Newsletter Forest Institute, Peshawar

Chief Patron: Syed Said Badshah Bukhari Editor: Tanvir Ahmad Qureshi April – June, 2010 Director General Extension Specialist

WORLD BIO-DIVERSITY DAY

Main Muhammad Shafiq Deputy Conservator Wildlife

Every year 22nd May is observed as Bio-diversity day. To celebrate this event a function was arranged at Pakistan Forest Institute with the collaboration of Environmental Protection Agency, Wildlife Department, Environment Division, Government of , and Forest Education Division, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.

The chief guest of the function was Mr.Wajid Ali Khan Minister for Environment, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The key guest speakers of the programme were Mr. Ashiq Ahmad Khan, Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan, Dr. Muhammad Mumtaz Malik, Honourable Minister of Environment Mr. Wajid Ali Khan Ex-Chief Conservator Wildlife, Khyber with the sponsors and organizers of the programme Pakhtunkhwa, Dr.Alamgir Gandapur, Project Director, Carbon Sequestration Project, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. participants of the programme and . appreciated the efforts of the organizers for Dr.Bashir Khan, Director General, arranging the programme and presented Environmental Protection Agency PFI Shield to Honourable Minister welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of programme. The guest speakers highlighted the importance of the day. Mr. Ashiq Ahmad Khan talked about bio-diversity and its linkages. Dr. Mumtaz Malik spoke about the bio-diversity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Mr. Alamgir Gandapur briefed about forest bio- Honourable Minister for Environment, diversity. KPK, addressing the gathering

The students of Zarif Memorial School

presented a tableau about protection of Environment. The students of M.Sc Audience of the Biodiversity Day

Forestry of Pakistan Forest Institute delivered speeches on the importance of

bio-diversity.

The chief guest, in his speech, emphasized that all stakeholder should play their role in the conservation of bio- diversity. He awarded prizes and

certificates to the winners and participants of the debate competition. Director General, PFI delivering vote of thanks At the end, Syed Said Badshah

Bukhari, Director General PFI, in his

concluding remarks, thanked the Presentation of PFI Shield

Honourable Minister, speakers and

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CLIMATE CHANGE IN PESHAWAR temperature, rainfall and evaporation. TOURS

Syed Said Badshah Bukhari There was a negative correlation between Forest Management Tour DG, PFI temperature and rainfall (r2=-0.49), while The students of M.Sc. Forestry 2008- and Ghulam Ali Bajwa the correlation was positive between 2010 course undertook the Forest Coordinator Sericulture temperature and evaporation (r2=0.78). Management tour to Punjab and The range of variation and coefficient of Where are the songs of Spring? from 29-3-2010 to 15-4-2010. In Punjab, variation of temperature, rainfall, Ay, where are they? they visited Jhelum, Sialkot, Changa evaporation and wind showed a great Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,- Manga, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and volatility especially in the spring and While barrèd clouds bloom the soft-dying studied the management of scrub forests, autumn seasons. day Sports goods industries, Irrigated And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue These findings forecast a likely plantations, Lal Sohanra National Park and John Keats (1795-1821) increase of 4.13°C in temperature by the the rangelands of Cholistan and D.G. Khan end of 21st century vis-à-vis reduced respectively. In Sindh, students visited The pattern of changes in season and rainfall and extended drought periods. Sukkur, Hyderabad, Thatta and Karachi associated blooms and songs of birds have Apart from physical changes, this newly and studied the management of Riverain beautifully been described in the above emerging climate scenario predicts forests, „Hurri‟ plantation, Coconut couplets, but this pattern is no more multifaceted implications on vegetative and plantation and Mangrove forests. The predictable. Seasons will appear with reproductive growth of plants, as well as on Director General, Pakistan Forest Institute different calendar, duration and intensity. depending habitat characteristics. The and Director Forest Education Division And trend will drastically affect the increased temperature with low rainfall joined the classes in Hyderabad on 8-4- anthropogenic and biotic activities, mostly warrants more water for longer period thus 2010 and accompanied the students on in adverse direction. The scientific findings indicating further pressure on already field visits to „Hurri‟ plantations and show that earth‟s climate is changing even critically scarce water resources. This Mangrove forests. faster than previously assumed. A study study, in addition to biologists and Senior officers of the Punjab and Sindh conducted by the Pakistan Forest Institute ecologists, provides guidelines to policy Forest Departments especially Chief showed an increase of 0.85°C (0.77°C- makers for adaptation of mitigation Conservator of Forests, Sindh personally 0.92°C) in Peshawar during 1985-2009; measures. The detailed results are being conducted the field visits, delivered special 0.034°C increase per annum. This high published in a scientific journal. lectures on practical forestry to students level of temperature increase indicates The projected climate scenario in which were very beneficial for them and phenomenon of island of heat which has Peshawar urges to undertake mitigation improved their learning. The support of previously been reported in Karachi and and adaptation measures to reduce both the forest departments was ideal and Lahore. Apart from temperature rising, the adverse effects of climate change. There cooperative, and made the tour successful. study revealed a change in seasonal are several sectors, such as, forestry, rhythm. The spring season started 15.6 agriculture, energy, geo-engineering, days earlier as well as shortened by 17.8 industry, town planning, transport, etc. days. The extreme summer season was where adaptive measures have potential to extended to five months (May-September) mitigate warming impacts by reducing with ≥ 35°C mean maximum temperature levels of greenhouse gases (GHG). Apart (Fig. 1). from arresting vehicular emissions, the 45 1985-89 40 2005-09 social and agro-forestry is the most viable

