Copy of Forest Q + A

SECTION ONE -
GENERAL FACTS + KEY
TERMS

Q What are linear plantations (protective

forests)?
Ans: Linear plantation refers to the trees
planted along the roads, canals and railway
lines. Trees hold the soil and protect against
soil erosion, besides providing shade,
reducing pollution and increasing the
afforested area. The photos show social media posts
made by the KPK government on Twitter to share evidence
with citizens about linear plantations planted by the Forest
Division alongside the National Highway)

Q What are productive forests?

Ans: The term “productive forest” mainly

refers to natural forests. Productive forests
have high tree density, and a high
commercial value, because they are a
source of timber and firewood.

Q State two domestic use of wood.

Ans: Timber is used in the construction of
houses, for furniture, doors and windows.
Timber is also used for firewood to cook
food, warm homes, and heat water.

Q Explain how wood is used in industry and

transport.
Ans: Industry: Wood is used as a raw
material for furniture making, paper,
matches, and pencils, sports goods like
hockey sticks, bats and rackets. Resin,
which is a fluid found in Pine trees, is also
used for making varnishes. Mazri is used for
making mats and baskets. Ephedra is a
shrub used in pharmaceutical factories to
make medicines.

Transport: In transport, wood is used in

making truck bodies, railway carriages, and
railroad sleepers (wooden planks upon
which the steel railroad track sits), animal
carts, boats and bridges. Picture of ladies crossing
a wooden bridge in Kalam, near Swat, K.P.K.

Q What is sustainable forestry?

Ans: Sustainable forestry means managing
the cutting of trees in a way that doesn’t
deplete or destroy the forest. Instead, new
trees are constantly being planted to replace
the trees that have been cut, and only
mature trees are thinned or harvested. In
this way, the forest remains productive for a
long time, the soil is not eroded, and wildlife
habitats are preserved.

Deforestation is the opposite of sustainable

forestry and it has devastating long term
effects on the environment, wildlife,
economy, and public health.

Q Explain the importance of forests for the

conservation of the environment in
Pakistan?

Ans: (1) Forests prevent soil erosion and

floods. (2) Forests add oxygen to the air and
reduce air pollution. (3) Forests provide
habitats for wildlife. (4) Forests reduce the
overall temperature and attract rainfall. (5)
Forests add to the natural beauty of
Pakistan.

Q What is the difference between

afforestation and reforestation?
Ans:
Afforestation means to grow a forest on an
area where there was no forest before.
Reforestation means growing a forest on a
deforested area, or an area that had forests
that were cut down.

Q Why is afforestation called a long term

investment?
Ans: Trees take 10 to 20 years to reach
maturity to become economically valuable.

Q Describe the distribution of natural and

irrigated (man-made) forests.

Ans: Coniferous forests are found in the

Northern and North-Western mountains.
Gilgit, Chitral, Swat, Murree, Abbotabad,
Mansera, Nathiagali, and Kaghan.
Coniferous Forest are also found in
Waziristan, Quetta, Pishin and Ziarat. Below
1000 meters sub-tropical dry forests exist in
Rawalpindi/ Islamabad, Attock, Peshawar,
Mardan and Kohat. Mangroves forest are
found in the Indus and Hab Delta, and along
the Makran Coast. Irrigated forests are
found in Changa Manga, Khanawal, Taunsa,
Bahawalpur, Guddu barrage and
Hyderabad.

SECTION TWO - TYPES

of FOREST
Topic: Alpine forests.

Q At what altitude are Alpine forests found?

Ans: Alpine forests are high-altitude forests
that grow just below the snow line, from
4000 to 4500 meters above sea level.
Alpine plants occur in a tundra.

Q Describe the features of Alpine trees.

Ans: Silver fir, pines, junipers and birches
are some important species of trees.
These are basically conifers but at high
alpine latitudes, their growth becomes
stunted because of extremely cold
weather, i.e. they do not grow to full
height. Alpine trees are found in Dir, Chitral,
Swat and Kohistan. Alpine forests are not
spread over a great area, they have little
economic value. Alpine forests may provide
firewood for local residents.

Q What is a snow line?

Ans: The altitude (height 4500 meters)
above which snow remains throughout the
year on mountain peaks, is the snow line.
Vegetation cannot grow above the snow line
because the ground is icy and frozen.

