bfwd monthly magazine - march 2015

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March 2015 BFWD Monthly Magazine

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Welcome

BFWD Monthly Magazine

March 2015

Assalam o Alekum,

March – as it is said is the month of ‘march’ so is the case with Balochi-

stan Forest and Wildlife Department activities in the month. With the

last week of February the activities of spring planting are started all

over the province. Despite having a huge target of 1.5 million plants

during this Spring Tree Planting Campaign all over the province, the

officers are determined and very keen in achieving the assigned target.

A precise plan has been devised and submitted for the grant. My message to everyone is ‘at least

each and every individual must plant a sapling’.

The February Edition of the magazine received responses from seniors and colleagues. A number of

friends from other organizations appreciated the effort and wanted to share their experiences and

knowledge for which we are thankful to them.

Finally this forum is open to everyone. You can share your knowledge and experiences on flora and

fauna of the province. We have kept a portion to discuss the issues of global world concerned with

environment and related issues. The fellows of the department are requested, in particular, to take

part as much as they can so that this forum becomes the voice of the whole province.

Best Regards

Naeem Javid Muhammad Hassani

Editor

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BFWD Monthly Magazine March 2015

Welcome Note 03

Your Views 05

Marsh Crocodile of Hingol River 07

Mangrove Forests of Balochistan 10

Harboi Juniper Forest 13

Introduction to Tamarix aphylla 19

Black Bear of Balochistan 21

Is CO2 main culprit of global warming or

not? 26

Princess of Hope 29

Your Photos 30

March 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

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The BFWD Monthly

Magazine Team is

really thankful to all

who provided their

valuable suggestions

and let us know our

shortcomings and

ideas for the better-

ment and improve-

ment of the maga-

zine. We’ll always

look forward for

suggestions and

feedback.

Best regards.

Dear Naeem. Your

idea to start

monthly forestry

magazine is good.

However, all efforts

in past in this re-

spect have failed

badly. It requires consistent dedication and

energy to develop, support and continue

the publication of magazine. It should be

properly designed and be a strong voice of

forest officers to protect their rights and

discourage their bad activities. Please for-

ward to all concerned.

Regards: Taj Muhammad

Dear Javed sb

It is significant mile-

stone and a very

important effort on

the part of young

Forest Officers. I

can confidently

expect a good future of Forest service and

conservation of depleting natural resources

in case Officers like you contribute diligent-

ly. Please accept my heart filled congratula-

tions.

I wish you should be proud future of

BF&WD. Best of luck and keep endearing

the hearts and minds by doing your best. I

wish no compromise with the protection

and conservation interventions where

deemed necessary by all your colleagues

and fellow foresters in the Department.

With profound regards, best wishes and

prayers

Abdul Jabbar

Dear Naeem Sb,

Thanks indeed for

sharing this; it's an

appreciable idea.

Hats off to you and

Mengal Sb.

All my photos are available for such initia-

tive(s); you're free to choose and pick any.

I can contribute in funds or kind.

Grateful!

Aziz Ahmad Jamali

Dear Naeem Javid

Sb. Assalam O

Alikum, I am

writing today to let

you know how

much I appreciate

Balochistan Forest

and Wildlife Department Monthly Maga-

zine, This will be the landmark towards the

conservation and sustainable development

of the valuable natural resources of the

Land of Hospitality, Baluchistan InshAllah.

I amazed when I receive the magazine and

see all that is being done under your kind

supervision and contribution. The valuable

contents of the magazine are also boosting

the knowledge of Field officers/Managers.

Once again I congratulate you and your

team for producing this magnificent piece of

Work, Jazakallah. Best of Luck & Best Re-

gards

Ajaz Ahmad (Project Coordinator/ Biodiver-

sity Specialist Empowering Community Con-

served Areas for Wildlife Conservation).

LEAD Pakistan, Chitral

6

That's a brave

start. Your ser-

vices to this de-

partment can't be

count, A hard

worker and nature

lover. No words to

cover your efforts

keep it up brother.

Nice and appreciable

work keep it up.

