Due to scanty rainfall and the type of terrain, district Barkhan has no favourable environment for forestry. The area under forest is negligible compared to the total geographical area of the district. The area comprises steep mountains from 1,380 (Tagha) to 2,402 (Jandran) metres high. The average rainfall is about 55 mm. annually. Some parts of the district are under coniferous forest and some parts are range lands. The district comes under the semi-arid zone, with high and low mountains, gravelly terraces, piedmount plains etc.

 The percentage of area under forest is negligible as compared to the total area of the district. Out of the total area 41,397 hectares are reserve for forest , out of which 23,092 hectares are range lands. The forest in Barkhan come under the authority of the Forestry Department in Loralai district. In addition 18,305 hectares are covered by conifers and 22,416 hectares are under hill plateau scrub.⁵¹

 Commercial forestry is negligible in the district, due to shortage of water and little precipitation. Two thousand Mor Panki trees were provided last year to the people of Barkhan district at a nominal rate of Rs. 4 per tree by the Forestry Department of Loralai.⁵²

 The following trees are commonly found almost in all areas of the district: olive, acacia, moetesta, gorgal, mourai, wild-figs, helanai, and phulai. Beri, kikar, lai, shora, uzma, gunal, bubal and raga can also be found.

Pesh (dwarf palm), locally known as mazari, grows in abundance in the district. It is an evergreen plant, which flowers in the cold season. Its fruit ripens in October. Many articles are made from its leaves, such as mats for roofs and floors, charpais ropes for cattle, etc. The dry leaves are used as fuel and poor people eat the root (poche) of the plant in times of scarcity. The fruit (takun) is also eaten and the kernels (lalis) of the plant are eaten half- baked.

Wild bushes include tirkha (artemisia), gangu (orthonopsis intermedia), gandenae (nerium ordorum), and leghunae (daphne olcoides) and makhae (caragana). Due to the high population growth rate of and the increase in the number of livestock, many range land and species of vegetation are disappearing.

 Due to the low area under forest and the semi-arid nature of the area, there is no marketing of forest produce in the district. Trees are cut and used as fuel by the local people and now there are not many trees left to be used for fuel in the future.

The Forestry Department is responsible for forestry development at the provincial level. In Loralai district there is one district Forest Officer with 8 Foresters, 29 Forest Guards and supporting staff. The Forest Officer of Loralai is also responsible for the forestry activities in Barkhan district.

 Wild animals in the district are wolfs, jackals, hyenas, foxes, wild-cats, mongooses, sallahs, hirans and hares. Birds found in the district are chakors and sisis in the hills, and grey partridges, pigeons, sandgrows, quails and water-fowls in the plains. All over the district there are numerous vultures, kites, doves, sparrows, larks and hoopoes. Snakes and white and black titars are also found in the district.

Wild animals and livestock have to compete for forage and water, resulting in the wild animals retreating to the most inhospitable habitats. Many species of wildlife hare hunted. With the increase of population and transport facilities most species of wildlife are disappearing.

 Due to the arid nature, scanty rainfall and lack of vegetation, bee-keeping is almost negligible in Barkhan district.

Private enterprise is most involved in forestry services compared to other actors, but it should be noted that in absolute numbers involvement in forestry services is very limited.

Low precipitation and shortage of water is the main barrier in the growth of forestry in the district. Trees and bushes are cut by the local people to be used as fuel. The result is that timber and fire wood is hardly available at normal rates. Non-availability of substitutes to be used as fuel and high cost of other fuel sources leave people with no choice but to use the scarce trees and bushes for cooking and heating purposes. The scope for commercial forestry is very limited.

The rainfall has considerably decreased over the last few years.

Game birds and wildlife are disappearing and some of the species are at the verge of extinction. Although government has banned hunting and cutting of trees, these practices do not stop. Government has declared all forest land as the state forest, but due to the pressure of livestock and human population, the condition of the forests deteriorates further. The number of trees has decreased tremendously. The administrative staff, located in Loralai district, does not pay enough attention towards improvement of forest by making better management or work plans for their respective forest areas. The number of forest guards is not sufficient to control and patrol the vast territory under their control. Lack of facilities, like motorcycles and other vehicles, make their job even more difficult. The forest guards are also influenced by tribal chiefs, illegal woodcutters and armed out-laws.

Back to Barkhan