Wildlife of Pakistan 1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Wildlife of Pakistan 1 Volume 1: Issue 1: January - March, 2012 WILDLIFE OF PAKISTAN 1 Chief Editor: Z. B. Mirza Editor: Waseem Ahmad Khan Editorial Board: Grace M. Yoxon Saeed Akhtar Baloach Mohammad Naeem Bhatti Mohammad Javaid Ayub Nazish Mazhar Ali Naureen Mumtaz Safwan Shahab Ahmad Publisher: Pakistan Wildlife Foundation Basement Baloachistan Plaza, Fazal-ul-Haq Road, Blue Area, Islamabad, Pakistan Email: [email protected] Website: www.pakwildlife.org Registration No. 25001 - Copr Intellectual Property Organisation, Government of Pakistan ISSN 2227-1813 Printer: Vision Graphics Blue Area, Islamabad. 0301-5538710 Volume 1: Issue 1: January - March, 2012 CONTENTS 03│ Editorial 04│ What is Wildlife 06│ Understaning the Snakes 11│ National Parks in Pakistan 14│ Wildlife and parks department - Punjab 18│ An Introduction to Biodiversity of Gilgit-Baltistan 21│ IUCN Threatened Categories 26│ Pitcher irrigation; Efficient Agriculture for Food Security and Nature Conservation WILDLIFE OF PAKISTAN 2 28│ Mud Volcanoes of Pakistan 30│ Role of Children in Wildlife Conservation 32│ Musk Deer in Kashmir 35│ Biological Control in the Context of Insect Biodiversity 36│ Barn Owl: a Friend of Farmers 37│ Conservation awareness of Margallah Hills National park: a success story 39│ Wildlife Photography 41│ Wildlife News 45│ About Pakistan Wildlife Foundation 49│ Announcements 60│ Acknowledgments Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) © Waseem Ahmad Khan, PWF Cover Photo: Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) © Waseem Ahmad Khan, PWF Volume 1: Issue 1: January - March, 2012 EDITORIAL Pakistan Wildlife Foundation (PWF) lovers, university students and nature conservation in Pakistan. was established in June 2010 as a researchers to share their wildlife Pakistan Wildlife Foundation non-profit, conservation organization related experiences and ideas awards “Best Article Shield” to the by a small group of likeminded besides help protect, preserve, writers on the basis of readers’ conservationists, nature lovers and conserve, management of wildlife, evaluations to inculcate an interest wildlife ecologists with the mission their habitats and their wise and in communicating among wildlife to enhance awareness among the sustainable utilization in the lovers and young writers. masses in the country regarding country. WILDLIFE OF PAKISTAN; biodiversity and environment and a quarterly magazine has been Readers comments, suggestions to change their attitudes towards launched to disseminate wildlife and recommendations will be greatly positive, sensible and responsible related news, issues, ideas and appreciated by the Editors. actions for nature. The foundation information for wildlife lovers in the was incorporated with Securities and country and abroad. The magazine A separate section; “Letters to Exchange Commission of Pakistan encourages wildlife lovers to Editor” is allocated in the magazine (SECP) in October, 2010 under the communicate effectively. for readers’ feedback. The Editorial Corporate Universal Identification Board can be accessed / approached No. 0073723. It also serves as a medium to through Emails at; propagate the national and the Pakistan Wildlife Foundation aims individuals’ achievements and land [email protected] to provide a platform for the nature marks of interest among youth for [email protected] WILDLIFE OF PAKISTAN 3 Observing Marcopolo Sheep (Ovis ammon polii) in Karchenai Nullah, Khunjerab National Park © Waseem Ahmad Khan, PWF Volume 1: Issue 1: January - March, 2012 Atif Yaqub Muhammad Faizan Naeem Lahore Lahore Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] WHAT IS WILDLIFE! When we hear the term "wildlife", it undomesticated state. Oxford collectively. Longman Cambridge generally refers to large ferocious Advanced Learner's Dictionary advanced learner's dictionary animals living in jungles and forests defines the term wildlife as animals, describes wildlife as animals and such as tigers, lions, elephants, birds, insects, etc. that are wild plants that grow independently wolves, Wild boars, deer's etc. But and live in a natural environment. of people, usually in natural in fact, "wildlife" implies to any living According to the concise Oxford conditions. Longman dictionary of organism in its natural habitat which dictionary of zoology, “wildlife is Contemporary English Advanced includes all plants, animals and any undomesticated organisms, Learner's dictionary delimits the micro organisms except cultivated although the term is sometimes term wildlife as animals and plants plants and domesticated animals. restricted to wild animals, excluding growing in natural conditions. From ecological view point, wildlife plants”. Collin's concise dictionary Dictionary of contemporary English is a renewable resource. Wildlife and thesaurus terms wildlife as quotes wildlife as animals and also includes the flora present in flora and fauna. Collin's English plants growing in natural conditions. WILDLIFE OF PAKISTAN the forests. Basically the flora is the dictionary refers wildlife as wildlife The new International Webster's 4 collections of plants and fauna, the animals and plants collectively. comprehensive dictionary of the collection of animals. Precious plants English Collins Dictionary terms English language states wildlife and animals are becoming extinct or wildlife as wild animals and plants as wild animals, trees