Regards

Sharif-ud-Din Baloch

Conservator Wildlife

& National Parks

Balochistan, Quetta

That is great initia-

tives and would

like to see all for-

esters of Balochi-

stan contributing

towards it. _

Saeed Ahmed Dummar

7

In Balochistan Prov-

ince the marsh crocodile is

mainly found in the Hingol

River (Hingol National Park

and Lasbela District), Dasht

River (Kech District), Nahang

River (along the border with

Iran) and Nari Gauge River

(Sibi District).

In Pakistan the pop-

ulation of Marsh crocodile is

estimated up to 600 individu-

als (de Silva and Lenin 2010).

The estimated population of

Marsh Crocodile in Sindh is 160

while in Hingol River the esti-

mated population of Marsh

Crocodile is 64, while only 24

were seen there (Source Sindh

Wildlife Department), around

200 -250 Marsh Crocodiles are

found along the Iran Balochi-

stan Border areas in different

Rivers. The overall population is

increasing due to many conser-

vation activities in Sindh Prov-

ince.

Introduction

Do you know?

Marsh Crocodile is the Na-

tional Reptile of Pakistan

March 2015


MARSH CROCODILE OF HINGOL RIVER

T he marsh crocodile (Crocodylus pal-

ustris) is a carnivore Reptile of fresh

waters

found in lakes, riv-

ers and marshes.

Marsh Crocodiles

prefer slow mov-

ing, shallower bod-

ies of water rather

than fast flowing,

deep areas. They

are also known to

thrive in manmade

reservoirs and irri-

gated canals. Alt-

hough it prefers

fresh water but

have some toler-

ance to salt water as well.

Marsh crocodiles are mainly found in

South Asian

countries such

as Iran, India,

Nepal, Pakistan

and Sri Lanka..

The status of

Marsh Crocodile

according to the

IUCN Red List is

VULNERABLE.

In Pakistan the

Marsh Crocodile

is mainly found

in Sindh and

Balochistan

Province.

Marsh Crocodile of Hingol—Pic by Author

Ovais Akbar

Divisional Forest Officer

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The Marsh Crocodile also

known as Mugger Crocodile (Waagu in

Brhavi language) (The National Reptile of

Pakistan) is a Carnivore Reptile found in

the Hingol River which flows in the

Lasbela District and Hingol National Park.

The Hingol River is 350 miles

(560 km) long, the longest in Balochi-

stan. It winds through the

Makran Coastal

Range and

Hingol

Val-

ley

be-

tween

high cliffs

and ultimately

meets Arabian Sea.

Male Marsh Crocodile is larger

in size as compare to the Female Marsh

Crocodile. The average length of the

male marsh crocodile is 3.2 meters (10

feet) and the average length of the fe-

male Marsh Crocodile is 2.4 meters (8

feet).

The weight of an average male

of this size will be 200-250 Kgs, weight

may differ with varying size.

The largest crocodile seen in

Hingol River by visual estimation is 9-10

feet long.

The colour of Marsh Crocodile

adult is generally grey to brown.

The male Marsh Crocodile

reaches the maturity at the age of 10

years and the female Marsh Crocodile

reaches the maturity at the age of 6

years. Reproduction takes place during

the dry season that is from the months

of December to February. The female lay

eggs in the nest which is a hole dug on

the slopping banks in the sand (ground).

The female Marsh Crocodile lay 3-40

eggs in the nest and is extremely protec-

tive to her eggs and will attack anything

that comes close to the nest. One inter-

esting thing about crocodiles is that the

sex of the babies is determined not by

the genes but by the temperature the

eggs are hatched at. At 32.5 C and above

the babies will be male and at 28 – 31 C

the babies will be female. When the eggs

are hatched the mother transport the

babies in her mouth to the water and

protect them.

The Marsh Crocodiles are much less like-

ly to attack on human than other

crocodiles because of

their less ag-

gressiveness.

The Marsh Croco-

diles of Hingol National Park mainly feed

on the wild and domestic mammals

(such as Ibex, Urial, Chinkara, domestic

goat and sheep), Fish, Snakes, Turtle and

Migratory Birds (such as Cranes, Ducks,

Pelicans and Flamingos etc.). The Marsh

Crocodile stay in the water camouflaged,

when the pray approaches to drink are

attacked and catch it with its strong jaws

having huge biting force and hold it with

its 68 teeth and drag the pray into the

water to be drowned and tore into piec-

es.

