The forest statistics in Pakistan is not encouraging. Out of the total 87.98 million hectare area, only 4.28 million hectare (4.8 per cent) are under forests. In Punjab, the forests crisis is further deepened.

Only 2.72 per cent of the total area of the province is under forests. Gap between demand and supply of timber and fuelwood is rising, while forest resources are declining. Forestry’s share in the GDP and in agriculture is 0.15 and 0.62 per cent respectively, which is not satisfactory and is a clear manifestation of forestry being a neglected sector.

The type of forests that exist in the country with relative share are moist and dry temperate coniferous 40pc, scrub 28pc, tropical thorn 3.5pc, man-made irrigated 5pc, riverian 7pc, mangrove 8pc and farm forests 11pc. Besides, there are juniper forests as well. These forests differ with respect to occurrence, environmental conditions, composition, management and economic importance.

The moist temperate forests are located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Murree, parts of districts of Abottabad, Swat, Mansehra, including some tribal areas of Malakand and Hazara. The vegetation comprises of deodar (Cedrus deodara), fir, partal and kail. Oak, popular and horse chestnut are broad-leaf tress. Besides, the provision of fuelwood and protection of Mangla and Tarbela watersheds, these forests are good source of quality timber.

With appropriate arrangements, these forests can play a great role as a recreational place. These forests are on decline. Over-cutting by the local people to meet fuelwood demand, overgrazing, mismanagement and bad agricultural practices are factors contributing to the decline of these forests.

Dry temperate forests are found in Northern Areas (Diamir, Chitral and Dir), tribal areas (Waziristan) and northern Balochistan (Loralai and Zhob). Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana), pencil juniper (Juniperus macropoda) and deodar are dominant tree species. These forests are as useful as the moist temperate forests. Good quality timber obtained from pencil juniper used for making pencils is an additional benefit. Both moist and dry temperate coniferous forests are managed by shelterwood silvicultural systems. Sometimes these are managed by selection felling silvicultural system. The scrub forests comprising open, bushy and branchy woody vegetation are located in the Potohar region, the foothills of Muree and the NWFP hills. Scrub forests of pabbi hills (Kharian-Gujrat), Margalla hills (Islamabad) and Kalachitta Hills (Attock) are good examples. Kahu (Olea cuspidata) and Phulai (Acacia modesta) are the tree species. The small timber obtained is used in handicrafts, handles of hand tools and rural cots. The fuelwood of these forests has high chlorophic value. They also protect the watersheds of Tarbela and Mangla dams. The factors described above for destruction of moist temperate forests are also responsible for the loss of these forests.

Tropical thorn forests are dominated by xerophytic species such as karir (Capparis aphylla), sarkand (saccharam munga), van (salvadora oleoides), Kikar (Acacia nilotica), jand (prospopis cineraria) and farash (Taramix aphylla).

Extensive and deep rooted system for the exploration of larger and deeper layers of dry soil, a few, small and narrow leaves with thick coating and bearing a few stomata to cut down the evaporation losses, shedding of leaves during dry season and completion of life-cycle during the short moist season are the features contribute to the drought resistant ability of these plants. These forests are suitable sites for grazing and wildlife. Like other forests types, these are also facing a number of problems viz-a-viz industrialization, urbanization, road construction and indifferent attitude of the local people.

The need for man-made forests was felt before the discovery of coal but after its discovery these are managed for timber production used in furniture and sports goods. In the 21st century, the prospects of man-made irrigated forests are not optimistic. Non-availability of irrigational water, slow growth species, loss of wood by pilferage, diseases, insects, pests and weeds are the bars to future progress of these forests.

The forests on both sides of the Indus river and its tributaries in Sindh are called the Sindh Riverian forests. These are under severe threat due to the decreased supply of water in the wake of building up of Tarbela and Mangla dams and a number of barrages on the Indus river. Here the dominant tree species are kikar, jand, farash and Bahn (Populus euphratica). The tree species of Punjab riverian forests include shisham (Dalbergia sissio) and mulberry (Morus alba). Medium size timber and fuelwood is obtained from these forests. Protection of rivers and canal banks are the side advantages. For sustainability of these forests, it is necessary to ensure good supply of water and plantation of quick growing tree species such as euclyptus, etc.

Mangrove forests are the most important forests of the Indus Delta. Taxanomically, the vegetation comprised of highly salt tolerant species such as Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, ceriops tagal and Aegiceras corniculatum. These forests are good feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for prawns, shrimps, fish etc. Equally these are good habitat for snakes, birds and mammals. They protect 330km coastline of Sindh and 645km of Balochistan from erosion, storm damage and wave action by acting as buffers and catching alluvial materials. Timber, charcoal, firewood, pulp, tannin, legnin and cellulose and wax are the products obtained from them all over the world. Livelihood of thousands of people depends upon fishing, camal grazing, buffalo grazing, honey collection and wood collection in the mogrove areas.

Mangroves are on the course of decline due to anthropogenic causes such as over exploitation, pollution and changes in water quality. Excessive cutting for fuelwood and fodder has greatly reduced the area of these forests.

Reduced flow below Kotri has reduced the area from 263,000 hectare in 1978 to 158,500 hectare in 1990. Besides, these hazards, solid industrial as well as domestic wastes and oil spills from tankers, cargo vessels, ships trawlers, harbour crafts etc., has significantly contributed in the destruction of these forests.

It is suggested that the government should arrange alternatives for fuelwood in the area for the sake of these forests. A comprehensive programme should be launched to educate the local people about the value of mangroves and stricter regulation should be imposed in the area.

The last type are called farm forests. Trees are grown side by side or one after the other on the same piece of land. It is most viable approach to practice farm forestry in the wake of water shortage and poor land to meet the diversified needs of the farmer and of the farm. Trees exercise healthy influence on crops through modification of weather extremes. Exposure to biotic pressure, liberal supply of water, nutrients, light and space, less tree competition, less weed competition, thicker bole, no or less thinning, more branches, extensive pruning, high growth rate, small to medium timber and reduced rotation are the characteristics features of farm forestry making it more viable.

The government should launch comprehensive programme to provide technical know-how to farmers about plantation of trees and should provide vigorous, quick growing, disease-free and inspect and pest-resistant tree material for the promotion of farm forestry.