Deforestation and Fire Hazard in Ayubia National Park

A recent Study From Klimatech Environmental Club has been done to sort out the Deforestation and Forest fire in the very well Know Natural Park Named “Ayubia National Park” in pakistan.A team of researchers with the head (Mohsin Jamshaid) leading this research find out the causes that include natural as well as Anthropogenic sources and as well as mitigation measures – Thier findings/Research has been Published by Envirocivil.com

Ayubia National Park is a protected area of 3,312 hectares located at the height of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above the sea level in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. It was declared a national park in 1984. This forest supports a huge biodiversity and because of its ecological importance it is declared as protected forest.

Its highest mountain peak is Miranjani which is 2,960 meters (9,710 ft) in elevation. It is located in the Namli Maira area, in Ayubia National Park.
The mountain range is western Himalayan range.

About Biodiversity At Ayubia National Park:
Ayubiya National Park (ANP) is dressed in Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests, with Pine, Walnut, Oak, and Maple trees and shrubs and herbs.
There are so many other plants with medicinal importance like Taxus wallichiana, Aesculus etc.

Animals & Birds:
203 species of birds including the Golden Eagle, the Vulture, Sparrow Hawk, Crow and the Hill Pigeon among others can be found here. It is also home to some of the rarer Himalayan pheasant species like the Kalij and Koklass Pheasants etc
31 species of mammals. Animals such as the Asiatic Leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, Hill Fox and Flying Squirrel etc .

Responsible Authority:
Wildlife and Parks Department of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Causes of Deforestation:

Natural Causes
· Earthquake
· Land sliding/Mass Wasting
· Thundered Storm/Thundered
· Flash Floods

Anthropogenic Causes:
· Human Fuel/Energy Needs
· Timber Mafia
· Damage by Grazing Animals
Impacts of Deforestation:
· Land Sliding/Mass Wasting
· Decrease in Aesthetic Value and Local Tourism
· Damage to Local Biodiversity
· More Air Pollution Levels
· More chances of Human and Wildlife Interaction
· Mud Floods
· Erosion
· Removal of Nutrients from Soil.

Mechanism of Fire Ignition:
People hit the bottom of tree with axe due to which bio fuel (Latex and Resins) comes out which caught fire easily. They ignite this portion due to which roots of that particular tree become dead and after 2, 3 months the whole tree becomes dried and they cut it in portions and allow to fall down to valley under gravity and transport it to required areas.

Sampling of Trees:
No of Sampled Trees along Miranjani Trek (8 km)
· Total Sampled Trees along Right Side: 895
· No. of Burnt Trees: 103
· Total Sampled Trees along Left Bank: 970
· No. of Burnt/Damaged Trees: 89

No of Sampled Trees along Ayubia – Dunga Gali Trek (4 km)
· Total Sampled Trees along Right Side: 590
· No. of Burnt Trees: 35
· Total Sampled Trees along Left Bank: 600
· No. of Burnt/Damaged Trees: 55

Current Status of Basic Amenities in Study Areas:
The people of this area are deprived from Natural Gas and other fuel resources because of that they have to be dependent upon forest wood to fulfill their energy needs. Although electricity is provided in most of the region and for water consumption they are dependent upon spring water.

Solutions:
· Proper check and balance by forest department via providing monitoring       platforms in forest at various places to avoid timber mafia.
· Provision of alternative sources of energy like biogas plants, RDF for burning
· Creating awareness about importance of forests
· Training of locals to manufacture RDF
· Reforestation

This Study/Research is Published by “President Klimatech Environment Club” and  Author “Mohsin Jamshaid” at Envirocivil.com