PJB-2008-110
STATUS OF PLANT DIVERSITY AT KUFRI (SOONE VALLEY) PUNJAB, PAKISTAN AND PREVAILING THREATS THEREIN
KAFEEL AHMAD1*, ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN1, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF2, MUMTAZ HUSSAIN2, MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM3 AND EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM4
Abstract
To examine the species composition in the Soone Valley, Punjab, Pakistan, the Kufri site was selected on the basis of some ecological attributes i.e., topography, soil type and the nature of prevailing disturbances. Data regarding the composition of plant diversity revealed that among the woody leguminous plants Acacia modesta was the most commonly occurring species. Propsopis juliflora occurred very commonly and formed mono-species stands, while Dalbergia sissoo was absent altogether. Among the herbaceous weedy legumes Medicago polymorpha and Melilotus indica were commonly found during the winter seasons. At higher altitudes Olea ferruginea formed a good association with Acacia modesta. Throughout the examined site, Dodonaea viscosa and Justicia adhatoda occurred very abundantly, because both species had resistance for grazing and fuel needs. Cutting of woody plants and shrubs for fuel purposes and their lopping for grazing the domestic animals are the two major threats to the entire local vegetation in this valley. Accidental fires caused by careless honey hunters also, sometimes become uncontrollable and wipe out most of the vegetation to a large extent.
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