Base Line Studies of Nawab Shah Forest, Sindh- 2018 SFM Project

Base line studies of Nawab shah forest, Sindh- 2018

SFM Project

Submitted by Dr. Syed Aneel Ahmad Gilani Botanical Sciences Division Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad 1 | P a g e

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. DESCRIPTION OF LANDSCAPE SITES (NAWAB SHAH FOREST)

Seven landscapes have been selected to demonstrate approaches and good practices regarding sustainable forest management (SFM), biodiversity conservation, enhancing carbon mitigation and carbon stocks. Two of the landscapes are located within the Temperate Coniferous forests of Siran and Kaghan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), one in the Sub-tropical Evergreen Thorn (scrub) forests in Salt Range, Punjab, and two each in the Riverine forests in Punjab and Sindh.

The salient features of these landscapes are described here

1.2. Dhingano-Lakhat Riverine Forests Landscape

The proposed site is situated along the Indus River, downstream of Sukkur Barrage on the left bank in the Nawab Shah District. The landscape is comprised of Dhingano Reserve Forest (1,538 ha) and Lakhat Reserve Forest (1,462 ha) in Nawab Shah District. Both forests are also separately designated as wildlife sanctuaries under the Sindh Wildlife law in addition to their designation as Reserved Forest under the Forest Act. The total area of the Dhingano-Lakhat Riverine landscape is 3,300 ha. One of the reasons of inclusion of this landscape in this project is that most of the forests downstream of Sukkur Barrage do not get inundation except in high or super floods whereas this landscape, situated between Sukkur and Kotri barrages that is in Central Sindh still receives substantial annual inundation. Abad Reserve Forest is located adjacent to this landscape. There is an opportunity of developing a corridor from the riverine landscape to Abad Reserve Forest. River meandering in this section of the river is common with the result that the processes of erosion and accretion are also common. Thus, there is an opportunity for recreating new riverine forest with traditional regeneration techniques that is broadcasting of treated seed of native species including Populus euphratica during the last receding flood There are two villages and hamlets situated in and around these forests which consist of 1,670 households and 10,000 forest dependent local persons. One of the two dependent local communities are actively involved in protection and conservation of forests. 2 | P a g e

1.3. Map of Nawab shah forest area

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1.4. Sindh Forest area

Sindh Forest Department controls an area of 241,198 hectares in the Riverine tract of the province which are categorized as "Riverine Forests"; locally known as Kacho forests. These forests are located along both the banks of River Indus in Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Larkana, Naushero Feroze, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Jacobabad Districts and have been declared as “Reserved Forests” under Forests Act, 1927. The rich alluvial soils support the tree species including Acacia nilotica (Babul), Populus euphratica (bahan), Tamarix aphylla, Tamarix dioca (Lai) and Prosopis cineraria (Kandi). Riverine forests are the most productive forests of Sindh; producing wood material for domestic and commercial purposes. Existence of Riverine forests of Sindh is dependent on flooding by the river. They are flooded by the spate of River Indus, on lands and soils over its banks. Floods occur due to the flow of large quantities of water in the river that cannot be accommodated. Both the land configuration and the soils in riverine tract are made by flood waters. The spate was a common summer phenomenon in the past, until such a time that the river water was not diverted and extracted through dams, barrages, head-works and link-canals.

Riverine forests are the mainstay of forestry in Sindh. They provide products and services such as timber, firewood, pit props for mines, forage and browse for livestock; supports biodiversity and game animals. Other non-timber forest products include tannin from bark, gum, honey and even fish from dhands (ponds) and dhoras (depression of old river beds). They act as carbon sinks, moderate climate, stop soil erosion and also protect soils and settlements from the ferocity of flood waters.

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1.5. GIS Map of Nawab Shah Forest 1.6.

