Forest types of Pakistan

Forest types of pakistan is been divided into the following types

which are
1Tropical forest
a Littoral and swamp forest or Mangrove
b Tropical thorn forests
c Tropical dry deciduous forests
2 sub tropical forest
a
Sub-tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests
b
Sub-tropical pine forests
3 Temperate forest
a
Himalayan moist temperate forests
b Himalayan dry temperate forest
4 Alphine forest
a sub alphine
b Alphineposture

TROPICAL LITTORAL
AND SWAMP FORESTS

These forests are called mangroves. These considered a tidal

swamp forests by ecologists and are comparable to tropical rain
forests on a small scale. These are more or less gregarious forests
at low height which grow in the tidal zone on both sides of delta of
river indus. The total area of mangrove forests is about 80% of
the total forest area. The forest is in the form of open branchy or
bushy. The root produce aerial out growth from the soil which
produced from wet ground like fingers called pneumatophores.
Distribution :These are present on indus detta localities
includes are Karachi, lesbella, makrain, thatta, and run of kutch
According to the latest eslimates these forest cover an area of
207000ha.
Localityfactor: maximum temperature is 35 C and minimum
temperature 18C.Mean annual rainfall is 250mm. Humidity is
generally higher in moring than in afternoon it is also varies from
65 to 80 % . Littoral loose maddy loam, sitty soil , salive water
Wind : sea breeze which blows day and night at 10 to 20km ha
Elevation is at mean sea level

General floristics: Avicennia marina ( White Mangrove ,

Rhizophora mucronata , ceriops tagal, ceriop roxburghiama.
Importance : These forest are basically protection forests snice
these protected the marine wildlife and coastal live of Pakistan
from strom tidal ewsion.
Problems and constraints : over exploitation of natural
resources by coastal communities. Overcutting of mangroves for
fuelwood.and grazing, lopping, insect damage, erosion, siltation,
pollution, over exploitation of fisheries resources.
Management system : These forest were managed in the
selection felling silviculture system with the objective of
producing fuelwood and animal forage. But now a day no system
or felling is carried out as they are used for protection purpose.

TROPICAL THORN FORESTS:

Forests in which thorny usually hard wooded species predominate,

Acacia spp. being particularly characteristic. The trees usually
have short boles and low branch ling crowns which rarely meet
except on exceptionally favorable spots. The usual height is 20 to
30ft.Regeneration by root sucker s is common.
Distribution: This is the natural vegetation over the whole of
the Indus Plains except for the driest parts and the area covered
by the annual inundations. It merges into the subtropical dry
evergreen type of the lower hills to the north and West generally.
It includes Peshawar Rawalpindi, chichawatni, khanewal, khanpur,
bannu, DIkhan, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Multan,

Locality factor :
mean anuual temperature 24 C to 27 C
meananual rainfall 35 or less. Mean annual humidity 35 to
50%soil are mostly of sand clay textures. Hot wind usally in
summer.
GeneralFloristic: acacia nilotica , acacia modesta , tamarax
aphylla, prosopis cineraria, zizyphus mauratiana.
Importance : extensively used as grazing lands.
Fuel wood extraction
agriculture implements are made
furits are abtained like zizyphus mauratiana.

Bark is used as medicine for dysentery e.g acacia nilotica

Problems :over grazing
absent of any full time organization
unplanned and hap hazard industrialization on, unbanization, road
construction

TROPICAL DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS:

An open rather low forest composed almost entirely of
deciduous trees and a few trees of the thorn forests type with a
predominantly deciduous shrub layer. A typical feature of this
forest is the marked contrast between the dry season condition
when it is leafless and the soil bare, and the monsoon period
when it takes on an almost luxuriant appearance from the growth
of ephemeral herbaceous vegetation coupled with the leafing out
of the tees and shrubs. The forests are subjected to repeated
ground fires, grazing are heavy as the forests is much close to
habitation and cultivation.
Distribution Limited to the Himalayan foot hills and adjoining
siwalik and alluvial deposils. Localities under these forests are
Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Sialkot, thelum, gujrat, rawalkot and
kharian.
LocaliltyFactor :
maximum temperature 35 C and minimum is 12 C . mean
annual rainfall is 35or less. Meananuual humidity is 20to 30 % is
rainy day 50 to 60. Rare frost. Siwalik formations, light sanday
soil.
Trpography
: small hills but undulating plains.