and plants endangered as a result of clearing of the forests. The forests are home to many precious species of plants and animals. In fact, the wealth of wildlife is so much that we have not even identified a large number of the species. Many practices like poaching, encroaching forestland for cultivation and occupation, pollution, etc. have resulted in the decline in numbers of wildlife, both flora and fauna. By far, various experts have attempted to define the term, “wildlife” in great many ways. Here is a brief account of how various experts quote wildlife. The American heritage dictionary of the English language defines wildlife as animals and vegetation, especially animals living in a natural, The Pioneer White / African Caper White (Anaphaeis aurota) © Waseem Ahmad Khan, PWF Volume 1: Issue 1: January - March, 2012 may be different angles to limit and delimit the term wildlife. The above account, however, enables us to agree that rapidly growing understanding of wildlife is improving our concepts faster than ever before. No wonder, in future scientists may suggest normal flora (bacteria and other microorganisms living on wild animals and plants) as part of the wildlife as well. No one knows what comes ahead. The ever increasing scientific understanding of nature and ecology may sometime open new dimensions to us. To make an agreement, all life forms living in natural habitat are part and parcel of the term “wildlife”. Since all Indian Tree Lizard (Calotes versicolor) © Waseem Ahmad Khan, PWF living things, generally animals and collectively, especially as objects deer, moose, birds, etc. Economic plants, in all natural ecosystems, of government conservation. zoology – A dictionary of useful & struggling to survive under various Macmillan dictionary refers wildlife destructive animals coins wildlife as ecological and evolutionary forces, as animals, birds, and plants that wild animals and plants adding that WILDLIFE OF PAKISTAN are interrelated and can never be live in natural conditions. Saunder's there exists a multi-million dollar parted; the term wildlife may refer to 5 veterinary dictionary: Animals wildlife trade. all of them. running unrestrained in a natural There may be extended views or environment. According to Alan Gilpin Dictionary of environmental terms, “A collective term embracing several thousand different species of mammals, birds and reptiles is wildlife. No two species respond in precisely the same manner and degree to the influences of the environment; the differences in response are aspects of competition, selection and evolution.” Dictionary of environmental science and engineering quotes, “Wildlife includes any animals, bees, butterflies, crustaceans, fish moths and aquatic or land vegetation which forms part of any habitat”. Hanson Dictionary of Ecology describes wildlife as collectively the non-domesticated vertebrate animals, except fishes, such as Black buck (Antilope cervicapra) © Waseem Ahmad Khan, PWF Volume 1: Issue 1: January - March, 2012 Z. B. Mirza Islamabad Email: [email protected] UNDERSTANDING THE SNAKES Most people fear snakes and pythons have two lungs. Python’s showing the skin beneath. The liver, several attempt to kill them, as they left lung is much smaller than the urinary organs and genital organs do not know that they are part of right one, which is very long. Snakes are also elongated. The elongated the natural ecosystems in which we inhale lot of air and can keep it in liver is not lobed. The gall bladder live. These innocent victims of our the lung for a long time. Food gut or and the pancreas are at the rear ignorance about their important role esophagus is also long, thin-walled part of the liver. Some organs are in the control of rodents and insects and without any muscles. The prey missing in snakes, such as legs, and as part of food chain are at the is not chewed but swallowed head ears, movable eye-lids, nictitating top of the list of designated enemy first. It is pushed into the esophagus membrane, muscles of the eye-balls species assumed by us. This brief by the forward and backward and urinary bladder. article is intended to provide basic movements of
Recommended publications
  • Khunjerab National Park
    Khunjerab National Park General features vegetation, with Juniper spp., Rosa webbiana, and Polygonum spp. occurring on dry slopes, and Myricaria germanica and Country: Pakistan, Hunza-Nagar District Hippophae rhamnoides along stream beds. Broadleaf species Date of establishment: 1975 mainly consist of Salix sp. and Betula utilis. 2 Area: 4,455 km Fauna Geographic location: Latitude: 36°30’N; Fourteen mammalian species have been recorded in the Longitude: 75°30’E park, of which three are critically endangered and two IUCN category: IV are endangered. Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii), Overview cape hare (Lepus capensis), common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus), common Khunjerab National Park (KNP) is located in the extreme red fox (Vulpes vulpes), field mouse Apodemus( sylvaticus), north of Pakistan. The high-altitude park covers about 4,445 Himalayan ibex (Capra sibirica), long-tailed marmot (Marmota km2, making it Pakistan’s third largest national park. It was caudata), large-eared pika (Ochotona macrotis), migratory set up to protect rare and unique species of the Pamir and hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Tibetan Plateau. The elevation within the park ranges from brown bear (Ursus arctos), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), 3,200 to 7,700 masl. Khunjerab Pass, the gateway to China and Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes). The park has some of via the Karakoram Highway, lies at 4,934 masl. the most diverse avifauna in mountain regions, with 48 avian People species having been recorded in the park. Tajik and Brushu Threats Flora Decline of Marco Polo sheep population, largely as a result of hunting and general disturbance from the Due to the protected area’s high elevation, floral species Karakoram Highway which runs through the park.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Material
