Rapid appraisal vegetation survey of Bhimber district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Rapid appraisal vegetation survey of Bhimber district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Muhammad Shabir Mughal and Muhammad Muslim
ABSTRACT
Rapid appraisal vegetation survey was conducted in Bhimber district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir with the objectives to explore plant wealth and examine the status of biodiversity. The plain area falls under dry subtropical broad leaved thorn forests and hilly area under dry subtropical Chir pine forests. Bhimber district is very rich in biodiversity, enchanting valley present panoramic views to the visitors and is important from Archaeological point of view. During survey visited many places, notable among these were Surela plantation on Mirpur-Bhimber road, Bhimber headquarter, Kadala nurseries, Barnala at Brulian-wala, Thub, Kajloor, Patni, Rakh-Watala and Singri areas. Among these, Rakh Watala was spread more than 2000 acres and its vegetation was unique consists of mixed crops of Mangifera indica, Butea monosperma, Zizyphus mauritiana, Dalbergia sissoo, Adhatoda vasica, Cedrula toona, Melia azedarach and rarely Tamarindus indica and Azadirachta indica. Singri is another large tract, where settlers cultivated agricultural crops like wheat, rice, maize, sugar-cane etc. This area had footprints of Hindu civilization near Singri Police Chouki, Seth Powaridas dug well on 9th January, 1860 for drinking water, currently the same well is being used for irrigation to forest nursery spread over an area of 5 acres. Singri area is fertile and suitable for planting trees having commercial and medicinal value like Emblica officinalis (Amla), Moringa oilefera (Sohanjna), Acacia catechu (Katha, Khair) Terminalia belerica (Bhera) and Sapandis mukrossii (Retha) etc to augment income of inhabitants as well as conservation of genetic diversity for future prosperity. Jandi-Chontra to Baghsar locality of Tehsil Samani rich in herbal drugs and the main forest crop of this area was Chir (Pinus roxburghii) with other associated species. The information gathered will provide guideline in preparing future forest management plan.
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June 2010
Vol. 60, Iss. 2
