List of Different Types of Forests in Pakistan
The advantages of Forests cannot be denied in Pakistan or any part of the world. Forests are considered the most crucial component of the ecosystem and offer us the important essential to living. The essentials include clean water, air, wildlife habitats, wood, and stable oils. Many types are included in the list of forests in Pakistan, but they are not enough to meet needs.
The forest percentage in Pakistan in 2024 is only 4.5%. The country should have 25% of its land covered by forests. However, Pakistan has a lot of shortage, with only 4.5% of forests from Punjab at 2.7%, Sindh at 4.5%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 15.6%, and Baluchistan at 2.1%. Get to know about northern areas of Pakistan.
The forests in Pakistan add value to the country’s landscape and have become a crucial economic source. The woods are a great resource to create employment and increase tourism in the country, increasing the GDP. Several construction companies in Pakistan have contracts with the governing bodies to use timber in construction projects. These projects create jobs and, upon completion, bring revenue.
AH Group of Company has always been the information source for our prestigious readers. Therefore, we keep them updated on important things and development in the country. There is no doubt about the importance of forests in Pakistan. Here we are today with the types of forests in Pakistan, habitat, species, and the names of areas where the types of forests are located in Pakistan. Curious to explore related topics? Don’t miss famous deserts of Pakistan.
So, without much delay, let’s get started with the details!
Lists of Forests in Pakistan:
Pakistan has a remarkably varied and abundant topography, known to many, featuring many natural landscapes. With this in mind, we present our collection outlining the preliminary list of forests in Pakistan.
- Coastal and Wetland Forests
- Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
- Thorny Forests
- Temperate Forests in Pakistan – Himalayan Temperate Forests
- Himalayan Dry Temp Forest
1. Coastal and Wetland Forests:
Pakistan’s vast and expansive forests are found around the country’s coastal areas and wetlands. The name of forests in Pakistan is Littoral and Swamp Forests, or coastal and wetland forests. The types of trees in these types of forests in Pakistan are mangrove trees/woods. The species are home to exotic species known as Avicenna Marina, grey mangrove, white mangrove, and Rhizophora. According to a report published by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there are approx. 207,000 hectares of wetland/swampland in Pakistan that consist of mangrove species. You can also read about beautiful hill stations in Pakistan.
The mangrove forests in Pakistan are easily found near the bank of the Arabian Sea and the coastal and swamplands of Sindh, particularly in Pasni, Baluchistan, and Karachi. The mangrove forests have numerous advantages. Among the benefits of forests of the kind are:
- Mangrove trees in Pakistan are the primary source to provide wood and are used as animal fodder in the region.
- The trees are 18% more effective in absorbing carbon dioxide in the air than other trees and plants.
- Mangrove trees are a major natural defense against floods, storms, and erosion.
2. Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests in Pakistan consist of plant species that are low, xerophhtic, and open. The tropical thorn forests’ vegetation does not include any grass. The type of forest grows in places with moderate height and contains deciduous tree species that shed leaves annually. Looking for more fascinating content? Check out dams in Pakistan.
The tropical Dry Deciduous forests look similar in monsoon season to other types of forests in Pakistan. The forest is especially denser in the monsoon season. One of its common traits with tropical dry deciduous forests is its floristic composition in Pakistan.
The tropical Dry Deciduous forests are home to various plants and trees in Pakistan, including lannea, sterculia, ceiba, mallotus, plum, and acacia trees. Furthermore, the common shrub vegetation found in the region consists of indigofera, gymnosporia, adhatoda, etc.
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests are among the rare type of forests that are found in Pakistan. The forest is found in areas of Rawalpindi. Also get to know about mountain ranges in Pakistan.
3. Thorny Forests:
Thorny Forests or thorny tropical forests are forests in Pakistan that are types of dry forests with thorns. The forest has an abundance of trees with thorns and scrub-like vegetation. There are a great number of thorny forests in Pakistan, and they are mostly found in areas with warm temperatures and little rainfall. The important features of tropical thorn forests are:
The types of forests are only found in areas with less than 70cm of rain.
As the name suggests, the trees in the forests have bushes full of thorns along long roots. The roots help them to stay updated by reaching the underground water. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like beautiful lakes in Pakistan.
Tropical Thorn Forests are made of trees with small and thick leaves to minimize evaporation. The trees include palms, cactus, and acacias.