Generalfloristic: bombax cieba (simal , acacia catectiv

(katha
, bauhinia vadegata ,melia azaderach , albeggia lebbek Dalbergia
sisso sisham
kachnar

Importance : These play important role in watershed. Also

apiculture value. These forest are used as fuel wood . kachnae
flowers are used as vegetable. Good fodder value. From soil
conservation point of view these forests are also impotant

Problems:

Grazing pressure. Conservation of forest area into

agriculture field. Urbanization and industrial development

DRY
SUB-TROPICAL
LEAVED FORESTS: Low forests

BROAD

of branchy trees
forming a canopy, varying in density from complete closure under
the most favorable conditions to scattered single trees or groups
on the driest sites, typically field in with a shrub growth which
similarly varies in density. The trees and shrubs are mostly and
often thorny small evergreen leaves but sone like the olive and
pomegranate are without thorns and have leaves of moderate
size through with xerophytic features. During monsoon a fairly
complete cover of grass and herbs may develop.
Distribution: The scrub forest occur at heights of 15oo to 5ooo
. found in pabbi hills Malakand, chakdara, parachinar, and the
foothills of lower slopes of the Himalaya, the salt range,
kalachitta, the suleman range

Locality factor : Mean

annual temperature 18 C to 24C.

mean annual rainfall 25omm to 75omm, humidity is 5o%.soil are
shallow and dry consisting of limestone, shales and quartgiles to
crystalline rock. No wind and snow fall. Frost comman in winter.

General floristics: olea ferruginea (kahu , acacia modesta

( phulai , pistacia integerrima (kangai , dodonaea viscosa zizyphus
mauratiana, carrisa spinarum.

Importance : These forest are important from apiculture

point of view. Olive oil is extracted from olea ferrugenia. These
forest are important for soil convervation. Miswak is extracted
from acacia roots. Also medicinal value.

Problems and constraints : over grazing of the area by

animals. Over cutting of trees.

Managements system: selection coppice system is applied

in these forests.

Sub Tropical Pine Forest:

General Description:

Generally Hight Forest in which pinus

roxburghii ( Chir Pine forms practically the whole of the top
Canopy Which May Be Upto 120 Writh Tree Upto 7 To 8 Ft, Girth
Some Associated Species Like Oak And Quercus Are Also Present.
Is Know The Pine Canopy Tends To Be Nearly Evergreen. They Is
Heavy Needle Fall In May. Fire Is Common In These Forest In
Summer. There is usallay a fairly continuous soil cover, of a few
species of grarses

Distribution :

Chir Pine Found , Between Altitudinal Zone Of

3000ft To 55f00t. Area In Pakistan Swat ,
Dadar ,
Azad
Kashmir ,
Manshera , Abbottabad , Dir

Locality Factor :

Main annual temperature lies between 15.6

and 22.2C There is definite cold season with frost and some
snow. Maximum temperature may go up to 37.8C. at the lower
elevations and only to 32.3C near the top. . The Monsoon
Rainfall Is Usually 750-1250mm.
Mean Annual Humidity About 65%. Forst Are Rare

General Floristics :
Botanical
Name:Pinus Roxburghii
Comman name chir.
Local Name:Nakhtar ,Botanical Name:
Quercus Incana
C Name: Oak Local Name: Toor Banj ,
Botanical
Name:
Quercus Dialatata C Name oak Local
Name: spinBanj
inus roxburghii is completely dominant, Quercus incana, with
occasional Lyonia ovalifolia and Rhododendron arboreum, occur
widely on the cooler mositer sites both along streams and on
northerly aspects. Pistacia integerrima, Syzgium cumini, Mallotus
philippinenis, Xylosoma longigolium and other broad leaved trees
are also there. The shrub growth, when present is commomly of

Myrsine africana, Daphne, Lonicera, Rosa, etc ., at the higher

altitudes, and Carissa, Dodonaea etc . at the lower, Berberis and
Indigofera, Reinwardtria and Rubus spp. Occur throughout. Among
the grasses, Heteropogon contortus is conspicuous

P.