    Alcedo atthis (Common Kingfisher) European Red List of Birds Supplementary Material The European Union (EU27) Red List assessments were based principally on the official data reported by EU Member States to the European Commission under Article 12 of the Birds Directive in 2013-14. For the European Red List assessments, similar data were sourced from BirdLife Partners and other collaborating experts in other European countries and territories. For more information, see BirdLife International (2015). Contents Reported national population sizes and trends p. 2 Trend maps of reported national population data p. 4 Sources of reported national population data p. 6 Species factsheet bibliography p. 11 Recommended citation BirdLife International (2015) European Red List of Birds. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Further information http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/euroredlist http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/european-red-list-birds-0 http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/europe http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/ Data requests and feedback To request access to these data in electronic format, provide new information, correct any errors or provide feedback, please email [email protected]. THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ BirdLife International (2015) European Red List of Birds Alcedo atthis (Common Kingfisher) Table 1. Reported national breeding population size and trends in Europe1. Country (or Population estimate Short-term population trend4
    [Show full text]
  • INDUS ECOREGION (English)
    INDUS REGION It is identied amongst the 40 biologically richest ecoregions in the world. It harbours riverine forests along the River, mangrove forests in the coastal areas while desert ecosystems occupy the periphery of the ecoregion. It covers approximately 65% of the province of Sindh and occupies 18 districts of Sindh while a small northwestern part of the ecoregion extends slightly into Baluchistan. 01 NILGAI The nilgai or blue bull is the largest Asian antelope and is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. The short coat is yellow-brown in females and gradually turns blue-grey in males as they mature. There are white spots on the edges of the lips and throat. Males have 8-10 inches long horns which are straight and tilted slightly forwards. As herbivores, the nilgai prefer grasses and herbs; woody plants are commonly eaten in the dry tropical forests of India. Conservation status: Least Concern FUN FACT The nilgai is mainly diurnal (work in daytime) and more active in early morning and late afternoon. 02 ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET The Alexandrine parakeet is a medium-sized parrot named after Alexander the Great, who transported numerous birds from Punjab to various European and Mediterranean countries. Large Indian parakeet is one of the species found in Eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, North India, Central India, East India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Conservation Status: Near Threatened Adult males have a broader black stripe across the lower cheek. It eats a variety of wild and cultivated seeds, buds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Flocks can cause extensive damage to ripening fruits and crops like maize and jowar.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    Irrigation Department Public Disclosure Authorized Government of Balochistan Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Project Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Executive Summary Public Disclosure Authorized Reviewed Draft for Disclosure January 2016 Contents 1 Executive Summary......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project description .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Environmental Baseline ............................................................................................ 2 1.2.1 Nari River Basin 2 1.2.2 Porali River Basin 2 1.3 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................... 4 1.4 Cumulative Impact Assessment ................................................................................ 4 1.5 Climate Change Impacts and Risks .......................................................................... 5 1.6 Environmental Management Plan ............................................................................. 5 1.7 Environmental Monitoring ....................................................................................... 23 1.8 Capacity Building and Training................................................................................ 25 1.9 Cost of EMP ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Protection Along the Karakorum Highway in Khunjerab
