ONE of the reasons for depletion of forests is irregularity in managing the execution of development schemes for conserving and increasing growth of forests.

One glaring example of mal-functioning is the failure of development schemes undertaken by the Forest Department, costing Rs340 million to produce the desired results in Sindh. The schemes included planting of salt-resistant plant species in the coastal zone of Sindh at a cost of Rs12 million, establishment of coconut and oil palm farms in the coastal zone (Rs148 million), rehabilitation and propagation of coastal mangroves in Thatta district (Rs184 million), and combating desertification and reforestation of riverine forests of Sindh (Rs3.5 million).

Compared to India’s 24.2 per cent, Japan’s 36.4per cent, Sri-Lanka’s 42.1 per cent, Philippines’ 43.6 per cent, Korea’s 49.8 per cent, Bhutan’s 50.4 per cent, and Brunei’s 90.4 per cent, the total forest area of Pakistan is 4.8 per cent at around four million hectares including 0.51, 1.33, 0.84 and 1.36 million hectares of Punjab, the NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan, respectively. The share of forestry in the GDP is nominal 0.15 per cent.

The type of forests that exist in the country with relative share are moist and dry temperate: coniferous 40 per cent, scrub 28 per cent, tropical thorn 3.5 per cent, man-made irrigated five per cent, riverine seven per cent, mangrove eight per cent and farm forests 11 per cent. Besides that, there are juniper forests as well.

The moist temperate forest is located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Murree, parts of districts of Abbottabad, Swat, Mansehra, including some tribal areas of Malakand and Hazara. The main tree species include deodar, fir, partal and kail. Oak, poplar and horse chestnut are broad-leaf trees. This forest not only provides fuel wood and protection to Mangla and Tarbela watersheds, but also constitutes a good source of quality timber. These forests could be valuable sites for recreation provided they are managed properly. Over-cutting, overgrazing, mismanagement and bad agricultural practices cause depletion.

Dry temperate forest is located in the Northern Areas, tribal areas and northern Balochistan. The chilgoza pine, pencil juniper and deodar are dominant tree species. Good quality timber obtained from pencil juniper is used for making pencils. Other benefits are like those of moist temperate forest.

The scrub forest comprises open, bushy and branchy woody vegetation and is located in the Potohar region, the foothills of Murree and the NWFP hills. Scrub forests of rabbi hills (Kharian-Gujrat), Margalla hills (Islamabad) and Kalachitta Hills (Attock) are good examples.

Kahu and Phulai are dominant tree species. The small timber with high chlorophic value is used in handicrafts, handles of hand tools and rural cots. The trees protect the watersheds of Tarbela and Mangla dams.

Tropical thorn forest is dominated by xerophytes species such as karir, sarkand, van, kikar, jand and farash:---extensive and with deep roots, a few, small and narrow leaves with thick coating and bearing a few stomata to cut down the evaporation losses. They shed leaves during dry season and complete their life-cycle during the short moist season. This enables them to survive in drought-like conditions. This forest is suitable for grazing and wildlife.

The non-availability of irrigational water, slow growth species, loss of wood by pilferage, diseases, insects, pests and weeds are different constraints facing the irrigated forest. Irrigated forests are managed to supply timber to local industry, fuel wood and for setting up recreational sites etc.

The Sindh’s river forests are facing a decreased supply of water in the wake of building of Tarbela and Mangla dams and a number of barrages on the Indus River. Dominant tree species are kikar, jand, farash and bahn. The tree species of Punjab riverian forests include shisham and mulberry. Medium size timber and fuel wood and stabilisation of banks of rivers and canal banks are advantages.

Over exploitation, pollution and changes in water quality, excessive cutting for fuel wood and fodder, solid industrial and domestic wastes and oil spills have resulted in the reduction of area under mangrove forests. The area of these forests has reduced from 263,000 hectare in 1978 to 158,500 hectare in 1990. There is a need for a comprehensive programme to educate local people about the value of mangroves to prevent their cutting for fuel.

Forests are important for an agro-based economy. Trees contribute to productivity of agriculture by protecting arable crops from hailstorms and windstorms, preventing lodging of crops, increasing productivity of soil, containing soil nutrient loss by wind and water erosion and keeping the climate moderate.

A number of products and by-products including timber, charcoal, firewood, pulp, tannin, lignin, cellulose and wax are directly obtained from trees. Forests stabilise dams, reservoirs and the irrigation network of canals.

To mobilise forest resources, it is imperative to control illicit grazing and gaming in the protected forest and wildlife areas, to organise and empower local communities to assist in forest management, to encourage participatory management of the forests, to reclaim water-logged and saline areas for raising of forests, to promote social and agro-forestry in villages and on farms to meet fuel wood and timber needs on sustainable basis. Nurseries need to be set up to provide cost-free tree saplings to concerned personnel.