Map-01: Nawab shah forest Grids on the GIS Map

Map-02: GIS Map for the Nawab shah forest sites

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Map-03: Nawab shah Reserve Forest Locations for the field work

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2. Methodology (Vegetation Analysis)

Collection: Flowering plants should be collected when they are in the flowering or fruiting stage, it is better if both flowers and fruits are present. Entire plants of herbs and grasses are to be collected. In case of shrubs and trees, take cuttings of the flowering and fruiting shoots. Put the collected specimens in a large polythene bag to prevent drying and put a tag inside the bag giving the name of the locality. Note the date of collection, field number, habit of the plant, flower colour, etc. in a field notebook. Press the plants in the field between newspaper sheets and blotters. Change the blotters daily till the plants are completely dry. Use extra blotters for fleshy plants and change blotters twice a day. Some heat may be applied to facilitate drying. Some plants turn black if they are not dried quickly. Trim large flowers, rhizomes, etc. to make them thin; cut away the thicker branches.

Preservation: For preservation, soak the dried specimens in a solution of ethyl alcohol containing 3% mercuric chloride. Then dry them again. When fully dry, mount each specimen on a herbarium sheet. Use some glue to fix the plant on the sheet. Use scotch tape to fix thick fruit or floral parts. Seeds can be kept in a paper-pocket and pasted on the sheet. Preserve large and fleshy fruits in F.A.A. (90 ml alcohol + 5 ml acetic acid + 5 ml formalin) in glass jars. Herbarium sheet size: 11.5 x 16.5 inches (PMNH Herbarium)

Mounting and Storage: Put a label on the lower right side of the sheet. Write down the name of the plant, family, locality, collectors name, identifiers name and field numbers on the label. After giving an accession number to each sheet put the specimens family-wise in steel almirahs arranging them genus and species-wise alphabetically.

Vegetation Analysis Phytosociological survey, an important tool of ecology for vegetation assessment to be conducted in Sept. 2017 at Kaghan and Siran valley.

On the basis of Importance Value Index (IVI.), sampled vegetation shall be described into different plant communities. The community within each stand was named with the first three of the species having highest Importance Value Index irrespective of its habit. When two or more species closely approached each other in order of Importance Value, the community shared the names of these dominants. The name of the species with highest I.V appeared first followed by other dominant species. The generic names of the dominant species were used for naming the community.

Quadrate Analysis For vegetatoinal investigations the quadrate method is the important method if we are studying vegetaion structure in a particular habitat.

Bryophytes & Lichens

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0.5 ×0.5 meters Herbacous flora 1 to 2 ×2 meters Shrubs 5-10 × 10 meters Trees 10-20 × 20 meters

Density. Number of individuals of a species in a unit area is called density. (Mass per unit volume). Density should not be compared with the similar types of plants. The relative density is referred to as percentage of the individuals of each species that contribute to the total individuals in a community or the area. Density of a species = Total number of individuals of a species in all the quadrates (plots) Total area of the sample quadrates e.g. sample area = 10 × 10 m, five plots = 500 m2 Relative Density = Number of individuals of a species × 100 Total number of individuals of all speceis

Frequency The percentage of the plot, point or quadrate in which a species occur is called the frequency (%). It only tells us the chance of finding a speceis in a sampling area. Relative frequency of a species is a percentage frequency of the total frequency. Frequency (%) = No.of quadrates in which a speceis occur × 100 Total No. Of plots taken

Cover Cover is one of the most important attribute in phytosociological studies. It is a ground area occupied by herb, shrub, or tree. Canopy cover is a total ground surface under a canopy of a plant and could be a larger than the actual area sampled due to the overlapping branches of different trees, specially in the stratified forest. For DBH (diameter at breast height) of tree species, diameter measuring tape is used to measure stem girth at 4.5 feet above the ground surface. Each measurement is individually converted into the basal area using the following formula. Basal area of the tree = π r 2 For example DBH of tree is 25 cm Radius will be 25/2 = 12.5 cm Now basal area of the tree will be 12.5 × 12.5 × 3.1415 = 490.86 cm2 For m2 = 490.85/10000=0.049 m2

Average cover of a species = Total basal area of a species × 100 No. Of plants of that particular speceis

Relative cover of species= Total cover of all individual of a species × 100

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Total cover of all the speceis

IVI (Importance Value Index)

Density indicates the number of individuals of a species while, frequency shows how these individuals are distributed (pattern of distribution) in a community. If a species is regularly distributed, the frequency value will be high, otherwise, low frequency value be recorded, a species with irregular distribution in a community. Cover tells how much area is occupied by a species. Ecologists use to recognize dominant species of the community on the basis of frequency or density alone. Now scientists give equal weight to all the 3 attributes.

