FORESTS

1. What is a forest?
A forest is an extensive, continuous area of land dominated by trees. A forest is nature's
most efficient ecosystem, with a high rate of photosynthesis affecting both plant and animal
systems in a series of complex organic relationships.
2. What kind of trees are found in forests?
The trees found in forests may be self-seeded or planted by people, but all trees play an
important role in the environment, absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen,
preventing soil erosion, as a habitat for wildlife, and as a source of food, timber firewood and
shade.
3. How much of the area of any country should be forest?
Ideally, 20-30% of the area of any country should be forest. In Pakistan, the area covered by
forest is very small, just 5.7% in 2019.

Pakistan’s forests fall into two categories: productive forests and protection forests.

PRODUCTIVE FORESTS
- One-third of Pakistan’s forests are productive forests.
4. What is commercial value?
Commercial value means the fair market value that a good or service would have if it was
offered for sale. For example, the commercial value of a travel via corporate aircraft is the
fair market value that travel would have if purchased from a commercial airline.
5. What are productive forests?
Productive forests are mainly natural forests, where the tree density is high and the canopy
is closed. Such forests have great commercial value and are mainly used for extraction of
timber and other products.

PROTECTION FORESTS
- Two-thirds of Pakistan’s forests are protection forests.
6. What are protection forests?
Protection forests are forests mainly planted by people and are usually linear. They include
amenity planting (plants for attraction) along roads, in parks, and beside railway lines. They
have little commercial value because most of them are not valuable timber species.
7. What is the main function of protection forests?
The main function of protection forests is to protect the soil and prevent it from eroding or
blowing away. They help to keep the environment pleasant by providing shade for people
and livestock.
**MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.1**

IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS
8. How are forests important from an ecological point of view?
From an ecological point of view, forests are important as they help to maintain a balance in
the environment by checking pollution and protecting the soil from erosion by wind or water
and by intercepting rainfall, especially on sloping ground. By preventing soil erosion, trees
 on hill slopes also regulate the amount of water flowing into river valleys, thereby reducing
floods.
9. Why is decomposition of leaves important?
Decomposition f leaves is important because it helps to form humus, which maintains the
fertility of the soil. This, in turn, helps farmers to grow healthy crops.
10. How are forests important from a commercial and industrial point of view?
From a commercial and industrial point of view, forests are important because they provide
raw materials to industries making timber products, pharmaceuticals (medicine), and paper.
They are also valuable for recreation and tourism.
11. What is the type and distribution of forests closely-linked to?
The type and distribution of forests are closely-linked to altitude. In the areas above the
snow-line, there is hardly any vegetation. Just below the snow-line there are alpine forests.
From 4000 down to 1000 metres, coniferous forests are found, but below 1000 metres trees
with valuable timber can only grow on irrigated plantation.
**MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.7**
**MEMORIZE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ON PAGE 75**

DETERMINANTS
12. What do forests in Pakistan range from?
Forests in Pakistan range from Alpine forests in the extreme north to Mangrove vegetation
in the south.
13. What are the density and type of forest closely-linked to?
The density and type of forest are closely-linked to rainfall, temperature, altitude, and soil
type.
- Areas with different altitude have different types of forests.
14. What is aridity?
Aridity is a nature produced permanent imbalance in the water availability consisting in low
average annual precipitation, with high spatial and temporal variability, resulting in overall
low moisture and low carrying capacity of the ecosystems.
15. Is aridity over the Balochistan Plateau and the southern Indus Plain favourable?
No, aridity over the Balochistan Plateau and the southern Indus Plain is not favourable to
plant growth and results in thorny bushes and scrub.
16. What does higher precipitation in the Northern Mountains encourage?
Higher precipitation in the Northern Mountains encourages coniferous (evergreen) forests.
- In the salt water of the Indus and Hab deltas, the deposition of alluvium has encouraged the
growth of mangrove vegetation.
- Edaphic factors (soil type) also determine the type and density of forests in different areas.
17. Where do Coniferous Forests grow?
Coniferous Forests grow in the Northern Area, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rawalpindi,
Islamabad, Murree, and the Balochistan hills.
18. What species do Coniferous Forests consist of?
Coniferous Forests consist of the species like Spruce and Fir in high altitude areas which
have adapted to the severe climatic conditions and, often, to poor soils.
19. What are coniferous trees?
Coniferous trees are softwoods and are used to make paper. After the foliage and bark have
been removed from the trunk, the wood is ground up and treated with chemicals to produce
the pulp needed to make paper.
 **MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.11**

20. How do mangrove trees survive in salt water?

Unlike most trees, mangroves trees survive in salt water as their internal tissues are salt-
tolerant, and their roots filter out most of the salt from the water they absorb. Excess salt is
carried to the leaves and excreted onto their surfaces.
21. What do certain mangrove species have?
Certain mangrove species have gnarled and knobbly “knees” that protrude above the
surface of the salty mud in which the trees grow. Scientists believe that the mangrove
“knees” extract oxygen from the air and funnel it to the roots below. An example of
mangroves with this feature are estuarine mangroves.

CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF

MANGROVE TREES
22. What has the construction of dams and barrages on the Indus resulted in?
The construction of dams and barrages on the Indus has resulted in the reduction of the
amount of water reaching the delta from 250 million km3 to 100 million km3. This water and
the slit it carries are needed to maintain a balanced ecosystem in the delta. With less river
water flowing into the delta, more salt water from the sea is able to flow in, destroying local
agriculture and wildlife.
- Many animals depend on mangroves, including endangered species such as turtles.
23. Which delta has the world’s seventh-largest mangrove forest?
The Indus Delta has the world’s seven-largest mangrove forest, but large areas have been
lost due to:
 Reduced influx of fresh water and slit
 Deforestation for fuel and timber
 Pollution from farms, sewage, and shipping
 The building of roads and other construction projects by the coast
24. What is the reduction in the large areas of the Indus Delta resulting in?
As a result of the reduction in the large areas of the Indus Delta, an environment that is
extremely important for the growth and health of marine resources has been vanishing fast.
Moreover, fishing communities suffer badly when tropical cyclones hit coastal areas. Tidal
waves and erosion destroy people’s homes and rice farms.
25. How can the damage caused by this be reduced?
The damage caused by this can be reduced if the coast was fringed with mangroves; high
waves lose up to 75% of their force after passing through 200 metres of mangroves.
26. Why are mangroves important?
Mangroves are important as the provide nursery for shrimps, crabs, and several species of
fish. Their fallen leaves and twigs give rise to a fertile and beautiful habitat in the estuaries
(an estuary is an arm if the sea at the mouth of a river). Young fish and shrimps grow in
these estuaries. The mangroves forests also produce honey from the blossoms of the
Avicenna marina species that contribute 95% of the mangroves lining our coats.
27. Why has the International Union for the Conservation of Nature been working?
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been working to protect
and rehabilitate the ecosystem and its resources. It started planting mangroves in
coordination with the Sindh Forest Department in the late 1980s. It is vital that other
government departments and NGOs should participate in these initiatives.
 **MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.14**

FOREST PRODUCTS
28. What do forest products consist of?
Forest products consist of timber, fuel wood, and other products like resin, mazri, and
ephedra.
29. What are timber’s various uses?
Timber’s various uses include making buildings, furniture, agricultural tools, and boxes. The
demand for timber is growing day by day due to increase in population.
30. What do other forest products include?
The other forest products include resin, which is a fluid in the tissue of a plant that becomes
solid on exposure to air; it is used for making varnishes. Mazri is used for making mats,
baskets, and packing materials. Ephedra is a medicinal shrub used by pharmaceutical
factories.

DEFORESTATION IN PAKISTAN
- Clearing forest land is called deforestation.
- Pakistan’s forest resources are shrinking fast, and this will have serious effects on
Pakistan’s people and ecosystem.
31. What are the causes of deforestation in Pakistan?
The causes of deforestation in Pakistan are:
1. Forests cleared to make room for mining
2. Trees cut down to clear land for agriculture
3. Trees used as fuel
4. Forests destroyed by overgrazing
5. Trees cleared to make space for industry and an expanding road network
6. Trees cut down for use in construction and timber products
7. Forests cleared to make space for housing
32. What can deforestation cause?
Deforestation can cause degeneration and destruction of the environment and loss of food
and resources.
33. What does deforestation result in?
Deforestation results in the exposition of soil to the forces of wind and water, especially on
the foothills of mountains. The topsoil is eroded away by wind and rain, leaving infertile
coarse sand. In heavy rainfall, water gushes down the slopes, carrying large quantities of silt
and sand. With no trees to hold the soil together and slow the water flow, the surface run-off
can cause heavy floods.
34. Where are large amounts of silt from the Northern Mountains carried?
Large amounts of silt from the Northern Mountains are carried downstream and accumulate
in reservoirs. This reduces the reservoirs’ capacity and disrupts the generation of
hydroelectricity. Deposition of silt also harms fisheries and blocks irrigation canals.
- Continuous disruption of the water supply badly affects crops, reducing food production.

35. What does the cutting of trees (deforestation) disturb?

 The cutting of trees disturbs the natural environment. The natural habitat is destroyed, which
disturbs wildlife and can cause its extinction.
36. How does deforestation result in climate change?
Deforestation results in climate change as with less vegetation there is less vape-
transpiration, causing climate change, and as a result, there is less rainfall which may lead
to lower crop yields.
37. Why are forest resources already meagre and under constant stress in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, forest resources are already meagre and under constant stress due to reckless
and unauthorized cutting of trees. Political pressures and administrative mismanagement
intensify the crisis.
38. Is there a need to stop the process of deforestation?
Yes, there is a strong need to stop the process of deforestation and to manage the forest
resources on a scientific basis by implementing afforestation / reforestation programmes.
**MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.17**
**MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.18 (a) AND 4.18 (b)**

SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY DEFORESTATION

- Once an area is cleared of vegetation, it requires a lot of effort and money to regenerate it.
39. How can we solve the problems caused by deforestation?
The following measures can be helpful to solve the problems caused by deforestation:
1. Supplying irrigation facilities to deforested areas with effective enforcement of
regeneration programmes. Commercial species of trees, which grow rapidly, should be
planned.
2. By reserving land for fuel wood plantation only, the valuable species of trees could be
saved. In Pakistan, precious forest resources have been cut down just to supply fuel
wood for domestic use.
3. Creating public awareness by government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) and community workers, about the hazards of deforestation.
4. The supply of natural gas to northern areas through discovery of new gas fields or import
from neighbouring countries will make life easier for the people. Rapid deforestation has
forced local people, especially women, to trudge ever-greater distances on foot to forage
for firewood which they then have to carry home in heavy bundles. The local availability
of natural gas should put an end to this ordeal for them.
5. By improving growing and planting techniques, deforested areas could be regenerated in
a short period.
6. Forest managers should try to find ways to make forestry more sustainable, for example
by:
a) Ensuring that logging companies only use selective cutting methods
b) Restricting the use of heavy machinery in forests
c) Strict enforcement of forest laws
d) Enforcement of village/farm forestry
e) Urban forestry programmes which include planting of trees along main roadsides and
in open spaces
7. Planting fruit trees on the slopes of hills would provide food for local people and would
help to protect the soil from wind and water erosion. Various techniques such as
terracing, replanting of trees, grass and hedges, contour ploughing, and strip cultivation
can reduce soil erosion.
 8. Encouraging people to reuse and recycle timber, paper, and card would reduce demand
for wood products and slow the rate of tree felling.
9. Developing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, would reduce the
demand for wood as fuel. It would also improve air quality as renewable energy
produces no smoke.
**MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.19**
**MEMORIZE FIGURE 4.20**

AFFORESTATION PROJECTS IN PAKISTAN

40. What is the main objective of Afforestation Projects?
The main objective of Afforestation Projects is the afforestation of ecologically critical areas,
which are under constant threat of land degradation which causes damage to the
environment.
41. What do Afforestation Projects consist of?
Afforestation Projects may consist of:
1. Selecting areas to be afforested
2. Managing plantations
3. Developing ways of using forest products
42. How are Afforestation Projects carried out?
Afforestation Projects carried out by spreading small nurseries throughout the project.
Project officers are responsible for supplying seedlings from the nurseries, protecting the
afforested areas and carrying our planting. They also motivate local people to plant trees by
providing specialised knowledge of, and assistance with, forest management and the
collection of data on afforestation.
43. Which projects have the Government of Pakistan and NGOs started?
The Government of Pakistan and NGOs have started a number of projects, including:
1. The Tarbela/Mangla Watershed Management Project, which aims at the afforestation of
privately owned badlands in the catchment areas of the Tarbela and Mangla dams. Soil
conservation, the establishment of orchards, and sustainable agriculture are the other
main components of the project, which has reduced the siltation rate in the Mangla Dam.
2. The Government’s Rs34 million “Rachna Doab Afforestation Project” planted trees in the
region between the Chenab and Ravi rivers.
3. The Billion Tree Tsunami project focussed on the on the reafforestation of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, province that has suffered badly overgrazing, intensive logging and the
destruction of trees for fuel wood.
44. What is the objective of the Billion Tree Tsunami project?
The objective of the Billion Tree Tsunami project set out in 2015 is to increase KP’s forest
area by 2% 2021, and it planted a billion trees on its first two years. As well as all the
environmental benefits, 500,000 jobs were created in nurseries and other businesses linked
to the planting.

SUSTAINABLE FORSTERY
45. What did the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) give?
 The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) gave one of the most
widely accepted definitions of sustainable development in its 1987 report.
46. How is sustainable development defined in the 1987 (WCED) report?
In the 1987 (WCED) report, sustainable development is defined as that: ‘which meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs’. This means that resources should be used in a way that not only the present
generation benefits from them, but future generations also continue to benefit from them.
47. What does sustainable forestry mean?
Sustainable forestry means managing forest resources in such a way as to ensure that we
will be able to obtain the things we want from the forests on a regular basis, while also
conserving the natural environment. It implies continuous production of resources such as
wood (the primary product traditionally), water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities,
and so on.
48. Which industry is important to Pakistan?
The forestry industry is important to Pakistan. If it is to remain important and possibly
expand, it must be managed properly.
49. Why do trees vary in their rate of growth to maturity?
Trees vary in their rate of growth to maturity, mainly due to varying climatic conditions. They
must not be cut down at a rate faster than they can be replaced. This means that in an area
where trees take, for example, 30 years to mature no more than 1/30th of the forest should
be cut down in any one year.
- Every tree cut down must be replaced with a sapling from a nursery.
50. What must be done when areas of forests have to be cut down?
When areas of forests have to be cut down for essential human requirements, such as
housing, schools, roads, new areas of forests must be planted to replace them. Such
afforestation is also necessary if the industry is to expand and if Pakistan is to achieve a
higher percentage of forest than the present 1.85% of its total area.