Presentation on Billion Trees PC1

PresentationHow To Conserve Biodiversity in Range Lands??A Lecture To Forestry StudentsByMr. Allah Dad Khan

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Collaborative watershed management after major disasters, collaborative tools, post project evaluation & discussions with communities, reflecting the need for more evidence on impact

BY Dr. Faizul Bari, FAO Pakistan

1414Collaborative watershed management

What is the State of Biodiversity on Rangelands?What is the State of Biodiversity on Rangelands? A major threat to biodiversity is the reduced size of contiguous habitats. Most of the worlds rangelands with sufficient rainfall for growing crops have been converted to agricultural land. In other areas, irrigation using imported water or groundwater has been implemented on traditional rangeland areas. In the U.S., more than 50% of the ecosystems determined to be critically endangered are grasslands and almost 25% are shrublands. Rangeland that is marginal for agricultural, urban and industrial development remain less fragmented than many other ecosystems but even low levels of fragmentation may negatively impact some species and the function of some rangeland communities. Maintaining sufficient area in each type of rangeland is necessary to sustain biodiversity on all level

Grazing And Range Lands Rangeland professionals have long been interested in the complex relationship between grazing and rangeland biodiversity. Grazing is an important process in many rangeland ecosystems. Grazing can have both a positive and negative impact on biodiversity on all levels. Continuous heavy livestock and/or large animal grazing and trampling can adversely impact some rare plant species population. The indirect effects of heavy grazing can be significant for some groups of animals. Wide-ranging vertebrates, particularly predators and carrion-eaters, have been the most visibly impacted animals on rangelands. Several species are jeopardized by activities related to livestock grazing management including the grizzly bear, Mexican wolf and black-footed ferret.

What is the Future of Biodiversity on Rangelands?What is the Future of Biodiversity on Rangelands? The ability to sustain biodiversity will depend on how successful the efforts are to maintain and restore variation and revitalize ecosystem functioning. Genetic resources will become more valuable for restoration in the future. Plants adapted for revegetating areas following disturbances such as mining and fire will need to be identified and developed. To guarantee the availability of potentially genetically valuable rangeland resources, there is a need to develop management techniques to protect isolated and declining populations of rangeland species.

Definition of Rangelands

Areas unfit for agriculture due to sever cold or heatFit for grasses, shrubs and fodder speciesSpread over 7 ecological zones; alpine pastures in the north to the arid and semiarid ranges in the southSupport both livestock and wildlife grazing

Rangeland ResourceVast resource cover the major land use; 60% areaResource is subjected to heavy grazing and degradationCurrent productivity is less than 50%Vegetation cover has been reduced by 30%Proportion of Palatable plants reduced to 25%Correspondingly the related services and functions drastically reduced; biodiversity, water flow, non-timber forest products, ecotourism

Land Use Analysis

Major land useThere is also grazing within forestsBringing this major land use under proper management will result in lot of benefits; increased and healthy and productive livestock

ChallengesDue to the major challenges the current productivity is far less than its potentialThe degradation has negatively impacted the livelihoods of million of poor people besides reduced functions and servicesThe land tenure is a major issue, where the rangelands are exploited due to its community naturePoor ranges divert pressure to the surrounding forestsNomadic grazing is also major problem

Rangeland BiodiversityMajor land use, habitat for important Fauna and important floraRangeland and pastures jointly used by the livestock and wildlife, competition for food and habitatOvergrazing disturb the wildlife, restricted to remote un-disturbed sitesCommon watering pointsDisease transfer

Need for Rangeland PolicyFirst ever policyResource needs to put back on tractAdopt more holistic approach to natural resource management including biodiversity conservationThe benefits will be enormousWill develop strategy for mitigation and adoption of climate changeWill also contribute to carbon stock

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA RANGELAND POLICY ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENTGOVERNMENT OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA2012

Thrusts/Priority Area

These are the areas if focused the range productivity, services and functions will increaseThe major land resource will be brought under scientific management

Thrusts/Priority Area (cont)Mitigation of climate change & other natural disastersAwareness raising & capacity buildingPromotion of academic discipline of range management, research and technology and extension servicesGeneration of financial resources & establishment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rangeland Development Fund

Institutional ArrangementRequires separate staff to focus on the rangeland managementThere is need to also associate livestock and agriculture department

Grazing System in Pakistan1.Nomadic Grazing Climatic conditions and seasonal forage availability dictate grazing patterns. Livestock migrate between alpine pastures and the Pothwar Plateau in the foothills of the Himalayas. The livestock spend April in subtropical and temperate forest grazing areas below 2,000 m. The livestock utilize the alpine areas from June to October, when low temperatures retard plant growth, and then herders descend towards the plains or low valleys. During winter, livestock graze in Pothwar scrub ranges, abandoned cultivated lands, or browse in valleys along water channels, roads, and grazing grounds between agricultural fields.The herders pay a nominal grazing fee to the Syed families of Kaghan or the Khans of Indus Kohistan who control the use of alpine pastures. Overstocking has greatly reduced the grazing capacity of these rangelands.

