TOPIC-4-FOREST
TOPIC-4-FOREST
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LEARNING OUTCOMES!
understand the different types of forest and identify, on a map, their main
locations
understand the physical factors that control the distribution of the
different types of forest, and the human factors which have reduced their
extent
understand the reasons for: – the development of plantations in the Indus
Plain – afforestation on mountain slopes and plateaux
understand the value of forests as a resource for development, and the
importance of their sustainability
explain the effects of deforestation, such as soil erosion, silting and flooding
evaluate possible solutions to the problems caused by deforestation.
FORESTS
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
Forests include everything from grassland and small flowering plants to tall
trees.
Forests are extensive, continuous areas of land dominated by trees.
The desired level of forest is 20 – 30% of the total area of a country.
Over the period 2000 – 2007 the country’s forests are decreased at a rate
of 2.1% per year the ninth highest among the world’s nation.
There are two types of forests; Productive forests or natural forest and
Protective forests or man-made plantation
ALPINE FORESTS
CONIFEROUS FORESTS
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
DESERT VEGETATION
Natural forests
Found in derserts like Thal, Thar, Nara, Cholistan.
Cactus and a variant of other species are found here.
They are also known as halophytes as they survive in salty conditions.
It has few or no leaves.
Sparse
Cushion Shaped
Even height
They are important for camel grazing.
They also provide firewood.
Long well-spaced roots to get moisture from deep underground.
Shallow wide spreading roots to catch as soon as it falls before it
evaporates.
Halophytic because high evaporation leads to saline salts.
RIVERAIN/BELA FOREST
Found on River Indus on active flood plain.
Many species are babu and shisham.
Linear plantation
High yielding commercial hardwood species.
Provides wood for making furniture, agriculture implements.
Obtain water from the rivers due to high water table.
They are evergreen.
Stop soil erosion and also protects soil and settlements from flood water.
IRRIGATED PLANTATIONS
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
MANGROVE FORESTS
Natural forests
Found along the coastal areas in the Indus and Hub delta near Karachi.
The species which are common are timar [Avicennia Officanilis] Chauri or
Kirani [ceriops] and Kinni [rhizophorous], Bgayara.
They are evergreen
They have broad leaves which are waxy and leathery to reduce transpiration.
In well water conditions it grows to height of 6 – 8 m otherwise they grow
till 3 m.
We can only find limited species because of water pollution and due to lack
Question 6 J2006/P2/Q2/A
IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
Means that we should manage the resources in such a way as to ensure that
we will be able to obtain the things that we want from the forests on a
regular basis while conserving the natural environment.
The use of forests and forests lands in such a way and at a rate that
maintain their biodiversity productivity, regeneration capacity and their
potential to fulfill now and in the future relevant ecological, economic and
social functions, at local, national and global levels and that does not cause
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
Agro Forestry
Plant fast growing agricultural trees crop like oil palms, eucalyptus.
Maintain a complete forest cover to prevent soil damage.
The tree crops can be used to shelter smaller food crops.
Wood needed for other purposes such as fuel can be provided by planting
patching of fast growing eucalyptus trees.
Other Measures
Question 3 J2007/P2/Q3/B-D
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
DEFORESTATION
CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION
Fuel wood: Most of the people living in the rural areas depends on wood for
heating and cooking which results in excessive cutting of forests.
Road construction: Due to industrialization and urbanization more demand
for better transport facilities are required so network is getting larger and
denser so forests have been cut down to make roads.
Residential purpose because of the increasing population. Growth of large
cities has converted forest areas into settlements.
Urbanization i.e. for building industries and airports.
For mining of coal: Forest are cut down to grow crops to meet the food
requirement of growing population and to carry out mining activities.
For construction of dams and barrages: In order to this, millions of hectares
of land were cleared to provide irrigational facilities.
To obtain raw material for paper, railway sleepers, industries for furniture’s
and making boats.
Large domestic and foreign market for wood based product. Wood is used in
industries little sports goods. Chip board, hard board, veneer plywood and
safety matches. Wood is also required for construction industry. Bus bodies,
boats and railway coaches use wood as a result forests are cut down to meet
the demand of industry.
Overgrazing of land by cattle, goats and sheep’s has also converted sub-
tropical scrub forest and tropical forest areas in desert.
Lack of enforcement of forest rules and regulations.
Forest Fires.
EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION
No roots to hold the soil together, no interception.
Loss of wood for fuel may have to travel much further to find fuel.
Shortages of firewood for heating, domestic use.
Lack of leaf fall. Lack of decomposition. Lack of humus Loss of fertility, soil
lost only rocks left
Less infilteration more run off
More exposure to sun and wind.
Soil become unfit for agriculture if deposited soils is fertile it improves
agriculture eg. Piedmont plains and on active and old flood plains.
Siltation in reservoirs because soil exposed and washed into rivers.
SELECTIVE CUTTING
TERRACING
Steps are cut into steep hill sides and the front of each flat terrace is
edged with mud or stone walls known as bunds.
The bunds hold back water and soil.
CONTOUR PLOUGHING
It is farming practice of ploughing or planting across a slope following its
elevation contour lines.
STRIP FARMING
It is when two or more crops are grown in the same field sometime one crop
may grow under the shelter of a taller crop for the sake of protection.
AFFORESTATION
Plantation of trees in a non-forest area, planting tree in a new area.
REFORESTATION
Plantation of trees against deforestation in a forest area.
ANSWER KEY
MUHAMMAD YOUSUF MEMON
Question 1 N2017/P2/Q4/C
Question 2 N2016/P2/Q1/C
Question 4 J2012/P2/Q1/A