IVI= RF+RD+RC = IVI

RF= Relative frequency RD=Relative Density RB/RC= Relative basal area/Relative Cover

Dominance

If a group of speceis has a capacity to control the community due to its high number, large volume or some specific activity is called dominant species. Dominance is considered as a biological structure of community too.

Dominance = basal area or area coverage of a species Area samples Relative Dominance = Dominance of speceis A × 100 Dominance of all species

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3. Results

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3. Results

3.1. Location-01 Kot Dingano

GPS Data / Coordinates

Location Coordinates/GPS Altitude

Kotdngo N26 16.339 E67 56.810 95 ft Kotdngo N26 16.249 E67 56.697 95 ft Kotdngo N26 16.339 E67 56.810 95 ft Kotdngo N26 16.441 E67 56.908 93 ft Kotdngo N26 16.579 E67 59.636 141 ft Kotdngo N26 16.532 E67 59.495 131 ft Kotdngo N26 16.488 E67 59.353 116 ft Kotdngo N26 16.666 E67 57.975 107 ft Kotdngo N26 16.732 E67 57.822 116 ft Kotdngo N26 16.697 E67 57.676 92 ft Kotdngo N26 15.524 E67 57.284 102 ft Kotdngo N26 14.765 E67 57.355 99 ft Kotdngo N26 14.884 E67 57.085 131 ft Kotdngo N26 14.596 E67 57.116 116 ft Kotdngo N26 14.863 E67 57.069 116 ft

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Site-01 (Kot Dingano Forest)

Transect-01

Table: 01 S.No Plant Species IVI Community 1. Tamarix dioica 35.36 Desmostachya-Acacia-Prosopis Community 2. Acacia nilotica 50.43 3. Sonchus asper 14.76 4. Prosopis cineraria 37.82 5. Phyllanthus sp 16.31 6. Tamarix aphylla 26.49 7. Solanum surratense 9.2 8. Solanum nigrum 5.98 9. Amaranthus viridis 11.11 10. Desmostachya bipinnata 52.99 11. Launea procumbens 11.81 12. Alhaji mauroram 10.4 13. Saccaharum spontaneum 14.19

Vegetation (Transect-01)

In this transect the data describes the equal distribution of the floral diversity including the trees, shrubs and herbs. The maximum plant species with highest IVI is Desmostachya (52.99) with second highest specie is Acacia nilotica with second highest IVI value (50.43) and third highest value of IVI is Prosopis with value of (37.82). The plant species with lowest IVI is Solanum nigrum having the lowest value of 5.98. The sampled area has more herbs including the fair representation of trees and shrubs. The Phyllanthus is the most commonly found shrubs along with Saccharum. The tree species with fair representation is Acacia nilotica. The IVI values of the plant species is mentioned in Table: 01.

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Site-01 (Kot Dingano forest)

Transect-02

Table: 02

S.No Plant Species IVI Community 1. Tamarix aphylla 33.43 Populus-Tamarix dioica-Tamarix aphylla community 2. Pantanema sp 7.96 3. Desmostachya bipinnata 18.67 4. Launea procumbens 7.16 5. Cynadon dactylon 15.82 6. Saccharum spontaneum 20.82 7. Salix sp 9.51 8. Populus euphratica 57.55 9. Phyla nodiflora 23.49 10. Solanum surratense 10.99 11. Sonchus asper 5.37 12. Alhaji mauroram 15.18 13. Tamarix dioica 37.74 14. Calotropis procera 7.45 15. Citrullus colocynthis 2.94 16. Cyperus sp 8.06 17. Aerva javanica 6.36 18. Acacia nilotica 11.15

Vegetation (Transect-02)

In this transect the data describes the equal distribution of the floral diversity including the trees, shrubs and herbs. The maximum plant species with highest IVI is tree species Populus euphratica having the IVI value (57.55) with second highest specie is Tamarix dioica with second highest IVI value (37.74) and third highest value of IVI is Tamarix aphylla with value of (33.43). The plant species with lowest IVI is Citrullus colocynthis having the lowest value of 2.94. The sampled area has more herbs including the fair representation of trees and shrubs. The Tamarix aphylla and Saccharum spontaneum are the most commonly found shrubs in the sampled area. The tree species with fair representation is Populus euphratica and Tamarix dioica. The IVI value of all the species is mentioned in the Table: 02.

