1. Country Report – Pakistan: Ecological and Agricultural Situation Dr. M. Mohsin Iqbal Global Change Impact studies Centre GCISC), Islamabad, Pakistan Workshop on ‘Trees, Landscapes and Livelihoods’ Int. Centre for Research in AgroForestry (ICRAF) Kunming, China; 19-21 January 2015

2. 2 Strategic location of the country Middle East

3. Ecological Zones Nine major ecological zones. Nine major ecological zones. The main determinants are: Semi-Arid Conditions: Prevail over most part of the Indus Plain Semi-Arid Conditions: Prevail over most part of the Indus Plain Arid Conditions: Prevail over western part of the Indus Plain Arid Conditions: Prevail over western part of the Indus Plain Hyper-Arid Conditions: prevail over Balochistan plateau. Hyper-Arid Conditions: prevail over Balochistan plateau. Humid Conditions: Exist over hills and mountains in the north. Humid Conditions: Exist over hills and mountains in the north. Riverbanks: Support Riverine forests Riverbanks: Support Riverine forests Indus Delta: Supports mangrove forests Indus Delta: Supports mangrove forests

4. Agriculture Systems of Pakistan  Total land area: 79.61 mha  Cultivated area: 22.05 mha (28% of total)  Irrigated area : 19.12 mha (84% of cultivated)  Rainfed area : 3.67 mha (16% of cultivated) Pakistan’s agriculture system is predominantly irrigated with sizeable rainfed area Pakistan’s agriculture system is predominantly irrigated with sizeable rainfed area Irrigated agriculture provides 90% of Pakistan's food requirements, 20% of its GDP and employment to 60% of the population. Irrigated agriculture provides 90% of Pakistan's food requirements, 20% of its GDP and employment to 60% of the population. Irrigated areas are vulnerable to irrigation water shortage due to glacier melt in the wake of climate change Irrigated areas are vulnerable to irrigation water shortage due to glacier melt in the wake of climate change Semi-arid and Arid areas (>90% of total area) are vulnerable to changes in quantity, intensity and frequency of rainfalls. Semi-arid and Arid areas (>90% of total area) are vulnerable to changes in quantity, intensity and frequency of rainfalls.

5. I- Indus DeltaVI - Wet Mountains II - Southern Irrigated PlainVII - Northern Dry Mountains III - Sandy Desert (a & b )VIII - Western Dry Mountains IV - Northern Irrigated Plain (a & b) IX - Dry Western Plateau V - Barani LandsX - Sulaiman Piedmont http://www.parc.gov.pk/agromap.html

6. Pakistan population

7. Population of Pakistan (Province wise) Province19511961197219811998% of Pakistan Pakistan33,74042,88065,30984,254132,352100 Punjab20,54125,46437,60747,29273,621 56 Sindh6,0488,36714,15619,02930,440 23 KPK4,5575,7318,38911,06117,744 14 Baluchistan1,1671,3532,4294,3326,566 5 FATA*1,3321,8472,4912.1993,176 2 (000) Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2006 * Federally Administered Tribal Areas

8. Land use Categories of Pakistan Land Use TypeArea (000 ha)%age Agriculture21,73327.3 Rangelands25,47532.0 Coniferous Forests 1,353 1.7 Irrigated Plantations 80 0.1 Scrub Forests 796 1.0 Riverine Forests 239 0.3 Wastelands including area under Ice and Snow 28,501 35.8 Water Bodies (Rivers only) 1,274 1.6 Others 159 0.2 TOTAL 79,610 100.0 Soil Survey of Pakistan,1988

9. Alpine forests – occur in northern areas Alpine forests – occur in northern areas Coniferous forests - occur from 1,000 to 4,000 m altitude Coniferous forests - occur from 1,000 to 4,000 m altitude Scrub forests – occur up to a height of 1,000m. Consist of subtropical broad leaved and dry tropical thorn forests Scrub forests – occur up to a height of 1,000m. Consist of subtropical broad leaved and dry tropical thorn forests Moist temperate forests – occur in humid areas Moist temperate forests – occur in humid areas Riverine forests – grow in narrow belts along the banks of Indus and its tributaries Riverine forests – grow in narrow belts along the banks of Indus and its tributaries Mangrove forests – occur in Indus Delta Mangrove forests – occur in Indus Delta Irrigated Plantations - first developed in 1866 at Changa Manga, occupy 226,000 ha of land. Irrigated Plantations - first developed in 1866 at Changa Manga, occupy 226,000 ha of land. Forests Types of Pakistan