The main threats to the Marsh Crocodile

in Hingol River are mainly illegal Hunting for Croco-

dile Hides, Drought, Habitat disturbance, collection of

its eggs, eating of eggs by feral dogs, Pollution and

manmade engineering structures such as dams etc.

There is no such steps taken in entire Balochistan by

the Government for the Census, Conservation and

Protection of Marsh Crocodiles of Hingol River and

entire Balochistan.

Threats to Marsh Crocodile in Hingol River

Salient features of the Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) of Hingol River

MARSH CROCODILE OF HINGOL RIVER

Conclusion

The protected areas in Pakistan lack proper man-

agement systems and do not adequately cover the

critical habitats and important species such as the

marsh crocodiles. These reptiles used to be part of

the river ecosystem of Balochistan and now the

situation is that the marsh crocodiles are at high

risk and the conservation is the need of the hour.

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Spring Tree Planting Campaign

2015

A single tree produces about 117 kg of

Oxygen a year. That means two mature trees

can supply enough oxygen to support a

family of four.

Trees present on one acre area reduce about

2.6 tons of carbon dioxide.

Tree are also a source to control sound

pollution just like these control air, soil and

water pollution.

The forest ecosystem provides protection,

Habitat, water, fuel and food security for

over 2 billion people.

Did u know? It costs 38 Trillion dollars to

create OXYGEN for 6 months for all Human

Balochistan

Forest and Wildlife

Department

Monthly Magazine

10

Kawari, Mal and Balaro. In

Jiwani there are small pockets

of Mangrove Forests. The

exact area of Mangrove in

these areas is not known.

Although Balochistan

Forest Department, IUCN,

WWF, Wetlands, MFF, and

other local NGOs are working

in this field but all the organi-

zations are working at their

own level and therefore the

coordination and ownership

are lacking. Which is the ma-

jor reason for slow develop-

ment in this field.

Pakistan boarders the Arabian

Sea with a coastline stretch-

ing up to 990 Km spread

along the Sindh and Balochi-

stan Provinces. Out of 990km,

760 km of coast lies within

the province of Balochistan.

The coastal line of Balochi-

stan extends from Hub River

to the Iranian border encom-

passing uplifted mountains

and platforms separated by

scalloped bays, wide sandy

plains, salt marshes and la-

goons. It is divided into

Lasbela plains(extending be-

tween Hub River and Ras Ma-

lan) and Makran

(extending between Ras Ma-

lan and the Iranian border).

The Mangrove For-

ests also known as Littoral

and Swamp Forests exists in

these Coastal areas of Balo-

chistan. The dense forests of

Mangrove are found at Tehsil

Sonmiani/ Daam of District

Lasbela which covers an area

of about 4000 ha.

In Gwadar district

Mangroves are found in Kal-

mat lagoon which is 80 Km.

from Pasni and the areas are

Chandi, Shadi Khour, Makola,

Mangrove Forests of Sonmiani/ Daam

Introduction

in this estuary. The total area

of these forests is about 400

Acres. In past the Balochistan

Forest Department had

launched a no. of develop-

ment schemes in these areas

to enhance the Forest cover

Sonmiani is a Tehsil of District

Lasbela and is at a distance of

45 Km from Uthal. Two pro-

tected forests namely Ghu-

ruchella and Pir Hayyat/ Ara

pir exists in the area of Daam.

Winder and Porali rivers fall

of Mangroves and to aware

the local communities to pro-

tect these Forests at their

own level. Recently a new

scheme is also in progress to

achieve the same objectives.


MANGROVE FORESTS OF BALOCHISTAN March 2015

Muhammad Amin Mengal

Conservator of Forests Kalat Division

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For the better protection and

management of Mangroves

and also to enhance its cover,

the Balochistan Forest De-

partment had notify a new

Forest Circle namely Coastal

Forest Circle for this purpose.

The Forest department has

now planned to plant about

300,0000/ plants of Man-

groves in these areas which is

start of a new journey.

There are many op-

portunities in these forests

for eco-tourism like feelings

of wilderness, sighting of Dol-

phins and other migratory

birds, fishing and picnic.

