Natural Vegetation of Pakistan

Natural vegetation comprises forests, shrubs and grasses, and is determined by climatic
conditions and soil types. The climate of Pakistan is too dry for forests, except in the northern
hilly and sub-montane belts. Soil formation on the hill slopes is a prerequisite for forest growth,
but human practices in these areas have contributed to erosion, rather than to soil formation.
Ruthless wood-cutting, over-grazing, and the annual removal of grass cover from the slopes are
all processes which handicap soil formation and the development of forests. As a result, there is
a marked deficiency of tree-cover in Pakistan.

Types of NATURAL VEGETATION around the world

Forest
Forests are extensive, continuous areas of land dominated by trees. The desired level of
forests is 20-30 percent of the total area of a country. In Pakistan only about 4.8 % of the
total area is forested. There are two types of forests in Pakistan
• Productive Forests : These are mainly natural forests and have high tree densities. Such
forests have great commercial value and are mainly used for extraction of timber and
other products.
 Protection Forests : These forests are mainly planted by people. They include planting
along roads, in parks and along railway lines. Protection forests have little commercial
values as they do not provide valuable species of wood. There main function is to
prevent soil erosion.

Forests In 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.
It is generally accepted that, for a balanced economy, with an agrarian base, 20-25 percent of
the land should be under forest. In Pakistan, only about 3 percent of the total area is forested.
Afforestation programs increased the acreage under forest from 3.4 million in 1947/8 to 6.41
million by 1971/2. Additional large areas have been reserved for afforestation in Thal, Ghulam
Mohammad Barrage, and Gudu Barrage, and this is likely to improve future acreage to some
extent. Of the 6.41 million acres classified as forest in 1971/2, Sind had 1.22 million,
Baluchistan, 2.65, the Punjab 1.05 and N.W.F.P. 1.49. Much of the acreage in Sind and
Baluchistan is not true forest and, indeed, two-thirds of the “forested” area is scrub-land.

Slightly over two-thirds of the forest land is under public ownership, the remainder being
privately owned. Forests are classified as Reserved, Protected, or ‘Unclassified’. Reserved and
Protected forests are publicly owned. Tree-felling in Reserved forests is done only under the
strict supervision of the Forest Department. In Protected forests the local population has some
traditionally acquired rights of use for example, grazing and collection of dried branches for
firewood. This makes the scientific management of such forests difficult. Unclassified forests are
under private or communal ownership, and depleted so badly that large areas of such-so called
‘forests’ are devoid of

Types of Forest In Pakistan:

1. Alpine Forests

 These forest are called alpine because they grow in conditions similar to those in the
Alps, a mountain range in Europe.

 Alpine forests are found on the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan. In the region of high
mountains there is snow, so little or no vegetation is found here.

 Due to the very cold climate above a height of 4000 meters, trees do not grow
properly. Some dwarfed trees of silver fir, juniper, and birch grow here. Alpine forests
are found in a limited area in Chitral, Dir, Swat, and Gilgit.

 They normally have upward branches to attain more sunlight.

 They are used as fuel wood only.

 The coniferous forests occur from 1,000 to 4,000 m in altitude. Chitral, Swat, Upper
and Lower Dir, Malakand, Mansehra and Abbottabad, districts of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Rawalpindi and districts of the Punjab are the main
areas covered with coniferous forests.

 Coniferous forests are evergreen which survive in low temperature. They are
important source of timber for making furniture and boxes.

 They are conical in shape and have sloping branches which prevent snow
accumulation.

 These type of forests are good breeding and conserving centers for birds and wildlife.

 Coniferous forests add to the scenic beauty of the area, attract tourists and promote
tourism industry.

3. Tropical Thorn Forests

 The tropical thorn forests are dominated by xerophytic scrubs. They are most
widespread in the Punjab plains but also occupy small areas in southern Sindh and
western Baluchistan. They are mainly used for grazing purposes, watershed
protection and fuelwood. The usual height is 6-9 m.

 This is the natural vegetation over the whole of the Indus Plains except for the driest
parts. It merges into the subtropical dry evergreen type of the lower hills to the
north and West generally.

 They have deep roots to search for water.

4. Sub Tropical Scrub

 Commonly these 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.
  These scrub forest occurs at height of 1500-5000 feet. These forests found in Gujrat,
Margalla Hills, Attock and Malakand. Actually broadly speaking, these forests occur
throughout the country at suitable elevation merging downwards with the sub-
tropical pine forest.

 They are used for grazing purposes and for supplying firewood.

5. Riverain Forest

 The riverine forests occur in the province of Sindh along both banks of the Indus
River. They rely on inundation by the River for irrigation and therefore their existence
is heavily dependent on the intensity, duration and frequency of river water flow.

 They provide Shishum and Babul, two valuable species which are used for making
furniture.

6. Irrigated Forest

 These are man made forests. They include plantation along roads, in parks and along
railway lines.
 Their main function is to protect the soil and to prevent it from eroding. They keep
the environment pleasant by lowering the temperature and providing shade.
 They are important source of timber and firewood. Eucalyptus is mainly preferred as
they reduce waterlogging and salinity.
 They also add to the scenic beauty of the area and promote tourism. Leaves of trees
provide food for animals.
 Forests absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into air.

7. Mangrove Forest
 Mangroves are slat tolerant bush type trees which grow in inter-tidal zones of
tropical and subtropical areas, river deltas and along the coasts.
 Mangroves forests of Pakistan in Indus delta and along Arabian Sea coastal areas, as
per estimates, are some 129,000 hectors in the Indus delta and over 3,000 hectors in
Gwadar bay areas.
 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.
 The mangrove forests protect the coasts from dangerous cyclones and hurricanes.
Mangroves slow the water’s flow, helping to protect the coastline and preventing
erosion.
 They have broad leaves and leathery texture to minimize transpiration. In better
water areas the trees rise to 6-8 meters but their general height is 3 meters.
 Mangroves are suppliers of firewood and timber for local communities