer the
earth and support a myriad of life forms.
Forest
 In Pakistan only about 4.8 % of total area is
forested which is very less. Every year we
import large quantity of wood from other
countries of the world. In 1947 forest covered
only 1.7 % of total land area. So the increase
in forest area was achieved by reforestation
(re-afforestation) or regeneration
programmes.

 The arid conditions and reckless cutting of the

trees account for the low percentage of forest
covered areas in Pakistan.
Forestation
Forestation is the planting of new forest on a new location.
This process is done with careful planning. The selection of
plant species depends upon the type of soil, climatic
condition and availability of water.

Reforestation

Reforestation is the planting of a forest in an area where

deforestation was done.
 Contribution of Forest by Different Provinces

NWFP 32 %

Northern Areas 25 %

Sindh 18 %

Punjab 17 %
Balochistan 08 %
TYPES OF FOREST
 Productive Forests  Protective Forests
In these forests the tree These include amenity
planting along roads, in
density is high and the
parks and along railway
forest canopy is closed. lines. The protection forests
Such forests have great have little commercial value
commercial value and because they do not supply
they are mainly used for valuable species of wood.
extraction of timber and Their main function is to
other products. protect the soil and prevent
it from eroding or blowing
away. They keep the
environment pleasant by
lowering the temperature
and providing shade.
IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS
Forest provides multiple benefits to environment, people,
and animals. The list of benefits is as follows:

• Forest cool air temperature by release of water

vapor into the air.
• At day time trees generate oxygen and store carbon
dioxide, which helps to clean air.
• Forest attracts wild life and offer food and protection to
them.
• Forests offer privacy, reduce light reflection, offer a sound
barrier and help guide wind direction and speed.
• Trees offer artistic functions such as creating a
background, framing a view, complementing architecture,
and so on.
• Well managed forests supply higher quality water with
less impurity than water from other resources
IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS
• Forests help in controlling the level floods.

• Forest provides different kind of wood which are used for

different purposes like making of furniture, paper, and

pencils and so on.

• Forest help in giving the direction of wind and its speed.

• Forest helps in keeping environment healthy and

beautiful.

• Forests also minimize noise pollution.

• Forest helps the scientist to invent new medicine as forest

has different kind or plants and herb.

IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS
 Nature maintains a balance between carbon
dioxide & oxygen.
 Forests trees helps in bringing sufficient
rainfall on earth.
 Forests are also helps in conservation of soil.
 Forests provide habitat to wildlife and help in
their preservation.
 It provide food, medicinal herbs as well as
other satisfactory requirement to fulfill our
need.
USES OF FORESTS
 The forets of Pakistan are a main source
of lumber, paper, fuelwood, latex, medicine a
s well as human and animal food.
 Other minor products include resin (a fluid in
tissue of Chir pine plant that become solid on
exposure to the air) and 'mazri' (used for
making baskets).
 The forests also provide
of ecotourism and wildlife
conservation purposes.
 Forests have also been planted in some areas
like Thal Desert to avoid soil erosion and
further desertification.
 Riparian zone along the river Indus have been
managed to avoid excess flooding.
Determinants
 There are number of factors that determine the type and
density of forests.

 Areas with different altitude have different types of forests.

 The arid and semi arid conditions prevailing over the

Balochistan Plateau and the southern part of the Indus Plain
is not favorable to support plant growth and results in thorny
bushes and scrub.

 Higher precipitation in the northern mountains encourages

the growth of trees.

 In Indus and Hub deltas the deposition of alluvium in the

salt water has encouraged the growth of mangrove
vegetation.