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Site-01 (Kot Dingano forest) Transect-03

Table: 03

S.No Plant Species IVI Community 1. Prosopis cineraria 84.32 Prosopis-Cynadon-Desmostachya Community 2. Tamarix dioica 20.29 3. Sonchus asper 4.85 4. Cynadon dactylon 34.54 5. Launea procumbens 6.3 6. Phyla nodiflora 20.36 7. Desmostachya bipinnata 31.36 8. Polygonum plebium 12.83 9. Euphorbia prostrate 6.75 10. Tribulus terestris 4.56 11. Phyllanthus sp 13.71 12. Acacia nilotica 10.94 13. Solanum surratense 9.03 14. Alhaji maurorom 11.48 15. Eclipta alba 4.48 16. Heliotropium sp 13.23 17. Cyperus sp 10.64

Vegetation (Transect-03)

In this transect the data describes the equal distribution of the floral diversity including the trees, shrubs and herbs. The maximum plant species with highest IVI is the plant species Prosopis cineraria having the IVI value (84.32) with second highest specie is Cynadon dactylon with second highest IVI value (34.54) and third highest value of IVI is Desmostachya bipinnata with value of (31.36). The plant species with lowest IVI is Tribulus terestris having the lowest value of IVI i.e. (4.56). The sampled area has fair representation of trees, shrubs. The Tamarix dioica, Acacia nilotica and Prosopis cineraria are the commonly found tree species. Phyllanthus sp is the most commonly found shrubs in the sampled area. The herbs commonly found are Cynadon, Polygonum plebium, Desmostachya, and Phyla nodiflora. The IVI value of the plant species is mentioned in the table: 03.

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Site-01 (Kot Dingano forest) Transect-04

Table: 04

S.No Plant Species IVI Community 1. Tamarix dioica 50.13 Zizyphus-Tamarix-Desmostachya Community 2. Prosopis cineraria 10.77 3. Saccharum spontenaum 24.78 4. Desmostachya bipinnata 29.6 5. Acacia nilotica 23.13 6. Phayllanthus sp 10.72 7. Cynadon dactylon 20.52 8. Zizyphus Mauritania 59.41 9. Alhaji mauroram 10.89 10. Chenopodium sp 14.76 11. Calotropis procera 4.72 12. Amaranthus viridis 11.79 13. Heliotropium sp 11.81 14. Capparis deciduas 6.83 15. Solanum surratense 10.1

Vegetation (Transect-04)

In this transect the data describes the equal distribution of the floral diversity including the trees, shrubs and herbs. The maximum plant species with highest IVI is the plant species Zizyphus Mauritania having the IVI value (59.41) with second highest specie is Tamarix dioica with second highest IVI value (50.13) and third highest value of IVI is Desmostachya bipinnata with value of (29.6). The plant species with lowest IVI is Calotropis procera having the lowest value of IVI i.e. (4.72). The sampled area has fair representation of trees, shrubs. The Tamarix dioica, Acacia nilotica and Prosopis cineraria are the commonly found tree species. Phyllanthus sp and Calotropis sp are the most commonly found shrubs in the sampled area. The herbs commonly found are Cynadon, Alhaji mauroram, Chenopodium, Amaranthus and Heliotropium sp. The IVI value of the plant species is given in the Table: 04

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3.2. Location-02 Lakhat Forest

GPS Data / Coordinates

GPS Points (Lakhat Forest)

