The forestry sector is under-developed in Bolan district. The potential for forestry is not yet explored. There is hardly any forest reserve and commercial forestry (plantations) development does not exist.

Source: Sibi Forest Division

A Forest Reserve or State Forest in a province or district can be defined as "Any forest or waste-land which is the property of government, or over which the government has proprietary rights, or to the whole or any part of the forest-produce of which the Government is entitled. The state reserve in Bolan district is limited to the following plantations by the Sibi Forest Division, which belongs to the Forest department.

Source: Sibi Forest Division

In Bolan there is no commercial forestry run by the government. Private commercial forestry is also limited. There are a few plantations in the district, including Direnjin, Drazbent and Bamboo (at Dhadar). The potential for bamboo cultivation is large, but people invest little in this sector. Now, however, encouraged by the commercial benefits of bamboo cultivation in the neighbouring district Sibi, people become more interested. Commercial forestry is growing without any government support. More NGO involvement would be advantageous.

Major vegetation consists of bushy grazing land. However spotted trees grow all over the district and the following species are rather common: eucalyptus, acacia, dalbergia, zizyphis, albizzia, azadricha, presepis juliflora, panicum, antidetals, and alhagae camalorum.

Tree cutting, marketing and processing is done privately. According to the DFO Office, even government auctions trees from government areas, e.g. trees that have been cut to widen canals, have been auctioned to private contractors. Farmers also auction trees to private contractors, because contractors have better facilities for cutting, loading and processing. Cutting, marketing and processing is rare in Bolan district (compared to other districts of Nasirabad divisions).

Forestry is little developed in Balochistan. It is dealt with under the old Forest Regulation Act 1890. The Bolan district still comes under the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Sibi and no separate district level management or forest census exists for the district. At the district level there is a Range Officer (BPS 16). He is assisted by a limited number of forest guards, gardeners, watchmen and a clerk. Balochistan wildlife comes under the Forestry Department. The range officer is also accountable for the conservation of wildlife.

As in all Balochistan, wildlife in Bolan district is faced with a threat of extinction. The area used to be teemed with a number of wildlife species (birds and animals) a few decades ago, but nowadays their number has considerably dropped. The major factors accountable for this is excessive shooting, poaching and netting by professional hunters.

Among the non-migratory bird species are the grey partridge, siisi and chakoor. Migratory birds, visiting the area in winters from Central Asia, include the sand grouse, houbara bustard and ducks (in Nari area and Bolan weir). Animal species include jackals, foxes, wolves and rabbits. Wolves are found in a great number because of the many sheep in the district. Still their number has decreased as a result of excessive shooting. Their skins are sold on the market at high prices. There used to be deer and wild goats in the west of Bolan in the near past, but they have been annihilated by hunters. Wildlife shooting is common among the district population, both poor and rich, and therefore one of the factors accountable for wildlife extinction.

Bee-keeping is uncommon in Bolan district. Honey is collected from wild bees. Only at one place in Dhadar a few beehives have been seen in a private orange garden. Commercial bee-keeping is not viable because of the meagre flora in the district.

Only a few organisations are involved in the forestry sector. Besides government and private enterprise involvement, an NGO, (BRSP) is involved in Bolan district by providing funds and guidelines for tree plantation.

Legend: - no involvement

x minor involvement

xx substantial involvement

xxx major involvement

Forestry is a neglected sector in Bolan district. The provincial government and private sector put effort in its development, but growth of forestry remains slow as a result of inadequate rainfall and perennial water. Trees and bushes are often cut for fuel, cooking and construction purposes. Private initiative in artificial plantations with e.g. Kikar (Acacia Nilotica), Nim and Eucalyptus remains unsatisfactory, though the area has good potential. Forestry could have commercial benefits for farmers, but they are not prepared to wait the seven to ten years it takes before a forestry venture becomes profitable.

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