Daam is the only place in Pakistan where three species of Mangroves are found namely:

1. Avicenna marina (Timar) germinate by seeds which will ripe in the month October to No-

vember and by wildling.

2. Rhizophora mucronata (Kumri) germinate only by Propagules

3. Ceriops tagal germinate by Propagules.

SPECIES & METHOD OF GERMINATION

Inside Story Headline

MANGROVE FORESTS OF BALOCHISTAN

There are two seasons for planting of Mangrove plants which are:

1. November to January (Wildlings of Avicenna marina)

2. May to August (Propagules)

SEASON OF PLANATION

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Harboi Juniper Forest

T he word Harboi is derived from two

Persian words ‘Har’ meaning ‘all’ and ‘Boi’ meaning

‘scent’. Thus Harboi means an area with all scents.

It is the home of 2nd largest tract occupied by the

Juniper Forest in Balochistan. The common vege-

tation is ’juniper’ with open canopy and bush like

form is quite different from its tree variety in

Ziarat.

As juniper tree grow slowly therefore these for-

ests are very old and belong to old age plant com-

munities. Some of the associated plants of junipers

are of a high medicinal value like Ephedra. The

local people use plants as indigenous treatment

for a variety of disease.

LOCATION: The Harboi Hill Range is situated at a

distance of about 35 km in the south-east of Kalat. It

lies in between Surab valley on the west and the

Soindar river basin on the east. In south the range

reaches towards the Zehri valley and Anjira. Harboi

hill range forms part of the great masses of moun-

tains which stretches across the highest plateau of

Balochistan, through Quetta, Mastung to Khurasan

and then Ghazni.

PEAKS: Harboi contains some of the highest peaks in

Jhalawan area ie Hamandu Kushta 9040 ft, Muham-

mad Tawa 9622 ft, Zendani 9424 ft and Golik 9278 ft,

Langari, Kuni, Pundran, Nichara, and Ameri.

CLIMATE: The valley has attributes of dry temperate

climatic zones therefore the winter season is very

cold. In winter the temperature remains below freez-

ing point. The hills receive good snow fall during

winter. In the summer the temperature hardly ex-

ceeds 35 C. The average rainfall is 7-10 inches annu-

ally.

SPRINGS: The springs found in the area are namely

Phoodgali, Kakavi, Soro, Zaindan, Yakho, and Duni.

Geography

Introduction

March 2015

By Sher Ahmed

Divisional Forest Officer Kalat

14

Harboi Forest extends over and area of 160000 acres

(excluding 45000 acres of shakari forest) while according

to Government of West Pakistan’s Notification No. Agri-

SOFT-V-29/63 dated 31st January only 55230 acres has

been notified as Protected Forest under the Forest Act

1927.

The Forest Area after the Devolution of Power Plan 2001

being managed under the Provincial Control through Deputy

Conservator of Forests Quetta. While recently the area is

controlled by Kalat Forrest Division. The area has only four

(4) Forest Guards.

Harboi Forest Area Notification

Harboi Forest gained its important through Juniper Forest

Trees considered some 2500 years old. Some broad leave

species like Fraxinus xanthoxyloides, Pistacia atlantica spp

are also associated with these forests.

Salient Features

Flora

List of Trees

S. No Botanical Name Vernacular Name

1. Juniperus excelsa Apurs/Sanober

2. Fraxinus xanthoxyloides Sheeshar/Wild Ash

3. Pistacia khinjuk Gowon/Shinay

4. Prunus smygdalus Jangli Cherri

5. Pistacia altantica —-

6. P. cabulica —-

7. Olea ferruginea Khat/Jangli zatoon

8. Ficus carica Koah-e-anjeer Juniperus excelsa

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1. Tribal rivalry which has created law and order situation and made conditions no conducive for field protection staff.

2. Drought

3. Change in Forest Density due to increasing human demand for fuel wood etc and sub-sequent increase in grazing by

livestock.

4. Shortage of staff.

5. Shortage of vehicle for forest staff to control of illegal hunting, uncontrolled grazing and illicit cuttings of trees.