Location Coordinates/GPS Altitude

Lakhat N26 15.153 E68 01.605 127 ft Lakhat N26 14.977 E68 01.832 127 ft

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Site-2 (Lakhat Forest) Transect-01

Table-05 S.No Plant Species IVI Community 1. Imperata cylindrica 31.73 Zizyphus-Imperata-Melilotus Community 2. Anagalis arvensis 12.96 3. Desmostachya bipinnata 14.22 4. Melilotus indica 22.86 5. Alhaji mauroram 9.19 6. Carthamus oxycantha 9.34 7. Chenopodium sp 9.19 8. Sonchus asper 10.9 9. Polygonum plebium 12.88 10. Solanum nigrum 7.13 11. Phlaris minor 21.88 12. Zizyphus mauritania 92.83 13. Acacia nilotica 11.23 14. Launea procumbens 10.98 15. Aerva javanica 9.19 16. Citrullus colocynthis 7.13 17. Calotropis sp 6.3

Vegetation (Transect-01)

The plant species with lowest IVI is Calotropis sp having the lowest value of IVI i.e. (6.3).

The sampled area has fair representation of trees, shrubs. The Zizyphus Mauritania and Acacia nilotica are the commonly found tree species. Calotropis sp is the most commonly found shrubs in the sampled area. The herbs commonly found are Melilotus indica, Lzunea procumbens, Polygonum plebium, Phlaris minor,Imperata cylindrica, Citrullus colocynthis and Sonchus asper The IVI value of the plant species is given in the Table: 05

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Site-2 (Lakhat Forest) Transect-02

Table-06

S.No Plant Species IVI Community 1. Euphorbia hirta 4.46 Acacia-Alhaji-Carthamus Community 2. Solanum surratense 11.33 3. Aerva javanica 11.56 4. Amaranthus viridis 5.93 5. Cynadon dactylon 15.11 6. Euhorbia prostrata 14.33 7. Cyperus sp 18.55 8. Acacia nilotica 93.29 9. Alhaji mauroram 40.9 10. Carthamus oxycantha 26.78 11. Phlaris minor 26.55 12. Heliotropium sp 11.33 13. Citrullus colocynthis 5.7 14. Convolvulus arvensis 5.93 15. Melilotus sp 8.1

Vegetation (Transect-02)

The plant species with lowest IVI is Citrullus colocynthis having the lowest value of IVI i.e. (5.7).

The sampled area has fair representation of trees, shrubs. The Acacia nilotica is the commonly found tree species. There is no representative shrub found in the sampled area. The herbs commonly found are Alhaji, Carthamus, Phlaris minor, Cyprus sp, Euphorbia prostrate and Aerva javanica The IVI value of the plant species is given in the Table: 06

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4. Conclusion.

The area of the Nawab shah forest is not much conserved forest. The forest area has a lot of encroachment in the forest area. The land lords and feudal lords of the area are mostly responsible for the illegal encroachment in the area. The precious forest land is converted in the cultivated land with the crops growing in the area. At the time of the baseline studies the forest is mostly cultivated with Wheat and a lot of land of the area is covered with wheat crop along with water melon on the second place. The area of Lakhat forest is the forest with the more than 80 % area encroached and also damaged due to the soil erosion caused with the river water. The cutting of the forest has caused the soil erosion and the forest area at the river bank is damaged and eroded with the flow of the water at the time of monsoon and flood time. The forest is degraded on monthly and annual basis due to the illegal forest cutting and encroachment. The forest area of Kot Dingano is also disturbed. The forest cover is only visible on the front side while the back side of the forest is mostly encroached and cultivated with wheat crop. The area of Nawab Shah forest is also heavily encroached and the tree species are only cultivated in the start of the boundaries of the forest and on the scattered area of the forest area, while the rest of the forest area i.e. more than 70 % is converted into cultivated land and is covered with wheat cultivated crop all around. The present situation is very alarming and if the same practice of illegal forest cutting and encroachment continues than there would be no forest cover in near future.

5. Recommendation

The following recommendations are suggested.

