An allocation of Rs 64 million has been made for the revival of Juniper and Chilgoza forests in Ziarat, Balochistan under Green Pakistan Programme.

“The programme will be implemented by the Balochistan Forest Department over the next five years period”, senior officials of the Ministry of Climate Change informed Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change.

Initially, the local community would be taken onboard by creating awareness and mobilize them to become part of the programme.

A provision for livelihood activity has been made by compensating them for voluntary withdrawal from resource use rights over treated areas for the required period.

On an average, enclosures will be established over an area of 15 acres at potential locations. Besides, that rehabilitation of degraded land will also be done through rainwater harvesting techniques.

Juniper forests in Ziarat are unique because of their high ecological significance extremely slow rate of growth and scenic value. It is estimated that the age of a mature Juniper tree in Ziarat can exceed 1,500 years. Ziarat Juniper Forest has been declared a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

The biosphere reserve is home to the largest area of Juniper forest in Pakistan, covering an area of 111,852 hectares.

The Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department has developed a management plan for preservation and conservation of this reserve.

If the key areas, in the core forest zone fenced for a prolonged period, it will ensure respite to natural regeneration.

The mature trees within the fenced areas will be used for seed dispersal in adjoining areas.
Over a period of years, the area would be covered with good regeneration of key species and its associate species.

One of the major reasons for degradation of these forests is fuel wood and grazing rights of local community. Due to excessive grazing the natural regeneration is affected.