bfwd monthly magazine - march 2015
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Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department Monthly Magazine - March 2015TRANSCRIPT
3
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
4
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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BFWD Monthly Magazine
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
BFWD Monthly Magazine
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
8
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
Page 8 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.
9
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.
BFWD Monthly Magazine
MANGROVE FORESTS OF BALOCHISTAN March 2015
Muhammad Amin Mengal
Conservator of Forests Kalat Division
11
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
Page 11 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
13
BFWD Monthly Magazine
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
Page 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
17
Page 17
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
19
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
Page 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.
21
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
SU
S T
HIB
ETA
NU
S G
ED
RO
SIA
NU
S
BFW
D M
onth
ly M
agaz
ine
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
Page 22 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
Page 23
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
BFWD Monthly Magazine
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
BFWD Monthly Magazine
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 .
Page 27
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-
BFWD Monthly Magazine
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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