 The diversity of topography (type of soil) also determine the

type and density of forests in different areas of Pakistan.
 Types of Forest in Pakistan

1. Alpine Forest ( 4000 m )

2. Coniferous Forest ( 1000 – 4000 m )
3. Sub Tropical Dry or Scrub Forest ( up to 1000 m )
4. Tropical Thorn or Rakh Forest ( below 1000 m )
5. Mangrove Forest ( below 1000 m )
6. Riverain or Bela Forest ( below 1000 m )
7. Irrigated Forest ( below 1000 m )
Tree Line:- The altitude above which no trees grow on a
mountain. (below 4500 m)

Snow Line:- The altitude above which snow never melts. (above
4500 m)
1. Alpine Forest
 Alpine Forest
 Alpine forest are found at an
altitude of 4000 meters.
 Long severe winters and
frequent freezing temperature
prevent trees from attaining their
full height.
 As the mountains rise to the
height of the tree line, they
become craggy and steep and
there is limited area for tree
growth.
Distribution
Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla,
Kohistan and the northern areas.
Features or Characteristics
 These are evergreen
forest.
 They have long
needle shaped leaves.
 Their branches sloping
downwards to prevent
the snow
accumulation.
 These trees do not
attain their full height.
 The wood of these
trees are very soft.
2. Coniferous Forest
2. Coniferous Forest
Coniferous forests are
found between 1000 and
4000 meters altitude.
Distribution
o Northern areas districts of Swat,
Dir, Malakand and Kohistan.
o In NWFP, Mansehra and
Abbotabad.
o In Punjab Province Murree,
Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
o In Balochistan Province Quetta
and Kalat divisions.
Species
Fir, Spruce, Deodar, Kail, and Chir.
Features or Characteristics
 These are evergreen forest.
These are in conical shape.

 These forests have sloping branches
which prevents snow accumulation.
 These forests are needle shaped leaves
and check excessive transpiration.
 Trees of these forests are full in height
and straight.
 Importance
 Source of timber, the timber is put to
industrial use and for making into
furniture and boxes
 These forests protect the environment.
 These forests are good breeding place
for birds and wild life.
 Add to the scenic beauty of the area.
 5. Attract the tourist and promote the
tourism industry.
3. Sub Tropical Dry Forest or Scrub Forest
 3. Sub Tropical Dry Forest or Scrub Forest
Features or Characteristics
These forests are
located up to a height o Dry ever green forest
of 1000 meter.
Distribution o Trees have broad leaves
These forests are found on and have umbrella shape
the hills and foothills of with long canopy.
Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi
and Attock districts in o Their height is up to 1000
Punjab and the Mansehra, meters.
Abbotabad, Mardan,
Peshawar and Kohat districts Importance
in NWFP and are covered
with dry, evergreen forests.
In Balochistan, vegetation in
the form of scattered  Fire wood
patches of dry mixed scrub,  Timber
is confined to the Sulaiman
Mountains and other hilly  Grazing purposes.
areas.
4. Tropical Thorn or Rakh Forest
Mangrove Forest
 4. Tropical Thorn or Rakh Forest
Mangrove Forest
Distributon

They are most widespread in the

Punjab plains but also occupy small
areas in southern Sindh and western Importance
Balochistan.
o They are mainly used
for grazing purposes
Features or Characteristics
o Low height (6 to 10 metres)
o watershed protection
o Thorny hardwood

o Deep roots to search for

o fuel wood.
water
o firewood
o Scanty vegetation due to
water shortage
5. Riverain or Bela Forest
 5. Riverain or Bela Forest

Features or Characteristics
Distribution o Linear plantation along the
bank of River Indus.

These forests are located o Normally high yielding

commercial hardwood
along the banks of river Indus species
and its tributaries.

Important species Importance

Provides Shshum and

o Babul Babul, two valuable
species, which are used
for making furniture,
agricultural
o Shisham. implementatiion
6. Irrigated Forest
 6. Irrigated Forest
Important species
These forests are man
made and are planted oBabul

under the supervision of Shisham.

Government especially
o

Forest Department. oMulberry

Distribution Features / Characteristics

 Irrigated forests have been
planted in various parts of the Planted in rows / lines.
country. e.g. Equal distance between species.
Same age / height.
Same species.
 Chichawatni. Sahiwal. Thal.
Gudu Barrage. Kotri Barrage. o
Importance
Khanewal. Shorekot.

 Bahawalpur and Sukkur  Used as a fire wood.

Barrage.  Timber.
 Provide shade in the form of
linear plantation.