    Pakistan J. Zool., vol. 44(5), pp. 1452-1457, 2012. occurred, causing severe destruction along the KKH. In February 2006, Pakistan and China signed Wildlife Protection Along the a Memorandum of Understanding which initiated Karakorum Highway in Khunjerab the improvement of the highway between Raikot Bridge and Khunjerab Pass during first phase of National Park project (Tao et al., 2010). The section of the KKH from K753+800 to Yun Wang,1 * Jiding Chen,1 Shuangcheng Tao,1 1 1 K811+343 (kilometer markers) bisects Khunjerab Mengmeng Wang, Xuanya Wang and Asif National Park (KNP). The KNP was built in 1975 Shah2 1 with the primary objective of protecting the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, threatened species Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon Beijing, 100029, China 2 polii) and its natural habitat. Other protected species China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, found in the KNP include: the snow leopard (Uncia China uncia) and the brown bear (Ursus arctos). These species of wildlife make the KNP one of the most Abstract.- The Karakorum Highway (KKH) which connects Pakistan and China passes through important centers for biodiversity in Pakistan Khunjerab National Park in Pakistan. The park has (Qureshi et al., 2011). extremely rich wildlife diversity. The potential The impact of highway construction on adverse impacts of KKH improvement project on wildlife and the need to protect wildlife are wildlife were analyzed with field surveys, becoming critical issues for zoologists throughout interviews and secondary data for the period from 2009 to 2011. Protective measures were developed the world (Forman and Alexander, 1998). The and used to guide highway construction.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity and Abundance of Medicinal Plants Among Different Forest-Use Types of the Pakistani Himalaya
    DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AMONG DIFFERENT FOREST-USE TYPES OF THE PAKISTANI HIMALAYA Muhammad Adnan (Born in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Academic Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology of the Georg-August-University of Göttingen Supervisor Prof. Dr. Dirk Hölscher Göttingen, November 2011 Reviewers Prof. Dr. Dirk Hölscher Prof. Dr. Christian Ammer Examiners Prof. Dr. Dirk Hölscher Prof. Dr. Christian Ammer Prof. Dr. Erwin Bergmeier ii SUMMARY Medicinal plants collected in the Himalayan forests are receiving increasing attention at the international level for a number of reasons and they play an important role in securing rural livelihoods. However, these forests have been heavily transformed over the years by logging, grazing and agriculture. This thesis examines the extent to which the diversity and abundance of medicinal plants are affected between forest-use types as a result of such transformations. In northwestern Pakistan we studied old-growth forest, degraded forests (forests degraded by logging, derived woodland, agroforest and degraded sites) and restored forests (re-growth forests and reforestation sites). An approximate map was initially established covering an area of 90 km2 of the studied forest-use types and fifteen and five plots were allocated to five and two forest-use types respectively at altitudes ranging from 2,200 m to 2,400 m asl. The abundance and diversity of medicinal plants were then assessed therein. Of the fifty-nine medicinal plant species (herbs and ferns) studied, old-growth forest contained the highest number thereof with fifty-five species, followed by re-growth forest with forty-nine species and finally, forest degraded by logging with only forty species.
    [Show full text]
  • Willingness to Pay for Margalla Hills National Park: Evidence from the Travel Cost Method
    The Lahore Journal of Economics 11 : 2 (Winter 2006) pp. 43-70 Willingness to Pay for Margalla Hills National Park: Evidence from the Travel Cost Method Himayatullah Khan* Abstract This study, which is among the first in Pakistan to value recreational benefits, estimates the benefits of the Margalla Hills National Park near Islamabad. The study examines how much park visitors are willing to pay to visit the park. Annual benefits from the park are considerable—the total annual consumer surplus or economic benefit obtained from recreation in the park is approximately Rs. 23 million (US $ 0.4 million). Various factors influence the value visitors obtain from the park — these include travel cost, household income, and the quality of the park. Improvements in the quality of the park are estimated to increase recreational benefits by 39%. The study recommends that a park entrance fee of Rs. 20 per person be introduced, which could be utilized for park management. This would generate nearly Rs. 11 million in revenues annually, a sizable amount of money that represents about 4% of the annual budget allocated to the environment sector in Pakistan. JEL Classification: Keywords: Environmental valuation, willingness to pay, total recreational value, consumer surplus, environmental resources, national parks, Pakistan. * The author is Professor at the Institute of Development Studies, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar and currently on deputation to Department of Development Studies, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad. This paper is based on Himayatullah (2003). The author gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE).