35 and economical field for remediation of 30 25 GHG through carbon sequestration in 20 Director General, PFI, CCF Sindh and 15 urban and surrounding areas. Affores-

Temperature (°C) 10 DFE with students at Hyderabad Sindh tation/regeneration programmes, therefore, 5 0 should be launched on strategic sites as Orientation Tour Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec well as masses be encouraged to Five days Orientation tour of B.Sc. &

Months participate in campaign of making city Fig. 1. Pattern of temperature change M.Sc. Forestry students Session 2009-11 green. was conducted from 20-24 April, 2010. during 1985 to 2009 NEWS OF FOREST EDUCATION Students visited Azakhel Botanical Garden, The study further showed a 30% Hakim Shah Khanpur Dam, , decrease in rainfall (from 39.6 mm to 27.7 Director Forest Education Division Marghazar zoo, Marghalla National Park, mm per annum) during the study period Lake View Park, CDA nursery, Rawat with extended drought periods. The climate The process of improvement in the Timber Depot of the AKLASC, Agricultural was shifted towards dry tropical type with Forest Education Division continued during University and Qarshi eight months receiving less than 25 mm the reported period. Many activities were Industries at Hattar Industrial Estate during rainfall. The rainfall was reduced drastically undertaken including conduct of Forest Orientation tour. during primary plant growth periods, viz. Management and Orientation tours of M.Sc the spring and late summer seasons. On and B.Sc forestry classless, Curriculum the other hand, evaporation and wind revision of BS Forestry (4yrs), and M.Sc increased by 1.59 times and 1.40 times, Forestry, conducting meetings of the Board respectively. The evaporation was of Studies in Forestry, regularization in increased from 4.42 mm to 7.05 mm per 24 examination system, and extra Curricular h. Similarly mean wind speed at 8‟ height activities viz: celebration of Special Days, increased from 21.82 km/24 h to 33.81 organizing Special Lecture Programes and km/24 h. Moreover, the findings indicated a student excursion tours as given below. A briefing to Forestry students on forest significant feedback mechanism among vegetation at Margala National Park

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Soil Science Excursion tour Environment Day

th A one day excursion tour of M.Sc and Environment Day, 5 June, 2010 was

B.Sc session 2009-11 was conducted with celebrated at the Auditorium of PFI. All the collaboration of Soil Survey of Pakistan staff and forestry students of the Institute to Charsadda and areas around Peshawar participated in the event. A skit on Environmental concerns was played by and students were briefed about soil property. Soil samples were also collected. B.Sc forestry students to create the realization of the Day that development Field Engineering Demonstration tour and environment should go hand in hand and sustainable development is the new A one day Field Engineering practical Members of Board of Studies in paradigm. demonstration tour of M.Sc and B.Sc Forestry Forestry session 2007-2009 was In the second meeting, Mr.Iftihar conducted to University of Engineering and Hussain Khan, controller of examinations, Technology, Peshawar and Bestway University of Peshawar, Participated on Cement Factory, Hattar Industrial Estate, special invitation. The Board discussed all Haripur where special lectures on the the three agenda items in detail and subject were delivered and practical formulated recommendations. demonstration were made.

