FOREST TYPES OF 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/management definition of forests. The situation is also 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 forestlands as national parks, area for agro-forestry practices and the

development of plantations and a forestation practices are needs of the 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

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

Northern Areas

Azad Kashmir

Total

Coniferous

1105 29 - 131 285 361 1911

Irr. Plantations

- 142 82 - 2 - 226

Riverain Forests

- 51 241 5 - - 297

Scrub Forests

115 340 10 163 658 1 1287

Coastal Forests

- - 345 - - - 345

Mazri Lands

24 - - - - - 24

Linear Pltns.

2  4 - - - - 6

Private Pltns.

159 - - - - - 159

Range Lands

150 2683 490 787 2104 195 6409

TOTAL: 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

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(1) Littoral and Swamp forests.

The world Littoral and Swamp forests cover at least 14 millions hectors and 257500

hectors of these are found in Pakistan which is 7th largest Littoral and Swamp forests in

world. Forest is evergreen. The root produce aerial outgrowths from the soil which

protrude from the wet ground like fingers; these are called 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 teeming with life. They are natural habitat to a large number of insects, micro

organisms, birds, different mammals as well as snakes. Mangrove areas act as physical

breeding grounds and nurseries for fish, shrimp and crabs. During winters, many guest

birds from north also come to breed here. It also protects the coast against tidal 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.

FLORISTIC: The main species is Avicennia marina (timer) (99%). Other species

like 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 tagal.also present.

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(2) Tropical thorn forests

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 forests occur at elevation 1200 ft. The types of forest

naturally growing over the whole of Indus plain except for the driest parts and area

covered by annual inundation. They are most widespread in the Punjab plains but also

occupy 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.

FLORISTIC; Acaca nilotica(kikar) Zizyphus mauratiana. (Ber), Tamarix aphylla

(Farash) and Salvadora oleoides (Pilu, wan), prosopis 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.

FLORISTIC: The chief tree species are Lannea (Kamlai, Kembal) Bombax ceiba

(Semal), Sterculia, Flacourtia (Kakoh, Kangu), Mallotus (Kamila, Raiuni) and Acacia

catechu (Kath). Common shrubs are Adhatoda (Bankar, Basuti, Bansha), Gymnosporia

(Putaki) and Indigofera (Kathi, Kainthi), dalbergia sissio (shisham).

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(4) SUB-TROPICAL BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN FORESTS:

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 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 throughout the country at suitable elevation merging downwards with the

sub-tropical pine forest.

LOCALITY FACTORS; Temperature runs high in summer and long dry seasons.

FLORISTIC; Olea cuspidata (Kau) and Acacia modesta (Phulai), Dodonaea viscose

(snatha). Acacia modesta (phulai).Pistacia integerrima.

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(5) Sub-tropical pine forests;

Generally known as Chir pine 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.

Distribution; Chir forests found between 3500-5500 ft. elevations. Abbotabad,

Manshera, Kashmir, Dir, swat.

LOCALITY FACTORS; Mean annual temperature lies between 60F0 to 72F0 and

monsoon rainfall is usually 30-50 inches.

FLORISTIC; Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), quercus incana, (white oak) Pyrus

pashia, pistacia integerrima,

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(6) HIMALAYAN MOIST TEMPERATE FORESTS:

These are the evergreen forests of conifers. They also extend into dry temperature forest

and to small extent into sub alpine forest. Locally with some admixture of 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, Abies pindrow(fir)

Picea smithiana(spruce)

These forests are divided into a lower and an upper zone, in each of which definite

species of conifers and/or oaks dominate. In the lower zone, Cedrus deodara (Deodar,

diar), Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana and Abies pindrow (Partal) are the main conifer

species in order of increasing altitude, with Quercus incana (rin, rinj) at lower altitudes

and Q. dilatata above 2130 m. In the upper zone Abies pindrow and Q. semecarpifolia

are the dominant tree species. There may be pockets of deciduous broad-leaved trees,

mainly edaphically conditioned, in both the zones.

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(7) Himalayan dry temperate forests

These are open evergreen forest with open scrub undergrowth. Both coniferous and

broad-leaved 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, Kaghan vally, hogher parts of Suleiman range Ziarat and 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.

FLORISTIC: Dry zone Cedrus deodara (deodar), Pinus gerardiana (Chalghoza)

and/or Quercus ilex are the main species. Higher up, blue pine communities occur and in

the driest inner tracts, forests of blue pine, Juniperus macropoda (Abhal, Shupa, Shur)

and some Picea smithiana (e.g. in Gilgit) are found locally.

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(8) SUB-ALPINE FORESTS: In sub alpine forests Abis pindrow and pinus

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),} in early days the barks of Betula utilus was used as writing

material because at that time paper was not invented.

DISTRIBUTION: Sub-alpine forests zone is topmost tree formation in Himalaya

being developed between 11000 to 12000 ft on northern aspects. It is found 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.

FLORISTIC: Abies pindrow (fir), batula utilizes(birch), Juniperus communis and

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, Lonicera (Phut), Berberis (Sumbul,

Sumblue), Cotoneaster with Juniperus and occasionally Rhododendron or Ephedra

(Asmania).

 

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Map showing Forest area of

Pakistan 

Map Credit: UNEP Environment

Assessment Programme for Asia and

the Pacific

(http://www.rrcap.unep.org)

 

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References and Credits:

Dr. K.M. Siddiqui, Director-General Pakistan Forest Institute

Peshawar

ASIA-PACIFIC FORESTRY SECTOR OUTLOOK STUDY, WORKING

PAPER SERIES, ASIA-PACIFIC FORESTRY TOWARDS 2010,

(FAO)Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, August

1997

Pakistan," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004

http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights

Reserved.

UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific

Biodiversity Action Plan for Pakistan © 2000 by Government of

Pakistan, World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan and International Union

for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Pakistan

First National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on

Biological Diversity, LEAD Pakistan, Ministry of Environment and Local

Government Pakistan and UNEP

COUNTRY REPORT BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN

PAKISTAN, Ejaz Ahmad Conservation Director, World Wide Fund For

Nature - Pakistan

BIODIVERSTIY CONSERVATION IN PAKISTAN : AN

OVERVIEW, Muhammad Ajmal Director (Industries & Ozone) Ministry of

Environment, Urban Affairs, Forestry and Wildlife C/O Pakistan National,

Commission for UNESCO

Atlas of Pakistan, Survey of Pakistan

United States Geological Survey

Pakistan at a Glance, The World Resource Institute

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