PJB-2019-640
Survival Rate, Regeneration, Status and Growth Performance of Departmental Plantations Raised under Billion Trees Afforestation Project in Swat Forest Division Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Article Type: Original
Muhammad Naqash
Abstract
The Government of Pakistan Pakhtunkhwa decided in 2015 to raise one billion trees in the province in order to increase forest cover in the province, to create green jobs and to combat climate change in three years. The Current study was designed to evaluate the survival rate, natural regeneration status and growth performance of plantation grown under the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) in the Swat Forest Section. Twelve study areas were randomly selected and investigated for data collection in September-October 2017. A total of 88 sample plots were placed into 0.1 hectares. Data on natural regeneration, sowing species, density of pits, number of seed bearers, soil, survival rate, appearance and composition of species were collected. The data revealed that the pit density in the 10x10 range was found to be 1261 pits per hectare, while the average natural regeneration per hectare is estimated to be 1363 in the plantation areas. The data showed that the average survival rate 92.36%. in the Swat Forest Division, which is comprises of Mingora and Matta forest sub division and Kabal, Fatehpur Ranges.In Mingora and Matta sub divisions the survival rate was 92.08% and 94.65% while in Kabal and Fatehpur the survival rate was 89.20 and 93.50 The study indicates that majority of regeneration (above 9 inches) was 74% and ( below 9 inches) 26%. Species composition showed 83.80% Eucalyptus, 14.21% Chir, 1.57% Robinia, 0.32% Deodar and 0.09% Ailanthus.Average growth rate of Eucalyptus and chir was recorded maximum in phase 2 as compared to phase 1. For proper management use of pesticides, insecticides and plantation of eucalyptus should be minimized whereas plantation of local indigenous species for improving the biodiversity of area is recommended. Key words: BTAP: Billion Trees of Afforestation Project, survival rate, natural regeneration, growth rate
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