Q What is a snowfield?
Ans: A snowfield is a large area covered
with snow all throughout the year.

Q Explain why a large part of the Northern

Areas is covered with snowfields.
Ans: Snowfields exist over an altitude of
4500 meters because of low temperatures
during long winter months. Heavy snowfall
takes place in these areas. During the short
summer period, very little snow melts. The
next winter brings even more snowfall,
causing the snow to pile up on last year’s
snow, and turning it into hard ice. A
snowfield has layers and layers of hard ice
formed over a period of years. These layers
never melt completely, forming a permanent
snowfield.

Topic: Coniferous forests.

Q At what altitude are coniferous trees
found?
Ans: From 1000 to 4000 meters.

Q Name the types of coniferous trees.

Ans: Fir, Silver Fir, Spruce, Birch, Deodar,
Pine, Larch and Juniper. Trees that produce
cones (e.g. pine cone) instead of flowers are

conifers.

Q Name the places where coniferous trees

are found in Pakistan.
Ans: In K.P.K - Abottabad, Mansehra, Swat
In Punjab - Rawalpindi, Islamabad and
Muree
In Balochistan - Quetta and Kalat

Q How have coniferous trees and plants

adapted to survive in the climate of the
Northern Areas?
Ans: 1) Coniferous trees have thick bark to
protect them from low temperatures, 2) they
have needle-like leaves to reduce water loss
through transpiration, 3) they have
downward sloping branches to let snow
slide-off, 4) they have long shallow roots to
provide strength against winds and absorb
water. 5) Confers are known as evergreens,
they do not shed and regrow their leaves
and this saves energy.

Topic: Tropical Thorn forests.

Q Describe the features of a tropical thorn

forest.
Ans: These are short, thorny hardwood
trees, 6-10 m high. They are also known as
Rakh. These trees have long roots so they
can live on a very small amount of water in
arid conditions. Acacia and Salvadora are
common types of trees found in tropical
thorn forests, they are used as firewood.

Topic: Sub-Tropical Scrub Forests.

Q Name the places where Sub-Tropical

Scrub Forest are found?
Ans: These forests are found in:
Balochistan - Sulaiman Range, Kirthar
Range
Punjab - In the foothills of the lower
Himalayas (Margalls Hills). K.P.K in the
Western Mountains (Peshawar, Kohat and
Mardan).
Hint - these are the forests you see on Trail 3 or
the drive to Monal in Islamabad

Q What are the main features of a Sub-

Tropical Scrub Forest?
Ans: Sub-tropical scrub forests have broad-
leafed thorny trees. They may be used for
grazing cattle (goats and sheep), and they
provide firewood. The branches are too
weak and thin to be used for construction or
furniture.

Topic: Riverine Forests aka Bela Forests.

Q At what altitude are riverine forests
found?
Ans: Below 1000 meters, in the low-land
plains, on the banks of rivers.

Q Describe the features of a riverine forest.

Ans: Riverine forests are found along the
banks of the Indus River and its tributaries
locally known as Bela forests. Riverine
forests mostly grow in the fertile soil of the
active flood plains on either side of various
rivers. Babul, Shisham, Willow, Darek
(Jacaranda) and Jhand are common types
of trees found in Riverine forests. Most of
their wood is useful for firewood. Shisham
trees can be used for making furniture or

homes.

Topic: Mangrove Forests.

Q Name the types of mangrove trees.
Ans: Avicennia Marina and Red Mangrove
are 2 out of 8 mangrove tree species found
in Pakistan - 4 of these are already extinct,
and 3 including Red Mangrove, are
endangered.
Mangrove trees grow in tidal estuaries, in
salt marshes and on muddy coasts. They
have prop roots that “breathe” by rising
above the water and allowing air to enter
through small openings (lenticels) so it can
pass down to the roots beneath the mud.

Q Why is this type of forest found along

coastal areas?
Ans: Mangrove forest grows in coastal areas
and wetlands, which are drained by both
fresh river water and salty seawater. These
trees can live in salty seawater. The roots of
Mangrove trees can filter the salt. These
trees have stunted (slow) growth due to
water pollution. Mangrove trees can grow up
to 8 meters in case of favorable (good)
conditions. Mangrove forests provide a safe
zone for fish to lay eggs, they protect the
land from harsh waves, and are very
valuable for the environment.