    [Show full text]
  • Status of the Indus River Dolphin Platanista Minor
    ORYX VOL 32 NO 1 JANUARY 1998 Status of the Indus River dolphin Platanista minor Randall R. Reeves and Abdul Aleem Chaudhry The endemic freshwater dolphins in the Indus River system of Pakistan, Platanista minor, have been considered endangered since the early 1970s. Measures taken to protect them from deliberate capture seem to have stopped a rapid decline, and combined counts in Sindh and Punjab provinces since the early 1980s suggest a total population of at least a few hundred animals. Severe problems remain, however. In addition to the risks inherent to any species with an effective population size in the low hundreds (at most), these dolphins are subject to long-term threats associated with living in an artificially controlled waterway used intensively by humans. Irrigation barrages partition the aggregate population into discrete subpopulations for much of the year. Dolphins that 'escape' during the flood season into irrigation canals or into reaches downstream of barrages where winter water levels are low have little chance of survival. A few dolphins probably die each year after being caught in fishing nets. Pollution by untreated urban sewage, agricultural runoff and industrial effluent threatens the health of the entire Indus system. The future of this dolphin species depends on Pakistan's commitment to protecting biological diversity in the face of escalating human demands on dwindling resources. Introduction In the early 1970s, G. Pilleri and his co- workers called world attention to the fact that The Indus River dolphin Platanista minor, Indus dolphins were declining rapidly (Pilleri known locally as bhulan, is endemic to the and Zbinden, 1973-74; Pilleri, 1980).
    [Show full text]
  • Basic Design Study Report on the Project for Rehabilitation of Gates of Taunsa Barrage in Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    No. BASIC DESIGN STUDY REPORT ON THE PROJECT FOR REHABILITATION OF GATES OF TAUNSA BARRAGE IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN DECEMBER 2004 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY SANYU CONSULTANTS INC. YACHIYO ENGINEERING CO.,LTD GM JR 04-238 Intake at right bank Upstream Weir Gate Under Sluice gate at Right bank Intake at left bank Downstream Under Sluice gate PERSPECTIVE at Left bank THE PROJECT FOR REHABILITATION OF GATES OF TAUNSA BARRAGE IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN Summary Economy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Population 149,030 thousand, GNP 470 USD per Capita, in 2003) has been largely dependent on the agricultural sector with such dominant indexes of about 1/4 of GDP, about 1/2 of working population, etc. However, the agriculture sector is now in a very difficult and sensitive situation being subjected to problematic weather conditions affecting the area. The GDP of the country in 2000/01 came down due to severe drought that occurred in the country. Situation changed in 2003/2004 because the country’s GDP was 6.4 percent higher than the government objective figures of 5.3 percent due mainly to the favorable conditions of the manufacturing sector, as well as the recovery of the agricultural sector. However, economy of the country is still on the decline due to problems of debt repayment, and other medium and long-term problems such as delay of adequate privatization, stagnation of agricultural productivity, sluggish growth of export industry, etc. Major problems in the fields of irrigation and drainage are summarized in the issues of: a) shortage of water resources in accordance with population increase, b) lowering of irrigation efficiencies caused by the deterioration of provided irrigation systems, c) facility damages due to water-logging and salt, water contamination, lowering of ground-water table, flood, and; d) shortages of operation and maintenance (O&M) costs due to low recovery of water-charges, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Itinerary & All Inclusions