6. Non-availability of infrastructure.

The Harboi State Forest and other adjoining rand land not only provides fodder for the livestock of the people but also it

caters the local people demands in getting fuel wood and timber. The growing population and unemployment pressure

ratio is increasing thus these forests are going into further pressures. Therefore it has become essential that a conser-

vation policy having amalgamation of traditional and modern approaches may be adopted if this 2nd largest Juniper tract

of the Province is to be conserved for the coming generations. Following interventions are proposed:

1. The Juniper Forest of Harboi may be declared as National Cultural Heritage by declaring it as National Park which

would be governed through Community Participations. A committee / Village Conservation Committee comprising

of Government Officers/ officials and tribal representatives. In this way there may arise possibilities where the

Govt may approach UNESCO so that it can be included in the Biosphere Reserve Program of World Heritage.

2. The area of Harboi is full of mesmerizing Scenic Beauty which is not yet explored by the tourists. Even most of the

people are unaware that a heaven having pleasant climate and natural springs is located near Quetta-Karachi

highway. If they knew about it, they would have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. Therefore, keeping in

mind the potential of Harboi it is necessary that the condition of the gravel road may be developed that is leading to

Harboi and visitor huts may be constructed at suitable locations.

3. Harboi State Forest is home and provides fodder and shelter to a variety of Wildlife. In the 60s and 70s big herds of

wild animals like Ibex and Urial roamed in the valleys of Kalat District, however, due to intensive hunting the huge

herds have shrunk into few numbers which roam in the rugged mountains of the range. Now the remaining number

of these, which are at the verge of its extinction, will be saved from entire annihilation unless it is declared a Na-

tional Park and Community based management plan ie Trophy Hunting is launched in the area.

Proposed Future Interventions

Management Problems

The area is under mandate of Balochistan For-

est and Wildlife Department. Since it was noti-

fied State Forest under Forest Act 1927 by

virtue of this the tree has enjoyed status of

Reserve Tree. However with the rapid increase

in population and un-employment the pres-

sure on these forests is increasing day by day.

Present Activities

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COMMON NAMES: Frash, Ghaz, Khaggal, Tamarisk.

DESCRIPTION: An erect medium to large sized evergreen

tree. It reaches heights of 10 to 18 m with diameters of 1 m,

and has a non-spreading

crown. The leaves are minute and scale like.

The white, minute flowers are borne in spikes and ar-

ranged in panicles. Flowers occurs between December and

January.

DISTRIBUTION: The tree is native to the Middle East includ-

ing Pakistan, central Asia, North Africa and Arabia. In

Pakistan it is common to the plains of the Punjab, Sindh,

Balochistan and NWFP. Extensively planted in the sand dune

area of Thal desert.

An Introduction to Tamarix aphylla

March 2015

Tamarix Aphylla (l.) karst. BFWD Monthly Magazine

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: A strongly intolerant tree that

grows well on well drained sandy soils and can tolerate

highly saline/sodic sites. It is adapted to a precipitation

zone of 100 to 500 mm/yr with prolonged periods of

draught. It has a temperature range of -1 to 500 C and is

frost hardy. It prefers a arid to hot sub-tropical winter

monsoon climate and usually occurs at elevations below

600 m. It is disease and insect free with the exception of

some minor gall forming insects.

REPRODUCTION: It is reproduced from cuttings and root

suckers, rarely from seed. Seed is small and produced in

large numbers. Natural regeneration is common and very

dense.

This is a very valuable tree in arid areas. It can withstand

extreme temperatures and saline/soil and water condi-

tions. It is also useful for the stabilization of sand dunes

and in shelter belts. A simple coppice system can be used

to produce considerable amounts of firewood under a

rotation of 20 years.

20

References & Courtesy:

1. Sheikh,.M.I. (1993) Trees of Pakistan

2. http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=85746&flora_id=5

GRAIN: Straight to twisted fibrous, coarse

and uneven textured.

COLOR: White, with a yellowish tinge.

DENSITY: Specific gravity of 0.68 and a calo-

rific value of 4835 kcal/kg.

STRENGTH: Moderately hard, heavy and

nondurable.

Carpentry, agriculture implements, fuel-

wood, shelter belts, charcoal, tannin, erosion

control, and sand dune stabilization.