Q Name the areas where Mangrove forests

are found.
Ans: Indus Delta and Hub Delta, along the
Makran Coast in Ormara, Gwadar, and
Jiwani.
In terms of area Pakistan has 0.6 million hectares
of mangrove ecosystem, probably the tenth largest
in the world. They are distributed along the coast of
Sindh and Baluchistan.

Q What are advantages of Mangrove trees?

Ans: (1) Mangrove trees are a breeding
ground for shrimp, crabs, lobsters and other
valuable marine fish that are captured by
fishermen for trade, hence mangroves are
important for economic activity. (2)
Mangroves are a wildlife habitat for fish,
plants, crutaceans, birds, mammals, reptiles
and amphibians. (3) Mangroves protect the
coastal land from erosion by seawater and
strong tidal waves and sea breezes, (4)
Mangroves add oxygen to the atmosphere,
trap carbon dioxide and reduce pollution, (5)
Mangrove forests are a shelterbelt against
cyclones, (6) Locals use mangrove leaves to
feed livestock and make medicine, (7)
Mangrove wood is very valuable because it
is resistant to rot and insects, (8) Mangrove
forests have been harvested for pulp,
woodchip, and charcoal production, but
should be protected from commercial
activity.

Q Why has the area covered by Mangrove

forests decreased in recent years?
Ans: Commercial development of coastlines,
diverting of freshwater from the Indus,
careless cutting of trees for firewood and
timber, overgrazing, oil spills and water
pollution (factories and city waste from
Karachi and other areas) have damaged the
mangrove forests and associated wetlands.

SECTION THREE -
HUMAN INTERVENTION
Topic: Irrigated Forests.

Q Why does Pakistan need to increase the

area of its irrigated forests?
Ans: In Pakistan, less than 5% of the
national landmass is covered with forest.
There is a shortage of wood and timber in
Pakistan. There is not enough rainfall to
support natural forests in the lower Indus
plains. To ensure a steady supply of
firewood and timber, people have dug
canals and water channels to irrigate man-
made forests. Irrigated forests are
sustainable and commercially valuable.
They also improve the environment.

The textbox below shows a Wikipedia entry about Changa

Manga, Pakistan’s largest man-made forest. Changa Manga
was created by the British to ensure a steady supply of
firewood to fuel the 5 daily trains travelling on the Lahore-
Karachi railway line in the 1860s. You don’t need to write
about this in your exam, but it will certainly improve your
understanding of both History and Geography. Introducing
water to this thorny scrub jungle was the key to transforming
this landscape. The British were excellent planners and
developers.

Q Describe the main features of an irrigated

forest.
Ans: Irrigated forests are planted with high-
value trees that will yield a profit. Trees like
Shisham, Babul, Jhand, and Euclyptus are
grown to provide firewood and timber.

Q Name the places where irrigated forests

are being grown.
Ans: Irrigated forests are common in the
lower Indus plains aka Punjab: Changa
Manga near Lahore, Chichawatni,
Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Taunsa Barrage
and Ghuddu Barrages.

Q Explain the advantages and

disadvantages of developing more irrigated
plantation in the Indus Delta?
Ans: Advantages: Irrigated forest areas will
(1) Provide timber for furniture and
construction, as well as firewood, (2) provide
fruit and medicinal ingredients for people,
(3) provide fodder for animals, (3) support
bees, birds and wildlife. (4) The forest floor
adds fertility and nutrients to arid and
degraded soil, this happens because leaves
fall and decompose turning into “humus”. (5)
Forests also prevent soil erosion by wind,
rainwater or extreme weather, (6) add to the
natural beauty of a place, (7) reduce
pollution, (8) and extract/ remove toxins and
even radioactive waste from the soil -
storing it in their trees and branches.

Disadvantages: Irrigated forest areas are (1)

expensive, high-cost investments that take
up money and property, (2) they are long-
term investments that do not provide a
product for 10-20 years (unlike cheaper
crops that are ready for harvest in a few
months), (3) they need irrigation and a man-
made water supply.

Q Why is irrigation necessary for new forest

plantations?
Ans: (1) In the Indus plain, there is not
enough rainfall, and the rate of
evaporation/transpiration is high due to the
hot temperatures, without irrigation, the
forest will not have the water it needs to
grow properly. (2) The rainfall is seasonal
and does not provide a yearlong supply of
water. (3) Irrigated soil is wetter and heavier,
it cannot be easily eroded by strong winds
and dust storms.