    - Full Itinerary & All Inclusions 05 Nights 06 Days in Skardu Upper Kachura Deosai Khaplu Fort Cold Desert www.totaltravels.pk Call Now: 0333-0785471 Package Price Duration Price Rs 150,000/- (for two 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS persons) including air tickets ISB-KBU-ISB Cities Trip starts from Islamabad ISLAMABAD SKARDU Trip ends at Islamabad www.totaltravels.pk Call Now: 0333-0785471 퐓퐨퐮퐫퐢퐬퐭 퐀퐭퐭퐫퐚퐜퐭퐢퐨퐧퐬: ✔Islamabad ✔ Skardu ✔Sarfaranga Cold Desert ✔Shigar fort ✔Manthokha waterfall ✔Shangrila/ Lower Kachura lake ✔Upper Kachura lake ✔Khaplu fort ✔Chaqchan mosque ✔Sogha Lake ✔Sadpara lake ✔Buddha rock ✔Katpana desert/ Katpana lake ✔Deosai www.totaltravels.pk Call Now: 0333-0785471 Daily Itinerary Day 1 Skardu is a town in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is the capital of Baltistan that is perched 2,438 meters above sea level in the backdrop of the great peaks of the Karakoram. Lower Kachura Lake is located in Kachura village in Skardu city at a height of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). The lake is also known as Shangrila lake after a resort built on its bank in 1983. Upper Kachura Lake is of clear water and has a depth of 70 meters (230 ft). In summer it has a temperature of 15 °C (59 °F). In winter the surface is frozen solid. The upper Indus River flows nearby at a lower elevation. Travel from Islamabad to Skardu by air. Our driver cum guide will pick you from airport and after getting fresh you will be taken for a visit to Shangrila Lake and Upper Kachura Lake. Day 2 The Cold Desert is a high-altitude desert located near Skardu, Gilgit−Baltistan.
    [Show full text]
  • Brief Description of the Northern Areas
    he designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do T not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: IUCN Pakistan. Copyright: ©2003 Government of Pakistan, Northern Areas Administration and IUCN–The World Conservation Union. Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior permission from the copyright holders, providing the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of the publication for resale or for other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from the copyright holders. Citation: Government of Pakistan and IUCN, 2003. Northern Areas State of Environment and Development. IUCN Pakistan, Karachi. xlvii+301 pp. Compiled by: Scott Perkin Resource person: Hamid Sarfraz ISBN: 969-8141-60-X Cover & layout design: Creative Unit (Pvt.) Ltd. Cover photographs: Gilgit Colour Lab, Hamid Sarfraz, Khushal Habibi, Serendip and WWF-Pakistan. Printed by: Yaqeen Art Press Available from: IUCN–The World Conservation Union 1 Bath Island Road, Karachi Tel.: 92 21 - 5861540/41/42 Fax: 92 21 - 5861448, 5835760 Website: www.northernareas.gov.pk/nassd N O RT H E R N A R E A S State of Environment & Development Co n t e n t s Acronyms and Abbreviations vi Glossary
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnobotanical Study on Some Useful Shrubs of Astore Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
    Bangladesh J. Bot. 43(1): 19-25 (June) ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY ON SOME USEFUL SHRUBS OF ASTORE VALLEY, GILGIT-BALTISTAN, PAKISTAN 1 2 ALI NOOR*, SURAYYA KHATOON, MOINUDDIN AHMED AND ABDUL RAZAQ Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan Key words: Ethnobotanical study, Useful shrubs, Astore Valley Abstract In Astore valley, 26 species of plants under 17 genera and 13 families were found to be used as folk- medicine. The study reveals that the villagers from remote area use medicinal plants for the treatment of joint pain, bone fracture, urine problem, asthma, diabetes, blood pressure and for the treatment of other common ailments. The aborigines also use traditional herbal therapy for their live stocks. Because of high destruction pressure of anthropogenic origin, Ephedra gerardiana Wallich ex C.A.Meyer, Berberis spp., Rosa foetida Herrm. and Rhododendron hypenanthum Balf. f. were found threatened. Introduction In Pakistan out of 5700 species of plants, about 400 - 600 are medicinal and most of which are confined to the mountain areas (Ali and Qaiser 1986). About 50000 to 60000 Tabibs (practitioners of Greco-Arabic medicine) and a large number of unregistered practitioners scattered in rural and remote hilly areas of Pakistan utilize more remedies for curing of several diseases (Hamayun et al. 2006). Haq and Hussain (1993) stated that Pakistan has about 40000 registered practitioners of traditional medicine and majority of the population, especially in villages getting health care by Tabibs. About 60% of the total population use the herbal prescriptions of traditional practitioners Since the British era until to date, Astore Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan has been the largest exporting area of medicinal plants.
    [Show full text]