10. Current Status of Forests in Pakistan Existing forest cover (4.72 mha or 5.36% of total area) is miserably low primarily due to arid and semiarid climatic conditions Existing forest cover (4.72 mha or 5.36% of total area) is miserably low primarily due to arid and semiarid climatic conditions Around 80% of the area defined as ‘forest’ has the tree cover while the remaining is largely denuded Around 80% of the area defined as ‘forest’ has the tree cover while the remaining is largely denuded Forest Cover in different provinces: Forest Cover in different provinces: Balochistan0.7% Balochistan0.7% Punjab2.8% Punjab2.8% Sindh2.8% Sindh2.8% Gilgi-Baltistan9.5% Gilgi-Baltistan9.5% Khyber Pakhtunkhwa16.6% Khyber Pakhtunkhwa16.6% Azad Kashmir20.7% Azad Kashmir20.7%

11. Climate Risks Loss of biodiversity – species extinction Loss of biodiversity – species extinction Shifting of forest species northwards (to cooler places) Shifting of forest species northwards (to cooler places) Degradation of rangelands and grasslands Degradation of rangelands and grasslands Hyper arid to semiarid climatic conditions Hyper arid to semiarid climatic conditions Proliferation of insect pests and diseases – due to warm and humid conditions Proliferation of insect pests and diseases – due to warm and humid conditions

12. Risks from Human Activities Land Clearance – for food, housing and other purposes Land Clearance – for food, housing and other purposes Deforestation – for timber, fuel and livelihood Deforestation – for timber, fuel and livelihood Both lead to: Both lead to: Soil erosion – risk to infrastructure Landslides – risk to life, property and infrastructure Greater GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions leading to high temperatures

13. Opportunities for Forest, AgroForestry and Trees Carbon sequestration: Being an essential component of photosynthetic process, CO 2, a GHG, plays pivotal role in forest biomass development. Carbon sequestration: Being an essential component of photosynthetic process, CO 2, a GHG, plays pivotal role in forest biomass development. More the CO 2, greater the biomass. The process is, however, limited by the availability of water and sunlight. More the CO 2, greater the biomass. The process is, however, limited by the availability of water and sunlight. Forests provide ecosystem services of wood, fuel, fiber, stabilization of land, reduction of sedimentation and maintenance of water reservoirs. Forests provide ecosystem services of wood, fuel, fiber, stabilization of land, reduction of sedimentation and maintenance of water reservoirs.

14. Key Partners, Target Points of Action Partners: Government (Forestry, Irrigation and Agriculture Depts.) Government (Forestry, Irrigation and Agriculture Depts.) Policy Makers Policy Makers Timber Merchants Timber Merchants Dependent communities Dependent communities Target Points of Action: Tree Plantations Tree Plantations Enforcement of Forest Laws and Regulations Enforcement of Forest Laws and Regulations Awareness on AgroForestry as a means of increasing tree wealth Awareness on AgroForestry as a means of increasing tree wealth

15. Most Pressing Needs of Smallholder Farmers Stoppage of illegal tree cutting Stoppage of illegal tree cutting Provision of alternate means of fuel, e.g. natural gas, LPG Provision of alternate means of fuel, e.g. natural gas, LPG Provision of alternate means of livelihood Provision of alternate means of livelihood Formulation/strict implementation of forest regulations for maintenance of forests Formulation/strict implementation of forest regulations for maintenance of forests Conservation of Forests by designating them as ‘Natural Parks’ Conservation of Forests by designating them as ‘Natural Parks’ Afforrestation of deforested lands Afforrestation of deforested lands

16. Thanks Thanks (mohsin.iqbal@gcisc.org.pk) (mohsin.iqbal@gcisc.org.pk)