Assessment of survival rate and growth performance of plantations raised under billion trees afforestation project in Swat, Pakistan
Assessment of survival rate and growth performance of plantations raised under billion trees afforestation project in Swat, Pakistan
Muhammad Naqash, Anwar Ali, Ahmad Hussain, Mamoona Wali Muhammad, Ahmad Zamir, Ikram Ul Haq
ABSTRACT
The Government of Pakistan Pakhtunkhwa launched the world acclaimed Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) in 2014 to raise one billion trees in the province to increase forest cover, create green jobs and combat climate change in the province. The current study was designed to evaluate the survival rate and growth performance of plantations grown under BTAP in Swat Forest Division. Twelve study areas were randomly selected and investigated for data collection in September-October 2017. A total of 88 sample plots of 0.1 ha area were laid out in the randomly selected plantations in the area. Data on type of species, natural regeneration, the density of pits, and number of seed bearers, soil, survival rate and occurrence of any disturbances was collected. The results showed that the pit density was 1261 pits per hectare, while the average number of plants regenerated per hectare is estimated to be 136, some of which were coming out of natural regeneration besides plantations. The average survival rate was 92.36% in Mingora and Matta Forest Subdivisions and Kabal and Fatehpur Ranges. In Mingora and Matta Subdivisions the survival rate was 92.08% and 94.65% while in Kabal and Fatehpur the survival rate was 89.20 and 93.50 %. Majority of plants (74%) have height of above 9 inches and 26% have height less than 9 inches. Species composition showed 83.80% Eucalyptus camaldulensis, 14.21% Pinus roxburghii and 1.57% Robinia pseduacacia. It was found that growth rate of Eucalyptus and Chirpine is comparatively higher in Phase-II plantations as compared to Phase I. The study recommends to reduce the proportion of Eucalyptus in plantations to encourage regeneration and growth of native species and promote biodiversity conservation.
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March 2019
Vol. 69, Iss. 1