Topic: Deforestation.

Q State the causes of deforestation.

Ans: (1) Deforestation is caused by the
cutting down of trees, motivated by the need
for firewood, the desire to sell the valuable
trees for timber, and the need for wood to
build homes. (2) Sometimes trees are cut to
clear a piece of land for farming crops. (3)
Forested areas are destroyed in order to
build homes, roads, mines, housing
societies and dams. (4) factories may cut
trees to access raw material below the land,
or to use as raw material (6) Droughts,
landslides, flash floods, forest fires, and
violent storms can damage forest areas, (7)
as can overgrazing by livestock such as
goats and sheep, which can strip the bark of
trees in the winter.

Q How does deforestation cause soil

erosion?
Ans: Soil is exposed due to deforestation
and there are no tree roots left to hold the
soil in place. Therefore the soil is easily
washed away by rain. Nutrients in the soil
are washed away making the soil infertile
and dry like dust, which cannot support
healthy plant growth.

Q How can soil can be preserved in

deforested areas?
Ans:
(1) By using hill terracing (top picture): Steps
are cut into the slope of a mountainside or
hillside, then the edges or ‘risers’ of terraced
fields are lined with stone walls to hold the
soil.
(2) Terracing on gentler slopes (picture 2)
uses tall grasses and crops, grown on the
edges of fields to reduce erosion.
(3) Strip farming (picture 4 - bottom left) is
another method for preventing soil erosion
on flat land - a shorter crop (wheat or
vegetables) is grown between long strips of
a taller crop (fruit trees) to keep soil
protected from wind and rain.
(4) Afforestation also helps to check soil
erosion, this is done by planting trees at the
edges of fields (picture 3 - bottom right).

Q What problems are caused by

deforestation in mountain areas for (a)
communication (b) farming in valley (c)
hydro-electricity?

Ans:
Communication: Deforestation causes
landslides which can knock down electricity,
telephone, and mobile towers. Landslides
can block or destroy roads and access to
mountain areas, making communication
impossible. Landslides are a direct result of
deforestation which removes the tree roots
that hold the soil in place. Without the
binding of tree roots and vegetation, the soil
on a mountain slope absorbs rain or river
water, and becomes a muddy slurry, which
collapses into a river of mud that slides
down taking rocks, boulders, and structures
with it.

Valley farming: Deforestation means that

rainwater running of bare and tree-less
mountain slopes becomes muddy. This
muddy water filled with eroded minerals is
unfit for drinking (by humans and animals),
and cannot be used for farming in fields.
Farms in mountain valleys are adversely
affected by deforestation of mountain
forests.

Hydro-electricity: Dams are built to store a

large amount of water, and then release it at
high pressure to operate turbines, which
create electricity. Water flowing down from
deforested areas carries a high level of
eroded soil. When the water flows into the
dam, the eroded soil is deposited at the
bottom of the lake. High levels of eroded soil
and rocks entering the lake, reduce a dam’s
water storage capacity, block outlets, and
damage machinery. It is very costly to
remove sediment deposits from a dam.

Q Explain why the dry climate of Balochistan

increases the risk of soil erosion?
Ans: The land of Balochistan has an arid
climate with very little rainfall, which means
plant growth is scarce. To make matters
worse, overgrazing is common and re-
growth of vegetation is slow. Having barely
any plant roots to hold down the soil, and no
leafy cover or grasses to protect the soil
from the wind, the soil is turned over, again
and again, losing moisture, microbes,
nutrients and minerals. Due to this manner
of wind erosion, the soil becomes like
lifeless dust.

Q Where does eroded soil go?

Ans: Wind blows it into sand dunes or
foothills, water takes it into rivers or ditches.
It may drain into a dam or lake and settle
there.

REFERENCES
The following notes have been created by
using the following resources:

1. Pakistan Studies 2 O Level Notes

by Sir Bilal Sarwar from DMC
Faisalabad (03228659670),
(https://www.facebook.com/6156402
75567702/posts/forest-unit-4by-sir-
bilal-sarwar-from-dmc-fsd-
03228659670q-what-are-linear-
plant/615650102233386/)
2. Wikipedia.com
3. The Open University (open.edu)
4. Brittanica.com
5. www.wwf.org.pk