#Takht-e-Nasrati

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Conservation Status of Tree Species in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, Karak, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study documents the conservation status of 21 trees belonging to 14 families on small scale in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, Karak through field surveys, frequently conducted in spring, summer and winter 2009-2010. Among these 9 species were found to be rare, vulnerable (6 species), Infrequent (3 species), endangered (one specie) and dominant (2 species). The conservation status of plants is determined according to IUCN 2001, Red Data List Categories and Criteria. After two years extensive field studies on the basis of questioner including availability of plant, collection of plant, growth of plant, plant parts, population size, geographic range and habitat we have concluded that Salvadora oleoides is endangered (EN) specie.

Introduction

The conservation status of organisms indicates whether the group is still extant or not and if yes, how likely the group is to become extant in the near future. Conservation status of a species depends upon many factors like grazing, fuel demand, agriculture land, deforestation, breeding success rates and known threats (Khan, et al., 2011). Based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006, the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms has calculated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Anon., 2008). Habitat loss and degradation, introduction of alien species, pollution and diseases, over-exploitation and climate change are some threats facing by plants which are an integral part of our ecosystem because native plants are key components of the global biological diversity (Sudhersan et al., 2003). It is estimated that some 270,000-425,000 vascular plant species are already known (Govaerts, 2001) with perhaps a further 10- 20% still to be discovered and described (Hawksworth & Kalin-Arroyo, 1995). Pakistan’s scenario is not different from the rest of the world. Plant biodiversity is also under tremendous pressure due to its population explosion, unplanned urbanization, deforestation and over-exploitation of natural resources. Unfortunately, very little work has been done on threatened plants of Pakistan and extremely limited information is available on this subject (Alam & Ali, 2009). According to Nasir (1991) 580-650 flowering plant species (i.e. 12%) are expected to be threatened. Chaudhri & Qureshi (1991) reported 709 taxa as threatened plants from Pakistan. However, both these studies are manly based on field observation and literature without any support of quantitative data. In contrast, the recent red list of IUCN (Anon., 2008) only 19 flowering plants species has been listed from Pakistan. Regarding Pakistan previous workers have classified the plant species as threatened or rare on the basis of literature or herbarium specimen. No work has been done according to IUCN red list categories or criteria (Anon., 2001) except Alam & Ali (2009), who classified Astragalus gilgitensis as a Critically Endangered (CR).

The Tehsil Takht-e- Nasrati is situated at o to 33.280 North and 70.300 to 71.300 East. The research area is bounded by Tehsil Karak on the North East, District Mianwali on the East, District Lakki Marwat on the South West and Tribal area Adjoining District Bannu on the West (Fig. 1). The total area of Tehsil is about 613.66 Sq. kilometers. Majority of the area consists of rigged dry hills and rough fields areas i.e. 323.97 Sq. kilometers and agriculture land is about 289.7 Sq. kilometers. The area is situated at 340 m above the sea level. The major problem of the area is shortage of drinking water and over grazing (Fig.2). The people bring drinking water from the remote area (Fig.3). In the year 2001 - 2010, 121.6mm of rainfall per 10 year recorded. The area is very hot in summer and very cold in winter. June and July are the hottest months, whereas December and January are the coldest months. In the year 2001 - 2010 the mean maximum temperature was 39.5o C, in the month of the June, where as the mean minimum temperature was as low as 4.26o C, in the month of January (Table.1). Write down the aim and necessity of your study here.

Source : Conservation Status of Tree species in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, Karak Pakistan

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Aleem Ur Rehman (Takht e Nasrati Distt Karak Kpk Pakistan)