Importance: Resin is extracted

These Forest have timber valeue
Terpentine oil extracted
Back of chir is used for tanning
These forest have medicinal value eg indigofere

Problems and constraints :

Fire is common
Over grazing
Poor socio economic condition of the people.
Ilegal cutting of trees.

Management system : As chir is light demander specie,

therefore the management system applied in these forest are
shetter wood system

Himalayan moist temperate

forest
The evergreen forests of conifers,
locally with some admixture of oak and deciduous broad-leaved
trees fall in this category. Their undergrowth is rarely dense, and
consists of both evergreen and deciduous species These forests
are divided into a lower and an upper zone, in each of which
definite species of conifers and/or oaks dominate. In the lower

zone, Cedrus deodara (Deodar: , diar), Pinus wallichiana, Picea

smithiana and Abies pindrow (Partal Achar) are the main conifer
species in order of increasing altitude, with Quercus incana (rin,
rinj) at lower altitudes and
Qdilatata above 2130 m. In
the upper zone Abies pindrow and Q. semecarpifolia are the
dominant tree species. There may be pockets of deciduous broadleaved trees, mainly edaphically conditioned, in both the zones.
Alder (Alnus species) colonizes new gravels and sometimes kail
does the same. Degradation forms take the shape of scrub growth
and in the higher reaches, parklands and pastures are subjected
to heavy grazing.
Distribution : These forests generally occur at altitude of
4500ft to 10000ft
These forest being extended along the whole length of the outer
range of Himalayas between the sub tropicl pine forest and the
sub alphine
Localities includes : Elevation ranges from 5ooo to 8oooft .
Thes are mainly found in Muree and Galiat hills, Kaghan valley,
Kashmir region, Allai valley, Siran valley and Swat Valley Dir ,
Hazara , Nathiagalli , Ayubia
Locality factors : The rainfall of the Himalayas between the
sub-tropical pine forests and the sub-alpine formation is about
630mm to 1500mm. The daily temperature peaks in June
(12.5C) and drops to the minimum of (3C) in
January.Meananuual humidity to 50% to 60%. Snow upto 15

Sub division of Himalayan moist temperate forest

1 lower western Himalayan temperate forest
2low level blue pine
3moist deodar forest
western mixed coinfreous forest
oak forest
2 upper west Himalayan fir and borad leaved forest
General floristics : 1 coniferous forest
Pinus wallichiana
bulepine
Cedrus deodara
deodar
Picea smithiana
spurce
Abies pindrow
silverfir

2 oak forest
Quercus incana (white oak
Q.dilatata ( barungi
Q gluca (banaue oak
Importance: Timber value, 8o% wood of quality trees is produced.
Watershed areas of tarbella and mangla dams are in these
forests. These forest are important from wildlife point of view.
Recreational spot. They are very important for Medicinal plants
Problems and constraints : The heavy grazing and human biotic
infueuces for wood energy. Distrbance by human population to
natural flora and fauna. Poor socio economic conditions. Poor
agriculture land. Soil erosion and land sliding.
Managementsystem: Selection system is more feasible
rather than other system due to steep, slopes and to present soil
erosion and site deterioration.
Himalayan Dry Temperate Forest
These are open evergreen forest with open scrub undergrowth.
Both coniferous and broad-leaved species are present. This type
occurs on the inner ranges throughout their length andare mainly
represented in the north-west.The vegetation as a whole is
xerophytic , the foliage being grayish and small leaved , aromatic
scurb predominate and many are thony, the root system is often
extensive cimbers are few.

