Pai Forest is a riverine forest located 5 km from Sakrand town in Nawab Shah district along the Indus River, covering an area of 1933 hectares. It provides important ecological functions by absorbing carbon, providing habitat for wildlife, and resources for local communities. However, the forest faces threats including encroachment by influential farmers, hunting, and deforestation for fuelwood which is degrading the ecosystem. There is a need for research on alternative fuels, monitoring deforestation, halting hunting, evaluating carbon stocks, and maintaining biodiversity, as well as educating local communities and farmers on sustainable use and wildlife importance.

1. PAI FOREST
ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE AND THREATS
TAYYAB SHAFIQUE
MS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Sindh Madressatul Islam University

2. LOCATION OF PAI FOREST
• Pai is known as riverine forest and is
located on easternside of the river
Indus near Sakrand town of district
Nawab Shah, about a distance of 5 km
nearby National Highway.
• This forest has a total area of 1933 ha
(4777 acres). Out of which only 1502
ha (78%) are under tree cover while
remaining 319 and 112 ha are either
blank or on high lying areas,
respectively.

3. Location of Pai Forest
(Siyal et al., 2016)

4. Landsat Images of Pai Forest
(Siyal et al, 2016)

5. ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE
• Trees and shrubs play a vital role
in the daily life of rural
communities.
• They provide sources of timber,
fuel wood, food, fodder,
essential oils, gums, resins and
latex, medicines and shade.
• Forest animals have a vital role in
forest ecology such as
pollination, seed dispersal and
germination.

7. Indian Civet Cat

8. Hog Deer

9. ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE
• Trees absorb carbon dioxide
and are vital carbon sinks.

10. • It is estimated that the
world’s forests store 283
Gigatonnes of carbon in
their biomass alone, and
that carbon stored in forest
biomass, deadwood, litter
and soil together is roughly
50 per cent more than the
carbon in the atmosphere.
(UNEP)
ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

11. THREATS
Encroachment
The game reserve is under the
influence of political pressure
especially from the influential
local farm owners. These
formers not only control the
canal water but also keep on
encroachment the Pai forest
land.

12. THREATS
Hunting
Hunting also increase
disturbance which has
ultimately led to the dispersal
of wildlife from the area.

13. THREATS
Deforestation
Cutting of forest for fuel wood by
the local communities has
significantly contributed to the
destruction of the forest
ecosystem. After the approval of
lease policy of forest land by
Sindh Cabinet in 2005 the
Riverine forest has been
deteriorated and encroached by
local influential.

14. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
• Provide alternative to fuel
wood
• Monitoring of Deforestation
• Halt Hunting
• Evaluation of Carbon Stock
• Biodiversity Maintenance

15. RECOMMENDATIONS
• Farmers should be made aware about the importance of small
mammal as natural pest controllers and be given instructions
on wise-use of pesticides and other agro-chemicals on farmed
land
• The local communities should be educated about the
importance of wild fauna like amphibian, reptilian and small
mammals especially in the forest Ecosystem in close
coordination with local community, through frequent visits,
exposure visits/ tours for representatives

16. THANK YOU