Examinations and Results Curriculum Revision Second Term and 3rd Term Forestry Students in PFI Auditorium on Several curriculum revision meetings Environment Day Examinations of M.Sc. & B.Sc .Forestry and a consultative workshop with all session 2007-2009 and 1st and 2nd term A tableau was also presented by the subject specialists at PFI and noted Examinations of M.Sc. & B.Sc. 2008-2010 students of PFI Model School to develop a professionals were held to finalize the were conducted and all the results were sense of environmental responsibility. curriculum for BS Forestry (4yrs), MS & declared. The 1st term Examinations of and English speech competition was held PhD Forestry courses. M.Sc. and B.Sc 2009-2011 course were and prizes were distributed among the conducted and their result are declared. successful students. Moreover, the

beautiful poems & selected environmental Extra Curricular Activities: quotations were also presented. The Chief

Earth Day Guest of the event, Dr. Ayaz Khan Khattak, Director Biological Science Division The Earth Day was celebrated on 22nd highlighted the importance of the Day and April, 2010. Mr. Ashiq Ahmad Khan, emphasized the need to develop a better Advisor to the Minister of Environment, sense of responsibility towards was the Chief Guest. Forestry students environment. delivered speeches on Earth Day. Syed Said Badshah Bukhari, Director General, World Day to Combat Desertification

Director General and Director Forest PFI, Peshawar, and Mr. Hakim Shah, The World Day to Combat Education, PFI at HEC Curriculum Director Forest Education Division spoke Desertification, 17th June, 2010 was meeting at Lahore on the occasion and highlighted the celebrated in the Pakistan Forest Institute, The Director General and Director importance of the Day. Peshawar. Mr. Hakim Shah, Director Forest Education, PFI participated and Forest Education Division was the Chief presented the same at HEC final Guest of the event. Scientists and Forestry Curriculum meeting held at Lahore on 17- students highlighted the importance of the 19 may, 2010. The revised Scheme of Day and different aspects of desertification Study along with the course contents for issue, major causes and efforts being BS Forestry (4yrs) at PFI was made nationally and globally for the recommended with consensus and the solution and its accompanying impacts on same after fulfilling all needful food security and livelihoods of poor /shortcomings have been submitted to masses. HEC for final approval. At the end of the program, trophies and prizes were awarded to the winner Board of Studies in Forestry Mr. Ashiq Ahmad Khan, Syed Said students of Urdu and English speech Badshah Bukhari and Mr. Hakim Shah Two meetings of the Board of Studies competition. during the Earth Day function in Forestry were held on April 07, 2010 and

July 06, 2010 under the chair of Director Biodiversity Speech Competition Forest Education Division, PFI. The meetings were called upon to discuss the Biodiversity Day speech competition situation arising due to abolishment of was held on 18th May 2010 among forestry supplementary examinations where students of the Institute. The Chief Guest number of candidates is less than 500, a of the Day, Dr. Abdus Salam Khalis, Dean decision of the University of Peshawar, Faculty of English, Islamia College, regularization of B.Sc and M.Sc. Forestry Peshawar distributed trophies and prizes among winner students of the occasion. examinations system and revision of Director Forest Education awarding syllabus for B.S. in Forestry. winner trophy

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Special Lectures diversity conservation. Though extinction is deputation on 29-04-2010. He is Ph.D in Special Lecture programme has been a part of nature but now-a-days species Forest Management from University of initiated for the forestry students of PFI. In are becoming extinct at a rate many times Munich, Germany. Prior to joining PFI, he this regard, a series of lectures were faster, some scientists say 10,000 times was Conservator of Forests in KPK Forest arranged as below: faster-than ever before. Roughly 10,000 to Department. He had also served PFI, as  The first Special lecture of the 25,000 species are disappearing each LIF form 1984 to 1993. During his service, programme was on the “National and year, dozens per day. This one isn‟t being he worked on several positions in KPK International Environmental Issues and caused by environmental change, but by Forest Department but mainly on natural Efforts towards their solution”, was the actions of homosapiens, we humans. resource surveys, forest inventories, social delivered by Dr. Muhammad Bashir The fact is that we human being can slow surveys and developing participatory forest Khan, Director General EPA, KPK on 4th down it by taking appropriate measures. management planning methodologies. He

May, 2010. The earth is estimated to have millions also introduced stand level management  The lectures on “International of species of which only 2.1 million have plans and joint forest management plans Conventions and Treaties” and “Bio- been described. Due to population growth for state forests in the province. Also fuels Technology and their significance” and increasing rate of consumption, the prepared the first ever biodiversity were delivered by Dr. Muhammad natural wealth of our planet is being lost at conservation plan, during 2005, for conifer Khurshid Khan, Deputy Secretary, an estimated rate of 5% per decade. This forest of Palas Valley, District Kohistan. He Ministry of Economic Affair Division, is a tragic loss to the biological wealth of has 33 years experience at his credit.

