2nd test week geography (forestry) Productive forest One third are productive Mainly natural forest with high commercial Protection forest Two third of Pakistan forest are protective Mainly planted by other people Main function is to protect soil and prevent it from eroding Help keep environment clean and provide shade Importance of forests From a ecological pov They help maintaining a balance in the environment by checking pollution and protecting the soil from erosion by wind or water Helps reduce floods Decomposition of leaves help form humus which maintains fertility of soil which help farmers grow healthy crops From a commercial pov it provides raw material making products like timber Types of forest READ FROM BOOK PG 74 VERYYY IMPORTANT Irrigated plantations in Pakistan READ FROM BOOK PG 74 VERYYY IMPORTANT Determinants Aridity in Balochistan plateau and the southern Indus plain isn’t favorable to plant growth and results in thorny bushes and scrubs Higher precipitation in the northern mountains encourages coniferous (evergreen) forest In salt water and Indus and hab delta decomposition of alluvium encourage the growth of mangrove vegetation Edaphic factors (soil factor) also determine density and type of forest Coniferous forest grow in the northern areas of kpk Rawalpindi Islamabad Murree and balochistan Consist of species like spruce and fir in high altitude areas which have often adapted to severe climate conditions and poor soil Are softwood and used to make paper How do mangrove survive in salt water? Their internal tissues are very salt tolerant and their roots filter most of the water they absorb Conservation and sustainable development of mangrove forest Construction of dams and barrages reduces the amount water flowing in the delta. This water and silt it carries are needed to maintain a balanced ecosystem With less water more salt water it destroys local agriculture and wildlife Many animals depends on mangrove. The Indus delta has the world seventh largest mangrove forest Large areas lost due to: Reduced influx of fresh water and silt Deforestation for fuel and timber Pollution from farms sewage and shipping Building of roads and other construction projects by the coast As a result an environment extremely important for the growth and health of marine resources has been vanishing fast. Fishing communities also suffer badly when tropical cyclones hit coastal areas Tidal waves and erosion destroy peoples home and rice farms this damage could be reduced if the coast was fringed with mangroves high waves lose up to 75% of their force after passing thorough 200 m of mangroves mangroves provide a nursery for shrimps carbs and many more the fallen leaves and twigs give a rise to a fertile and beautiful habitat in the estuaries . this is where young fish and shrimps grow mangroves forest also produce honey from the blossoms of the Avicenna Mariana species which add up to 95% of mangroves lining our coast Forest products consist of timber fuel wood and other products timber is used in making buildings furniture agricultural tool and boxes increasing demand due to population Deforestation in Pakistan clearing forest land is deforestation Pakistan forest resources are shrinking fast Causes of deforestation Large areas of forest are cleared to develop mines Forests cleared for agricultural purposes due to increase in population Trees used as fuel Forest destroyed due to overgazing Trees cleared to make space for industry and road network Cut down for construction and timber Cleared to make space for new housing Effects of deforestation Less oxygen more carbon air pollution Habitat loss species extinction loss of biodiversity Exposed soil top soil eroded by wind and rain siltation in reservoirs disruption of water supply Exposed more surfaced run off floods crops property destroyed danger to life food insecurity Solution for deforestation Supply irrigation facilities to deforested areas Commercial species which grow rapidly should be planted Create public awareness tell them about the disadvantages the local availability of natural gas as people would use firewood as gas improvement in growing and planting techniques forest mangers can ensure logging companies only selective cutting methods restricting use of heavy machinery strict enforcement of forest laws start programs about planting trees planting fruit tress it would provide food and prevent soil erosion encourage people to reuse these products develop renewable energy sources Afforestation projects in Pakistan the establishment of a forest or stand of trees (forestation) in an area where there was no recent tree cove The tarbela mangla watershed management project aims on afforestation of private owned badlands in areas on mangla and tarbela. This also focuses on establishment of orchads and sustainable agriculture the rachna doab afforestation project planted trees in the region between Chenab and ravi rivers the billion tree tsunami project focuses on reafforestation of kpk a province which suffered overgrazing intensive logging abd destruction of trees for fuel Sustainable forestry it means managing forest resources in a way we as to ensure that we will be able to obtain the things we want but continuous production of production of resources is also in action. To manage it properly we can: Trees must not be cut down at a rate faster than they can be produced Every tree cut down must be replaced by a tree When areas are cut down due to human essentials new areas must be planted.