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Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus is a zoological

name of Balochistan Black Bear, which is a

subspecies of Ursus thibetanus and classified

by Blanford in 1877.

Introduction

March 2015

UR

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BFW

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Taxonomy

Six species have been combined into one

genus Ursus, including the Sloth bear, Asiat-

ic black bear and Brown bear. (Ellerman and

Morrison Scott; 1965) .

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

ANIMALIA CHORDATA MAMMALIA CARNIVORA URSIDAE

Scientific Name: Ursus thibetanus

Species Authority: G. [Baron] Cuvier, 1823

Common Names: Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Black Bear

By

Mehmood Khan

Sub Divisional Officer, Wildlife

22

In the northern regions of Pakistan this bear

has dense shiny black fur which reaches a

length of up to 50 mm (2 In) in the back re-

gion. However, there is no under wool in Ur-

sus thibetanus gedrosianus. There is a con-

spicuous creamy yellow "V" extending from

sternum up to the armpits. Rest of the body is

black except the muzzle, which is reddish

brown. The claws on the fore feet are horny

black in colour, being shorter and sharply

recurved than those of Ursus arctos. There-

fore, they are better adapted to climb tree

than digging. The tail measures 75-100 mm (3

-4 In) in length. Both fore and hind limb bear

five digits.

The four paws are powerfully developed.

According to Col. Stockley (1962) males are

larger in size than females. Col.

St o c k le y r ec o r d s l a r ge m a l e

weighted 173 Kg (384 lb) and adult

f e m a l e 4 7 K g ( 1 0 5 l b ) . T h e

subs pec ies Ba loch is t a n Bea r

(Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) is

mainly distinguished by its much

smaller size. An adult male killed

in July 1969 measured 1.67 m (66

In) head and body length with the tail 80 cm

(31.4 In) hind foot 18.4 cm (7.25 In) the ear

10.3 cm (4.12 In) . This specimen had a

relatively restricked cream coloured mark on

i t s c h e s t . T h e B a l o c h i s t a n

subspecies has comparatively short

coarse fur and quite often it gets

b l ea c he d t o a re d di s h b ro w n

colour. A live captive specimen

seen by J.A.W. Anderson in 1968

was dark reddish brown rather

than black. Another fresh killed

specimen seen in the late 1950s at

Khuzdar was reddish brown in colouration by

S.M. Irshad, Divisional Forest Officer Wildlife,

Inside Story Headline

Description

URSUS THIBETANUS GEDROSIANUS

extending from sternum Creamy yellow "V"

23

The preferred habitat of the bear is moist

temperate forest, but it also can survive in

tropical pine forest and try temperate forest.

At one time, it appears to have had a continues

distribution through the dry mountain steppe

forest to the west of the Indus extending

through the Khyber

Pakhtoonkhwa and

Balochistan

province. The

Balochistan

subspecies in now

mainly confined to

arid sub tropical

thorn forest in

southern Balochistan

in regions typically

associated with

Mazri Palm

(Nannorrhops

ritchieanna). In the

1970s there were still

reports of Black

Bears surviving in

the juniper forest

zone on the flanks of

in north Khalifat

cental

Balochistan.

There is plenty of evidence that the black bear

is much reduced in all regions of former

occurrence during the past several decades,

and this is directly related to the great increase

in the human population in these regions

coupled with the increase in the number of

firearms available to people living in the hill

tracks. A survey conducted by WWF Pakistan

(Farooq and Inayatullah Chaudry, 1993) has

revealed that there were no less than 1607

captive Himalayan Black bears in the

possession of nomadic gypsies known as

"Qalandars" who earn a living exhibiting the

bears in rural areas, trained to dance and

wrestle with their keeper and frequently for

staged dog fights. The report reveals that an

average of 115 bear cubs are captured each

year within Pakistan which pass through the

hands of dealers who sell them for three

thousands rupees each to the Qalandars. Yet

no survey has been

conducted at

Balochistan for

knowing existence of

In Balochistan bear.

1930s Col. Stockley

records the

occurring of

Balochistan bear in

valley Kuchmina

and in the hills west

of the Zhob valley.