Islamabad on 20th May, 2010. our planet for ethical, aesthetic, economic Bukht Zamin Khan Joined PFI, as as well as for ecological reasons. The Assistant Professor of Forestry on 30-04- alarming loss of habitats and species, and 2010 on deputation. He was DFO Forestry the ecosystem processes dependent on Planning and Monitoring Unit-III, them has stimulated conservationists Peshawar, before joining PFI. He has around the globe to share knowledge and following academic qualification in his resources to document and monitor in an credential: M.A. Urdu, B.Sc. Forestry, attempt to reverse the planet‟s declining B.Ed., and some diploma/certificate wealth. courses from UK and Thailand. He Pakistan has rich sources of brought, with him, vast experience, of 33 Dr. Mohammad Khurshid Khan biodiversity, which belong to a unique years, in forest management, watershed delivering lecture to forestry students blend of habitat and ecosystem types. management, range management, All officers and forestry students of the These diverse ecosystems have their own financial management, planning, Institute attended the lectures and characteristic. Most of the southern parts of monitoring, and institutional and human benefited from the knowledge and rich the country are rich with coastal ecosystem resource development. experience of the speaker. and arid plus desert habitat types with a

 Lectures on disaster management variety of species. These habitats are also Zakir Hussain Shah Joined PFI as programme were arranged at PFI, refuge for the migratory wildlife resources Assistant Silviculturest, on deputation on Dr.Sher Muhammad was the Chief coming from the northern landscapes to 11-06-2010. Prior to Joining PFI, he was Guest. stay here in winter or breed in Pakistan. serving KPK Environment Department as  A one day voluntarily blood donation Indigenous local human communities are Section Office (Technical). He did M.Sc camp with Fatimeed Foundation was also residing here for centuries with their (Hons.) Rural Development, M.Sc. Forestry also held. very own traditional knowledge and (Ext) and M.A. History. He brought with lifestyles in harmony with species. him 25 years experience in the field of

BIODIVERSITY AND ITS IMPORTANCE Pakistan‟s mountain areas are world‟s forest management (development &

Ayaz Khan Marwat, SRO/FMO exceptional wild resources, which harbor conservation) and particularly joint forest very different, isolated as well as hardy management. He was also member of The word biodiversity consists of two species that have learned to live in the provincial core group for preparing project portions bio and diversity; bio means living harshness of the environment and in design document under clean development things and diversity means differences. harmony with other species and mechanism and disaster management plan Hence the difference among the living communities. Medicinal plants of our for provincial forest department. organisms is called biodiversity or mountains are famous for their role in the Muhammad Yousaf Khan Joined PFI, Biological diversity. Biodiversity refers to treatment of some very acute diseases of the variety of life forms; the different plants, as Assistant Silviculturest, on deputation, the human and animals. Some birds of on 15th June, 2010. He was DFO, Dir lower animals and micro-organisms and the prey in our northern landscapes are of ecosystems they form. KPK forest department, prior joining PFI. majestic vision and isolate the beauty of He has M.Sc. Forestry Extension and LLB The diversity of life ranges from this part from the rest of the world. It is very degrees at his credit. He brought with him unicellular microscopic to multi-cellular and well said that they are the islands and 23 years experience of forest management complex forms. We have small unicellular paradise for wildlife species. Pakistan has and planning. and multi-cellular algae inhabiting the a number of the world‟s rarest animals like aquatic habitats like ponds, rivers and even Indus River dolphin, Snow Leopard, Raja Muhammad Zarif retired from his sea. Bushes, herbs and tall giant trees Western Tragopan, Markhor, etc. All these services on 14th June, 2010. He joined PFI growing over mountains in the forms of and other species are in decline due to a as Forest Ranger in 1970 and retired as thick forests are of use to mankind in one combination of threats such as habitat loss Director, Biological Sciences Research way or the other. and overuse of natural resources. Division. During his service he served as Assistant Silviculturist, Assistant Professor To keep the couple of various species SHORT NEWS in the boat by Hazrat Nooh (A.S) is a vital of Forestry and Director, Forest Education example of the importance of bio- Dr. Ayaz Khan Khattak joined PFI as Division. Director, Forest Products Research on

Contact: Editor Newsletter, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar. Phone 091 9216133 email: [email protected] 4