Grazing System in Pakistan2.Semi Nomadic Grazing This type of grazing is common in the northern areas and in the Chitral alpine pastures. Women look after the herds and spend the summer in alpine areas. Men maintain food supplies by travelling back and forth. The winter season is spent around permanent settlements.

Grazing System in Pakistan3. Grazing systems in Baluchistan and Sulaiman mountain rangesBalochistan is the largest province of Pakistan. It constitutes about 45 % of Pakistans total geographical area but it has a small population compared with other provinces. Three grazing patterns i.e. nomadic, transhumance, and sedentary, exist in Balochistan

Grazing System in Pakistan4. Grazing in the desert rangelandsLivestock grazing practices in the Thal, Cholistan, Kohistan, and Tharparker desert areas are similar. The desert pastoral communities have ecologically adjusted themselves to utilize marginal areas which would otherwise not have been utilized. Other studies also suggest that the nomadic system is an excellent way of converting scarce vegetation into animal protein

Grazing System in Pakistan5. Grazing systems in Baluchistan and Sulaiman mountain rangesBalochistan is the largest province of Pakistan. It constitutes about 45 % of Pakistans total geographical area but it has a small population compared with other provinces. Three grazing patterns i.e. nomadic, transhumance, and sedentary, exist in Balochistan

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands The vegetation of Pakistan has great complexity, comprising a wide variety of vegetation types, including desert, tropical, Mediterranean, and temperate ecosystems. These rangelands extend from temperate alpine pastures in the northern areas, to Mediterranean rangelands in the western mountains, and to the semi-arid and desert lands of the Indus Valley.

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands (a) Sub-alpine temperate zone.This zone lies between 2,000 m altitude and the snow line in Azad Jammu, Kashmir, Swat, Kaghan valleys, and northern areas. These areas provide excellent forage for livestock grazing during summer growing seasons The major improved grass species found in the rangelands areFestuca arundinacea,Loliumspp., andPotarium sanguiserba. ( Kaghan)

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands (b) Sub-tropical humid zone.The sub-tropical humid zone is represented by chir pine forests but kail forests also occur on relatively higher slopes in Northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. The altitude varies from 1,000 to 2,000 m. Winters are very cold and grazing is only possible for 2-3 months during the summer season. The dominant introduced grass species areChloris gayanaandDicanthium annulatum.

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands (c) Sub-tropical sub-humid zone.The sub-tropical sub-humid zone covers Pothwar tract and the Salt Range. Soil erosion is a major problem. The zone has high potential for range re-seeding. The major introduced grass species includeChrysopogon aucheri,Chyrosopogon montanus, Panicum antidotale, Cenchrus ciliaris, Cymbopogon jawarancusa, Pennisetum lanatum, Cynodon dactylon, Saccharum apontaneumandAristida depressa.

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands (d) Arid, semi arid desert plains.The Thal, Cholistan, D. G. Khan and Tharparker are located in this zone. High temperatures and wind erosion are major constraints. Rangelands in this zone have been heavily over-grazed by local livestock. The major introduced grass species areCenchrus ciliaris, Lasiurus sindicus,andPennisetum orientale. ( Sindh)

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands (e)Mediterranean zone.The high lands of Balochistan including Quetta and Kalat Divisions are located in the zone. Low and erratic rainfall of less than 300 mm is received during winter. Nomadic and local livestock graze these rangelands heavily. The important grass species includeAgropyron desertorum,Chrysopogon aucheri, andelmus junceus.(Quetta)

Pasture Resources in Natural Range Lands F)forests of Pakistan are found at very high elevations in the mountainous regions of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hidukush. The timberline, or elevation limit of tree growth, is exceptionally high in these mountains, rising upto 4000 m above sea level. ( Deosai)

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING RANGEPOLICY1. Legislation is an essential tool for implementing range-management policy2. Participatory range-management approach may be adopted in implementing various range development projects,3. Training of grazing associations for provision of basic animal-health services may help to improve livestock health and income of the livestock producer.4. Alternate-energy sources at subsidized rates may be provided, to the livestock-producer, to save rangelands from further cutting/uprooting of plants5. Development of forage reserves of evergreen plants,6. The appropriate livestock insurance mechanism may be developed, or agricultural subsidies may be provided to the livestock-producers to save them from unexpected financial losses. 7. Installation of photo-voltaics and facilities like solar-heated bathrooms and cookers may be introduced in order to reduce the dependence on the use of firewood in the range area.