 The illegal forest cutting must be stopped and strict legal action must be taken at the earliest to avoid the future forest cutting in future.  The illegal encroachment must be stopped and the encroached land must be again converted into forest land by a forestation in the area with tree and shrub species to increase the forest cover.  The wild life and forest departments must establish the check posts in the forest area to monitor the illegal practices by the culprits and avoid the forest cutting and encroachment in the future.  The wild life species including the birds and animals living in the forest area must be protected to increase the wild life population in the forest area.

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6. Acknowledgements

It’s a great honor for me to acknowledge all the members of the SFM project team members (Sustainable Forest Management) for providing me the opportunity to complete the field visit with all the facilities in the field. I also like to convey my gratitude and profound thanks to the Director General PMNH along with my whole team of SFM project including the scientists from Zoological and Botanical Sciences Division for providing me the support and guidance in the field visit. I hope this field visit will be a source of collaboration between all the stakeholders and all the data collected and compiled will be useful reference for the future scientists and other stakeholders for all the good work to be conducted for the conservation of the floral and faunal diversity in future.

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7. List of the Vegetation of the Nawab Shah forest Table. 07.

S.No Plant species Family Life Form Common Uses Name 1. Abutilon fruiticosum Malvaceae Herb Room maple Medicinal 2. Abutilon sp Malvaceae Herb - Medicinal 3. Acacia nilotica Mimosaceae Tree Kikar Fuel wood / Medicinal 4. Acacia modesta Mimosaceae Tree Phulai Fuel wood / Medicinal 5. Aerva javanica Amaranthaceae Herb Bui Fodder 6. Aerva sp Amaranthaceae Herb Bui Fodder 7. Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae Herb Phut kanda 8. Albizia lebbeck Mimosaceae Tree Siris Fuel wood / Medicinal / Fodder 9. Alternanthera Amaranthaceae Herb Weed sessilis sessile joyweed

10. Alternanthera Amaranthaceae Herb Joyweed weed pungens 11. Alhaji marorum Papilionaceae Herb Jawaian Medicinal 12. Allium sp Alliaceae Herb pyazi Medicinal / Fodder 13. Amaranthus viridis Amaranthaceae Herb Bathuo Fodder / Medicinal 14. Arundo donax Poaceae Shrub Nar, Nara, Nal. Fodder / Ethnobotany, Making of mats, trays and baskets 15. Asparagus dumosus Asparagaceae Herb Shalwardar Medicinal 16. Azadirachta indica Meliaceae Tree Neem Medicinal 17. Barleria prionitis Acanthaceae Shrub - Fodder 18. Barleria sp Acanthaceae Shrub - - 19. Brassica sp Brassicaceae Herb - Fodder 20. Calligonum Polygonaceae Shrub Phóg, Phok. Vegetable / Fuel polygonoides 21. Calotropis procera Asclepiadaceae Shrub Aak Poisonous / Medicinal 22. Cannabis sativa Cannabaceae Herb Bhang Medicinal / Sedative 23. Capparis decidua Capparidaceae Shrub/medi Karir Vegetable / Fodder um tree 24. Carthamus Asteraceae Herb Kandiari Dyes colour oxycantha 25. Crotolaria burhia Papilionaceae Herb - weed