There is some

evidence that a few

Black bears still

survive in the

north Shingar Range

of Zhob valley

(Islam Khan

Divisional Forest

Officer Wildlife,

Loralai 1972 pers.

comm). There is

also some evidence that a few survive in the

where Hamid Ali Divisional Suleiman-i-Takht

Forest Officer Wildlife, found bear droppings

in 1971 in blue pine forest (Pinus wallichiana).

In 1951 a Black bear was observed in north

north of Harnai Wam Tangi east Balchistan at

(S.M. Irshad Divisonal Forest Officer, Wildlife

pers comm) and in 1972 there were two

sightings of bear in this region, one on the

and one near Ziarat. In Khalifatnorth slope of

November, 2013 Balochistan Bear was sighted

by Sub Divisional Officer, Wildlife Mehmood

Khan during Ungulate survey at Shair Khan

. Feaces were collected and Snaps Khalifatwal

of track were captured.

Distribution and Status

Picture by Author

24

The main population of Ursus thibetanus

gedrosianus appears to be around the hills

to the south of Khuzdar as well ass the

hills south west of Kharan. Afew may still

of the hills in Pab Rangesurvive in the

hills to Jao JhalLasbela as well as in the

the north east of Kalat.

The black bear has been ruthlessly hunted

wherever it occurs because of its

depredations to crops and there is no

doubt that firearms, being more

commonly available in these hill regions.

It has been listed in the IUCN RED DATA

BOOK. In Balochistan Wildlife Protection,

Preservation, Conservation and

Management Act, 2014 the black bear is

Schedule with all other rdkept in 3

Protected Wild animals, which shall not

be hunted, killed, trapped, captured or

traded.

Biology


Endeavor to protect

Forests and Wildlife

Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus is more

nocturnal than the brown bear. They

climb trees freely in order to forage. The

Balochistan bear is known to eat the fruit

of the ber (Zizyphus nummularia) and the

Russian Olive (Eleagnus hortensis) They

also eat the starchy rhizomatous stems of

Mazri (Nannorrhops ritchieana). In some

areas they are seen eating grass (Dr.

Schaller, in litt 1973). Black bear attacks if

suddenly disturbed. When fighting or

attacking this bear makes lighting swipes

with its fore paws and it can inflict terrible

injuries with its claws. Their eyesight is

considered to be rather weak. If they

encounter any object they generally

approach closer in order to pick up and

identify the scent, not relying much upon

their eyesight.

Mating is believed to take place in October

and young cubs born in February. The

cubs are blind at birth. They stay with

their mother through out summer. Sexual

maturity is reached at about three years

and lives as much as thirty three years

(Nowak 1991). In himalayas this bear

generally goes into hibernation in winter

but there is no evidence whether the

Balochistan subspecies hibernates or not.

25

When we see land as a community

to which we belong, we may begin

to use it with love and respect.

26

Is CO2 main culprit of global warming or not?

Recently this is very debatable topic, one group says

CO2 is a normal gas like hydrogen, nitrogen and

oxygen and not a reason of recent global warming

but there is group of believers that admit CO2 as

culpable and I am believer of second group. To satis-

fies them I have a small logical reason as in our

surrounding we have a large number of nutrients but

not all of equal importance, few are micro and other

are macro similarly their ratio in our diet matters a

lot. If one exceed its normal limit cause in ill factor of

body functioning. Similarly CO2 is main culprit for

causing global warming due to presence of carbon

which is main building block of nature and nature

believes on balance of every thing.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a slightly toxic, odorless,

colorless gas with a slightly pungent, acid taste. it is

currently occurring at an average concentration of

about 390 parts per million by volume or 591 parts

per million by mass. CO2 gas is 1.5 times as heavy as

air, thus if released to the air it will concentrate at

low elevations. Warmer air temperatures would

result in increased surface-water temperatures,

decreased duration of ice cover and, in some cases,

lower water levels. These changes may contribute to

decreased concentrations of dissolved oxygen.

Is CO2 main culprit of global warming or

not? March 2015


By

Badar-Un-Nissa Khan

27

Global warming is also by the

result of an excess of green-

house gases, by destroying trop-

ical rainforest’s, which threat-

ens to change climate in an un-

precedented manner.. Heat from

the sun, reflected back from the

earth, is trapped in this thicken-

ing layer of gases and global

temperatures rise as a result.

