Essay On Importance Of Forest In Pakistan

Application and Importance of Forests in Pakistan

Introduction:
Forests are large areas of land which comprise of different kinds of trees. It accounts for 20-30 percent of the total land of Pakistan. It is stated that the percentage of the tree covered area is about 4.8%.There are mainly two types of forests;
• Productive Forests
• Protection Forests
Productive Forests: They covered about one third of the area in Pakistan. In these forests, the thickness of trees is generally high and the covering of forest is closed. They are also called natural forests. They are used to extract timber and other commodities and are of great economic value.
Protection Forests: They covered about two thirds of the total land of Pakistan. These are not natural

They are important economically, commercially, ecologically and socially. They have different functions that are;
 They provide a natural habitat for wildlife,
 They help to prevent pollution and keep the environment clean,
 They prevent soil erosion,
 They help to regulate the water supply to rivers in order to reduce pollution,
 They ensure food supply to population by protecting soil fertility,
 They provide timber for construction and transport vehicles,
 The raw material which is extracted from the trees is used in wood based industries,
 Plants are used for medicinal purposes in pharmaceutical industry,
 Their us provision of fruit from the trees,
 These forests provide recreation and tourism,
 There is employment for people in forest-based industries,
 They help to regulate water supply to reservoirs,
 The decomposition of leaves helps in humus formation, which maintains the fertility of soil.

Description of Forests found in

Coniferous Forests These forests are mostly found in Northern areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree and parts of Balochistan. These are evergreen forests which are conical in shape. They have sloping branches which prevent excessive snow accumulation. They have small, thick, leathery and needle-shaped leaves to check transpiration. There is less leaf-fall which provides less humus formation. These forests are essential sources of timber and provide environmental protection. They are good breeding grounds for birds and add to the scenic beauty of the area.
3. Tropical Thorn Forest (Rakh) These forests are mostly found in Punjab and Sindh Plains .They have a low height of approximately six to ten meters. Thorny hardwood is commonly found in these types of forests. They have deep roots and scanty vegetation due to shortage of water. They are used as firewood.
4. Sub-Tropical Forest These are commonly found in foothills of lower Himalayas. For example the Suleiman and Kirthar Ranges. The areas like the western mountains and Makran coastal area. There are subs –tropical broad-leafed and tropical thorny species. It can be used for watershed protection, supplying firewood and for grazing