DISTRIBUTION:

Generally occur at elevation of 5000-11000 ft extending to 12000

ft on southern aspects. These forests are distributed throughout
the inner mountain ranges beyond the effective reach of the
south-west monsoon, notably in the upper reaches of the Indus
and its tributes including the whole of Gilgit and parts of Chitral
and the Nilam and Khaghan valleys: also on the higher parts of
the Sulwiman Range to the north-west including Takhti-Suleman,
Shingarh and Ziarat, swat
LOCALITY FACTORS: The winters are long and cold; mean
annual temperature varying in one to 6 months with the monthly
mean below zero. The total annual total precipitation is always
less than 750m. Rainfall distribution is of great importance in this
zone in which the summer monsoon in weak but western

disturbance bring considerable snow and rainfall in the winter and

spring.
GENERAL FLORISTIC: trees
1Cedrus deodara
(deodar)
2Pinus gerardiana
(Chalghoza)
3 Pinus wallichiana
(kail)
5 Picea smithiana
(spruce)
4 Juniperus macropoda
(Obust)
shurbs berberis lyceum
daphne oleides
artimisia maritime
vibernum nervosum
indigofora spp
Sub divison of Himalayan dry temperate forests :
1 Dry oak forest
2 Dry temperate coniferous forest :
Dry zone deodar forest
Chilghoga forest
Dry juniper forests
Dry zone blue pine forest

Importance:

Dry temperate very important watershed catchment area

Important habitat for wildlife animals
The seed of chilghoza are used as dry food
Fuel wood also obtained from this forest

Managmentsystem :
Selection system is applied in such forest

Subalphine
Generaldiscripation:

In this forest, the growing season is

very short , about 100 to 120days Coniferous trees limited to
Abies (Fir) and Pinus wallichians (blue pine) stand singly and in
groups over an irregular, sometimes dense, lower story of
broadleaved trees in which Betula typically prominent at the
higher elevations and in depressions, with other deciduous trees
such as Pyrus and Salix. The cover tends to be completed with tall
shrubs, notably Viburnum and Salix, sometimes with the
evergreen Rhododendron and Juniper. The conifers rarely exceed

8m in height; the broadleaved trees reach about 9m and the

shrub growth about 1 to 3m. the conifers often attain a
considerable girth even up to 3m while the birch may reach 2.5m.
Distribution : These forests were sampled from 2350 to 3500m
elevation, near the tree line. They are developed between
timber line and snowline zones of Kaghan, Swat, Baltistan, Gilgit,
Chitral, Dir and Kohistan zone.
Locality factort : Meteorological data of this zone is not
available. However, according to Champion et al., (1965)
maximum temperature do not exceed (15.5C), snowfall is even
more important. A depth of 1.8 m to 5 m is reported.
Safed region. The upper and lower limits for the extension of
these forests vary with local factors and aspects. The conifers are
smaller in size than those growing in the temperate
.
FLORISTIC: Abies pindrow( fir )
pinus wallichiana,( blue pine )
, batula utilizes(birch), Juniperus communis and primula

ALPINE SCRUBS: Shrub formation often

forming a quite dense cover 0.6 to 1.8 in high composed of a
limited number of species, mostly deciduous and with small
leaves but including evergreen jumper and sometimes
Rhododendron and Ephedra. The stems are generally flexible and
adapted to snow pressure. There is a fair degree of segregation of
the individual species with the site variations, particularly in water
supply. Dwarf prostrate Salix spp. are usually present. There is a
good herbaceous flora mainly perennial among the shrubs,
including a variety of palatable grasses.
DISTRIBUTION:
Generally about 1100 ft. Altitude and above. Alpine are present
inKashmir.Hazara, Upper Dir , swat
Floristics : The characteristic genera are Salix (Lonicera
Phut), Berberis(Sumbul,Sumblue), Cotoneaster with Juniperus
and occasionally
Rhododendron or Ephedra (Asmania)