A study of the practice of lopping of Chir pine in the Marghazar valley (Swat)
A study of the practice of lopping of Chir pine in the Marghazar valley (Swat)
Ghayyas Ahmad1, Arifullah Awan2 and Muhammad Imran3
ABSTRACT
A study of the common and age-old practice of lopping of Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) in the Marghazar valley (Swat) was conducted through a social survey of the local population. Factors involved in the practice of lopping such as the purpose of lopping, awareness about the legal status of the practice and its impact on the tree health, tools used in lopping, species preferred and the role of gender were investigated. It was found that the practice was quite prevailing in the area. Main purpose of lopping was to meet the domestic need for fuel wood. Local people were largely unaware of its legal status or lopping's adverse affect on the tree's health. Axe was the main tool used for lopping. The preferred species was Oak but since its availability was scarce, people had no choice but to lop Chir pine. As per local customs, women played no role in this activity.
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June 2020
Vol. 70, Iss. 2