The thorny forest is located in arid and semi-arid regions that also include deserts. The complex forests are divided on a climax vegetation basis in Pakistan. Therefore, the trees/forests are found mostly in the vicinity of the Indus basin plains and around the district of Sialkot, Jhelum, and Gujarat.
It is because the summer temperature of these regions is more than 35 degrees Celsius in the summer. The thorny forests were found near riverain forests in Pakistan along the banks of rivers in northwestern and northern areas of Pakistan.
Later, the situation changed, and now the riverain forests grow in alternative patches. Tropical Thorn Forest’s main advantage is protecting the watershed, grazing purposes, and fuel wood use. Also get to know about tourism companies in Pakistan.
4. Temperate Forests in Pakistan – Himalayan Temperate Forests:
Importance of temperate forests is no secret. The temperate forests play a vital role in boosting the country’s economy and provide many valuable resources, including timber and non-timber products, and several opportunities for ecotourism. Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest is home to the national tree – Deodar tree in Pakistan. The Himalayan Temperate Forests are known for numerous features, such as evergreen conifers and several species, including deciduous broad leaf trees and oak trees. Also expand your knowledge with this compelling article on historical places in Pakistan.
The Himalayan Moist temperate forests are divided into two main categories, i.e., upper zone and lower zone. It also depends on several oak trees and conifers in the area. The Himalayan moist forests include trees like Cedrus deodara, abies pindrow, pinus wallichiana, picea smithiana, etc., in the lower zone and q. semecarpifolia, pindrow in the upper area.
As the name suggests, the Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests are located in the western Himalayas at 1500 and 3000m. The forest is also found in northwest regions with rainfall under 1,000 m. Get to know about historical places in Peshawar.
5. Himalayan Dry Temperate Forest:
A temperature forest is an important type of forest in Pakistan. It is a forest found between boreal and tropical regions and based in the temperature zone. The importance of forest in Pakistan is clear to all so do the importance of temperate forest in Pakistan. Also get to know about provinces in Pakistan.
The Himalayan Dry Temperature Forests are vast forests that comprise evergreen types of trees with open scrub undergrowth. It is a particular type of forest where you can find both types of trees, i.e., coniferous and broad-leafed. The advantages of forests in Pakistan of dry temp are various; for instance, dry temp forests are responsible for clean water and air. The forests also are safe habitats for numerous wildlife, wood, stable oils, and many necessities that are important for existence. Looking for more fascinating content? Check out Museums in Pakistan.
They provide clean air, water, wildlife habitats, stable oils, wood, and other necessities of existence. The trees included in the Himalayan Dry Temperate forests are Chilgozha Trees (Pinus Gerardiana), quercus ilex, and dry zone deodar. All of these are crucial species that are found in the area.
You will also find trees of blue pine in the higher division of the Himalayan dry temperate forests. Apart from blue pine, the trees found in the region are shupa, shur, abhal, and picea smithiana (located in Gilgit Region) and areas with the driest inner regions.
As the name suggests, the forests are mainly found in the northwestern Himalayan Range with a dry climate. You can also read our blog on historical places in Islamabad.
Let’s Summarize:
That’s all for now! There are numerous advantages of forests, and steps must be taken to increase the number of forests in the country. Once the percentage of forests in Pakistan increases, it will increase employment, boost tourism, promote different industries, and, most importantly, have clean air to breathe. Happy Planting!
You can also discover the mesmerizing beauty of waterfalls in Pakistan, where nature’s masterpieces await your exploration. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery and let the cascading wonders leave you spellbound.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
· How many forests are there in Pakistan?
The territory of Pakistan encompasses a remarkable expanse spanning 4.2 million hectares, including lush forests and purposefully cultivated tree stands.
· Which is largest forest in Pakistan?
The largest forest in Pakistan is the Changa Manga Forest. It is located in the vicinity of Lahore.
· Which areas of Pakistan have forests?
There are forests in almost all parts of Pakistan where KPK has over 17.3% area covered with forests out of total green areas of Pakistan.
· What is the percentage of forests in Pakistan?
Pakistan has overall 4.5 to 4.7% area covered with forests in Pakistan
· Which province of Pakistan has most forests?
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has most of the forests in Pakistan with 17.3% of total forested areas in the country.
