GUJAR KHAN: The haphazard plantation of eucalyptus, particularly in arid and urban regions, over the past decades has played havoc with agricultural land and plants, as well as premises where this species had been planted.

Hospitals, colleges, schools, and union council offices had been ‘decorated’ with these plants decades ago, but now they are trying to get rid of these plants due to their adverse impact on the water table and other plants.

Eucalypts draw a tremendous amount of water from the soil through the process of transpiration, these are planted to lower the water table and reduce soil salination. Similarly, the nearby plants get starved due to the allelopathic impact of eucalyptus leaves and branches, which also impact the durability of the foundations of the buildings, leaving them irreparable.

The trunk of these plants – often planted in close vicinity of walls and infrastructure – eventually compromise the foundation, paving the way for their “final fall”.

Official says species not suitable for residential, agricultural areas

Pictures of decay

A basic health unit in Gujar Khan presents an accurate picture of this decay. Official residences of doctors and staff have been ruined due to the invasive nature of this species. It was observed that an unchecked grove in the vicinity of the walls caused them to crumble, while sewerage pipes and septic tanks were also blocked, rendering the houses unfit for living. A good number of fully grown trees can be seen in odd places, like the abandoned rooftops of houses.

An official of the hospital over the condition of anonymity said an attempt to do away with some of the “dangerously located trees” was made recently but the allegations of unauthorised felling and corruption left the agenda incomplete. Staffers also faced departmental inquiries for attempts to remove these trees.

Raja Muhammad Shabbir, an ex-chairman of the union council, said that the eucalyptus plantation started decades ago was a blunder. The agri lands in the surrounding areas have been rendered “unsupportive to crops” while residents also faced a shortage of drinking water due to these plants.

Raja Shabbir said that the government departments should create awareness about its plantation in urbanised areas and a policy be devised to uproot these plants, which are dangerous for buildings, and replace them with favourable species of trees.

‘Natural tube wells’

Syed Iftikhar Bokhari, the agriculture director of Rawalpindi, said that eucalyptus plants were commonly called ‘natural tube wells’. These plants are “most desirable for marshy and water-logged areas” but quite unfit for rain-irrigated agricultural lands and localities, he added.

According to Mr Bokhari, the researchers working on ecosystem and agriculture are publishing their findings on its suitability for some regions and unsuitability for rain-irrigated areas, roadside plantations, and residential areas.

He said that this plant has been greatly promoted in Pakistan in the name of the “green man” drive by the forest department and its financial benefits were also eulogised irrespective of its region-to-region suitability.

The director added that there was a dire need that fruit plants must be preferred for areas with ample quantity of water whereas in arid regions timber plants should be planted. Mr Bokhari said that this plant was not fit for high-value crop areas and urbanised areas because its ‘invasive’ nature.

Speaking about the impact of these plants on buildings, he said that large-scale damages to the building were visible here and there since this plant was not meant for these purposes.

He said that plant farming was a science and scientific research needed to be followed before the promotion of such farming initiatives. He said that this plant was eulogised as a fast and tall growing species and its indiscriminate plantation everywhere was giving rise to multiple issues beyond the wetlands.

Abid Gondal, the chief conservator of forests for Rawalpindi, said, “Eucalyptus plants were not introduced for residential buildings. Unfortunately, we blindly planted this plant everywhere without any scientific knowledge.” He added that hazardous impacts on buildings and localities were common. “Actually this plant is suitable for marshy areas… and it is never recommended for residential areas or agricultural areas.”

Mr Gondal opposed the “complete eradication” of this species, saying such sweeping statements without any scientific research were due to a lack of knowledge. “But it’s a fact that about 60 per cent wood in furniture and construction, in addition to similar demands are met from this tree,” he added.

The chief conservator agreed that it was never recommended for agricultural lands or residential areas. He, however, added arid areas, like Thal and Attock, where millions of acres are available this tree can be planted for financial benefits. He added that his personal opinion was “we should raise maximum local species to maintain the natural ecosystem.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2023