Carbon dioxide is constantly

being exchanged among the

atmosphere, ocean, and land

surface as it is both produced

and absorbed by many microor-

ganisms, plants, and animals.

However, emissions and removal

of CO2 by these natural process-

es tend to balance. Since the

Industrial Revolution began

around 1750, human activities

have contributed substantially to

climate change by adding CO2

and other heat-trapping gases to

the atmosphere

nothing , but by a team we can

do much more and save our

mother (earth) by curing its

lungs and that is possible by

Global temperature is increasing

rapidly day by day is a normal

scenario in current situations,

unfortunately alone we can do

increasing number of trees .

We have to go for tree planting campaigns, we have to celebrate World Environment

Day with zeal and enthusiasm, promote and aware people of the rising Global

Warming issues.

the atmosphere, so they

acts as lungs of earth and

purify the atmosphere

from toxic corresponding

gas, that is main culprit

for global warming.

Air combination also disturbed

by theses climatic chain pum-

mels chain reaction In addition,

the ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in

the atmosphere has declined as

CO2 has increased; this is as

expected because oxygen is

depleted when fossil fuels are

burned. The Southern Ocean is

the largest of these ocean car-

bon sinks, soaking up about 40

percent of mankind’s CO2 ab-

sorbed by the seas.

According to an estimation Fu-

ture CO2 ranges will presumably

continue to rise at a rate of

about 2 ppm per year in the near

term.

Trees have a big role to

play in life on earth and

are basically the only rea-

son we’re alive right

now. Its very common

that trees absorb carbon

dioxide from the atmos-

phere, convert it into

carbon and oxygen which

is stored as carbohy-

drates and sugar, and

release oxygen back into

Is CO2 main culprit of global warming or not?

Badar-Un-Nissa Khan has

written numerous articles on

different issues especially on

climate and environment in

different periodicals of

Pakistan.

28

“IMAGINE IF TREES GAVE OFF WI-FI SIGNALS WE WOULD BE PLANT-

ING SO MANY TREE AND WE’D PROBABLY SAVE THE PLANET TOO.

TOO BAD THEY ONLY PRODUCE THE OXYGEN WE BREATHE”.

A beautiful Acacia Tree en-route Moola—Khuzdar District.

Pic courtesy: Aziz Ahmad Jamali

Deputy Commissioner Awaran

29

P rincess of Hope : A 740

year old wonder "Princess of Hope"

near Ormarah in Balochistan, Paki-

stan. It was found in Hingol National

Park lies on the Makran Coast in Balo-

chistan and approximately 275 km

from Karachi, Pakistan. The name

Princess of Hope was given by Holly-

wood actress Angelina Jolie on her

visit to this area acting as the UN

Human Rights Ambassadors of Good-


March 2015

30

Inauguration of Spring Tree Planting Campaign (STPC) -2015 by PM Pakistan. On the occasion Secretary Forest and Wildlife Mr. Khuda-e-Rahim Ejbani (extreme left), Advisor to Forest and Wildlife Mr. Ubaid-ullah Babat (second left) were present.

Spring Tree Planting Campaign (STPC) 2015. Inaugurated by worthy Commissioner Kalat Divi-

sion Dr, Akbar Harifal at Divisional secretariat Khuzdar on 18-02-2015. Mr. Amin Mengal Con-

servator of Forests Kalat Division is present on the occasion (second left).

31

Honorable Chief Justice of Balochistan Mr Noor Muhammad inaugurating the STPC. On

the occasion, Mr. Khalid Langove Registrar HCB, DC Kharan Abdul Raziq Dilawari, and

Nazir Ahmed Divisional Forest Officer Kharan (center) were present.

STPC Inauguration By Assistant commissioner Killa Saif Ullah Hamid Ur Rehman Khatak,

Town Committee Chairman Haji Dara Khan , Deputy Chairman Saeed Akbar Khan,

Range Forest Officer Killa saif ullah Muhammad Anwar Kakar And Sub Divisional Officer

Wildlife Haji Rehmat Ullah Khan

32

Musakhel District—Pic by Saeed Ahmed Dumar

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bfwd monthly magazine - march 2015

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