overview of ecological zones of pakistan

1. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
SUBMITTED BY
Mudassir khan 23-ARID-2383
Hilal Ahmad 23-ARID-2374
Inam ur Rashid 23-ARID-2376
Shahzad Hassan 23-ARID-2402
Ahmad khan 23-ARID-2364
Ajwad hussain 23-ARID-2365
Course: Range Management (FR-503)
SUBMITTED TO
Sir Shehryar Nasim Butt
Department of Forestry and Range management
PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi

2. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Description:
Pakistan has diverse geography, climate and vegetation, which divides the country into four
main Range Ecological Zones. These zones help in understanding grazing systems, vegetation,
and management practices.
1. Tropical Desert Zone
Location
 Thar (Sindh), Cholistan (Punjab), and Kharan Desert (Balochistan).
 Climate
 Rainfall: 50–200 mm
 Extremely hot summers, high evaporation
Kharan Thar
Cholistan

3. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Soil
 Sandy, low nutrients, low water-holding capacity
 Vegetation
 Xerophytic shrubs and grasses
 Common species: Haloxylon recurvum, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Prosopis
cineraria, Calotropis procera
Grazing System
 Mainly camels, goats, and sheep
 Forage availability depends on rainfall

4. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Problems
 Sand dune movement
 Overgrazing
 Water scarcity
Management
 Controlled grazing
 Drought-tolerant grass reseeding
 Water harvesting (khadins, ponds)
Arshad et al., 2010. Pakistan Journal of Botany

5. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
2. Tropical Thorn Forest Zone
Location
 Sindh plains, Punjab plains, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
 Climate
 Rainfall: 200–500 mm
 Hot summers, mild winters
D.I.Khan
Sukkur
Faisalabad

6. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Soil
 Sandy loam to clay
 Moderate fertility
Vegetation
Thorn forests
Major species:
 Acacia nilotica
 Ziziphus nummularia
 Capparis decidua
 Grasses: Cenchrus ciliaris, Lasiurus sindicus

7. Livestock
Cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep
Problems
 Overgrazing
 Fuelwood cutting
 Agricultural expansion
Management
 Rotational grazing
 Grassland reseeding
 Afforestation
Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Qureshi et al., 2009. Journal of Forestry Research

8. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
3. Subtropical Sub-Humid Zone (Semi-Arid Zone)
Location
 Pothohar Plateau, northern Punjab, KP foothills.
 Climate
 Rainfall: 500–900 mm
 Hot summers, cold winters
 Significant monsoon rainfall
Pothohar Plateau
Kallar Kahar
Karak

9. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Soil
Eroded, shallow, stony on slopes
Vegetation
Shrublands with grasses
Major species:
 Acacia modesta
 Olea ferruginea
 Dodonaea viscosa
 Grasses: Dichanthium annulatum, Heteropogon contortus

10. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Livestock
Mostly goats and sheep
Problems
 Soil erosion
 Fuelwood cutting
 Overgrazing
Management
 Watershed management
 Controlled grazing
 Reseeding native grasses
 Soil conservation techniques
Ahmad & Mahmood, 1998. Pakistan Journal of Forestry

11. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
4. Alpine and Sub-Alpine Zone
Location
 Northern mountain regions: Gilgit-Baltistan, Kaghan, Swat,
Chitral, Kashmir.
 Climate
 Cold climate, long winters
 Rainfall > 800 mm
 Snowfall common
Swat
Gilgit-Baltistan Waziristan
Neelum Valley

12. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Soil
Rocky, shallow, low fertility
Vegetation
 Alpine meadows, shrubs
 Major species:
 Artemisia spp.
 Juniperus
 Grasses: Festuca, Agropyron, Poa
Livestock
 Sheep, goats, yaks
 Grazing mainly in short summer season

13. Range Ecological Zones of Pakistan
Problems
 Short growing season
 Overgrazing in summer
 Medicinal plant depletion
Management
 Seasonal grazing control (transhumance)
 Monitoring plant biodiversity
 Protecting medicinal flora
Khan et al., 2013. Journal of Mountain Science

14. Thank You