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26. Chenopodium album Chenopodiaceae Herb Bathu Fodder / Medicinal 27. Chenopodium Chenopodiaceae Herb wormseed Medicinal ambrosioides 28. Chrysopogan Poaceae Grass /Herb - Fodder aucheri 29. Citrullus colocynthis Cucurbitaceae Herb Kor-tumba medicinal 30. Cirsium arvense Asteraceae Herb Leh Weed / Fodder 31. Citrullus colocynthis Cucurbitaceae Herb Indryan, Medicinal / Blood Tumba. purifier 32. Cleome brachycarpa Capparidaceae Herb Ponwar / - Kastoori 33. Cleome viscosa Capparidaceae Herb Asian - spiderflower 34. Commicarpus Nyctaginaceae undershrub - Fodder / Medicinal boissieri (Syn. Boerhavia) 35. Convolvulus Convolvulaceae Climber / Hiranpadi Medicinally used arvensis herb as a purgative, as fodder for goats and cattle. 36. Conyza Canadensis Asteraceae Herb Gidar Buti Fodder 37. Cuscuta reflexa Cuscutaceae Climber Amar bel Parasitic plant / weed Medicinal 38. Cymbopogon Poaceae Grass / Herb Katrin / Khavi Fodder jwarancusa 39. Cynodon dactylon Poaceae Grass / Herb Khabbal Fodder 40. Cyperus Cyperaceae Herb Bara Kaloora Fodder alopecuroides 41. Cyperus digitatus Cyperaceae Herb Barra Kaloora Fodder 42. Cyperus rotundus Cyperaceae Herb Kalora, Deela Fodder 43. Dalbergia sisso Papilionaceae Tree Sheesham Timberwood / Fuelwood 44. Datura fastuosa Solanaceae shrub Dhatoora Poisonous / Medicinal 45. Desmostachya Poaceae Grass / Herb Dhabb Fodder bipinnata 46. Echinops echinatus Asteraceae Herb Ont katara Medicinal 47. Eclipta alba Asteraceae Herb Bhangra Fodder 48. Eclipta prostrata Asteraceae Herb Bhangra / False Fodder Daisy 49. Eichornia crassipes Pontederiaceae Herb - Weed 50. Eleocharis Cyperaceae Herb acutangula 51. Eleocharis Cyperaceae Herb Kaloora Fodder

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geniculata 52. Eleocharis palustris Cyperaceae Herb Kaloora Fodder 53. Equisetum Equisetaceae Herb - - ramosissimum 54. Eucalyptus Myrtaceae Tree Sufeeda Medicinal / good camaldulensis for asthmatic patients 55. Euphorbia prostrata Euphorbiaceae Herb Hazar Daani Weed / fodder 56. Euphorbia hirta Euphorbiaceae Herb - Weed 57. Euphorbia Euphorbiaceae Herb Dhodhal Poisonous helioscopia 58. Fagonia indica Zygophyllaceae Herb - Fodder 59. Ficus benghalensis Moraceae Tree Bhor Medicinal / Aphrodisiac 60. Ficus palmata Moraceae Tree Phagwara, Fruit edible Anjir, Patguleri. 61. Ficus religiosa Moraceae Tree Peepal Wood is used as fuel and in quality furniture / Medicinal 62. Fimbristylis Cyperaceae Herb Kaloora Fodder acuminate 63. Fimbristylis Cyperaceae Herb Mid kaloora Fodder dichotoma 64. Fimbristylis Cyperaceae Herb Kaloora Fodder aestivalis 65. Forsskaolea Urticaceae Herb Chahar Mahak. Medicinal / Fodder tenacissima 66. Fumaria indica Fumariaceae Herb Pit Patra Medicinal 67. Gisekia Aizoaceae Herb Baluka sag Medicinal pharnaceoides 68. Heliotropium Boraginaceae Herb Kali bui Weed ophioglossum 69. Heliotropium Boraginaceae Herb Kali bui Weed europaeum 70. Imperata cylindrica Poaceae Grass / Herb Kutti Ghaa Fodder 71. Ipomea cornea Convolvulaceae Shrub Chota Ak Used as hedge plant. 72. Launaea Asteraceae Herb - Fodder procumbens 73. Leptadenia Asclepiadaceae Shrub Khip Medicinal / pyrothechinca Anticancer 74. Launaea sp Asteraceae Herb - Fodder 75. Medicago minima Papilionaceae Herb Lusan Fodder

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76. Melilotus alba Papilionaceae Herb Sinji Fodder / Medicinal 77. Melilotus indica Papilionaceae Herb Ran-methi. Fodder / Weed 78. Mentha sp Labiateae Herb Podina Medicinal 79. Opuntia monocantha Cactaceae Shrub Thor Poisonous / Medicinal 80. Oxystelma Asclepiadaceae Herb Dudhani/Van Fruit edible / esculentum verri medicinal 81. Persicaria sp Polygonaceae Herb - Fodder 82. Phalaris minor Poaceae Herb Fodder 83. Phoenix dactylifera Palmae Tree Khajoor Fruit Edible / Medicinal 84. Phyla nodiflora Verbenaceae Herb Bukan Booti - 85. Phyllanthus sp Euphorbiaceae Shrub Kamo Fodder 86. Polygala irregularis Polygalaceae Herb - 87. Polygonum plebejum Polygonaceae Herb Indrani Buti Fodder 88. Populus euphratica Salicaceae Tree Bhan, Bahan. Fuelwood / Fooder / Medicinal 89. Populus alba Salicaceae Tree Poplar Timber wood 90. Prosopis cineraria Mimosaceae Tree Jand, Kandi Fodder and the wood is commonly used for fuel. The pods are used for fodder and as vegetable 91. Prosopis Mimosaceae Large Shrub Mesquite Fuelwood / glandulosa / Medium Charcoal making size tree 92. Prosopis juliflora Mimosaceae Large Shrub Mesquite Fuelwood / Charcoal making 93. Rhyza stricta Apocynaceae Shrub Sihar, Poisonous / Hisawarg. medicinal 94. Ricinus communis Euphorbiaceae Shrub Arand Medicinal 95. Rumex dentatus Polygonaceae Herb Jangli palak Medicinal / Fodder 96. Saccharum Poaceae Shrub Kahi, Kahu, Acts as an spontaneum Kans. effective sand- binder. 97. Salvia plebei Labiateae Herb Samander Sokh Medicinal / Fodder 98. Suaeda fruiticosa Chenopodiaceae Shrub Lani, Lana Fodder 99. Solanum nigrum Solanaceae Herb Mako, Kach- Fruit edible / Mach.’ medicinal 100. Solanum surratense Solanaceae Herb Kundiari, Medicinal ‘Momoli, Mokri’. 101. Salsola imbricata Chenopodiaceae Shrub - Medicinal

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102. Salvadora oleoides Salvadoraceae Tree Peelo Medicinal / used in toothache 103. Tamarix dioica Tamaricaceae Tree Lawa Medicinal 104. Tamarix aphylla Tamaricaceae Lai Wood is used in making furniture and as fuel

105. Tamarindus indica Caesalpinaceae Tree Frash 106. Taraxacum Asteraceae Herb Dandeleon Vegetable / officinalis Medicinal 107. Tribulus terrestris Zygophyllaceae Herb Gokhru, Medicinal Tirkundi. 108. Trichodesma Boraginaceae Herb - Medicinal indicum 109. Typha domingensis Typhaceae Shrub Drubb, Kundar Medicinal 110. Vicia sativa Papilionaceae Herb Common vetch Fodder 111. Withania somnifera Solanaceae Herb Asghand Medicinal 112. Withania coagulans Solanaceae Herb Asghand Medicinal Nagoori 113. Xanthium Asteraceae Herb Cocklebur,Roug Weed / Medicinal straumarium h Cocklebur, 114. Zaleya pentandra Aizoaceae Herb Itsit /Wasah Medicinal / Fodder (Syn. Trianthema) 115. Zizyphus Mauritania Rhamnaceae Tree Ber Fruit edible/medicinal 116. Ziziphus Rhamnaceae Shrub Malla, Jher beri. Fruit nummularia edible/medicinal 117. Ziziphus jujuba Rhamnaceae Small Tree / Singli, baryan, Shrub unnab.

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8. Pictures from the field visit

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Pictures (Nawab Shah Forest)

Fig. 01. Author in the Nawab shah forest area

Fig. 02. Tamarix dioica 27 | P a g e

Fig. 03. Calotropis procera

Fig. 04. Zizyphus tree (Kot dingano)

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Fig. 05. Data collection in the field

Fig. 06. Wheat fields in kot dingano

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Shahpur (Nawabshah)

Fig. 07. Tamarix aphylla

Fig. 08. Acacia nilotica

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Fig. 09. Data collection with Wild life staff

Fig. 10. Callte grazing at shahpur forest

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Fig. 11. PMNH team along with the members of wildlife and forest deptt at shahpur forest

Fig. 12. Tamarix growing near water body

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