Tree Plantation in Pakistan
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ghazi52
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Mangrove cover expands by over 4 times in 2 decades, though experts voice concern on degradation
Anadolu Agency
July 25, 2022
Pakistan's mangrove cover has seen rapid expansion along the Arabian Sea over the past two decades due to coordinated efforts by government agencies and environmental organizations.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the eve of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which is celebrated on July 26 every year, Tahir Rasheed, a regional director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan, said that in Southeast Asia, Pakistan is the only country where mangrove cover has increased dramatically over the last two decades.
Between 1999-2021, the vulnerable mangrove area along Pakistan’s 1,050-kilometer (652-mile) coastline has increased to over 200,000 hectares (over 494,000 acres) from 46,000 hectares (over a 113,000 acres).
A colossal chunk of mangrove forest falls in southern Sindh province, whereas southwestern Balochistan province, which boasts a 700-kilometer (435-mile) coastline, shares a meager portion of nearly 4,000 hectares.
“We witnessed a decline of mangrove forest from 600,000 hectares along the Sindh coastline in the early 20th century to merely 46,000 hectares in the mid-1980s. However, the cover area of mangroves has increased to over 200,000 hectares along the Sindh and Balochistan coastline over the past two decades,” Rasheed said.
Due to the “well-coordinated” plantation and rehabilitation campaigns by the Sindh Forest Department the federal government, WWF-Pakistan, and civil society organizations, the country’s mangrove cover is increasing at a “good pace,” he went on to say.
A host of projects by WWF-Pakistan alone have contributed 16,000 hectares to the country’s overall mangrove cover, apart from the rehabilitation of 32,000 hectares, he added.
Danger still lurking
Mangroves, a group of trees and shrubs that grow in the intertidal regions of tropical and subtropical coastlines, are significantly important for ecosystems and are considered the first line of defense against cyclones, strong surges, tsunamis, and other natural calamities.
The Sindh coast, particularly the port city of Karachi, has been reeling from a relentless process of morphological changes mainly due to anthropogenic activities including industrial pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and land degradation in addition to natural processes.
Industrial and economic infrastructure development, land-grabbing and inhabitation along the coast, and the construction of huts at beaches have adversely impacted the marine ecosystems and mangroves of the adjoining creeks, say environmentalists.
Making matters worse, some natural phenomena such as high energy waves, tidal currents, and strong winds during monsoons have also influenced changes along the coast.
Acknowledging a “rapid” increase in mangrove cover in the country, Hammad Gilani, a Lahore-based environmentalist, nonetheless observed that the danger is still lurking.
“Mangroves along Pakistan’s coastal belt and Indus Delta are still facing two key threats in the form of sea intrusion and degradation,” Gilani, a researcher at the International Water Management Institute in Lahore, told Anadolu Agency.
“Deforestation (of mangroves) is not a big problem. But degradation, which includes some justifiable livestock needs, is really an issue,” he argued.
He noted that rising sea levels have long been wreaking havoc on mangroves, especially in the Indus Delta, from where the Indus River flows into the Arabian Sea.
Also, mangroves require a systematic flow of fresh water, which unfortunately does not persist at the moment, he said.
Gilani noted that the South Asian country has seen a rapid augmentation in mangrove cover after the 2010 massive floods, which, although inundating a fifth of Pakistan, made up for a freshwater shortage.
Sharing a similar view, Rasheed said: "To keep the momentum going, we have to create awareness among the masses, and especially the policymakers, about the environmental significance of the mangroves and reinforce how important they are as the threat is not over yet."
Bulwark against sea battering
Thick mangroves have long protected Karachi and its coastal communities from erosion caused by the Arabian Sea's unending waves, observed Shabina Faraz, a Karachi-based expert, who often writes on the environment.
However, she added, the fragile ecosystem faces numerous threats, from coastal development, urbanization, and encroachment to the commercial exploitation of mangroves, reduction of freshwater flows and sedimentation, erosion of coastal areas, chemical dumping, and raw sewage.
"Karachi city alone contributes 500 million gallons of untreated water to the sea. Apart from that, polluted water from 6,000 industries also contributes high-impact pollutants to the Arabian sea that negatively affect the mangrove ecosystem and marine fauna," she maintained, speaking to Anadolu Agency.
Gilani, the Lahore-based expert, said that despite an increasing mangrove cover, satellite imagery has punctuated the need for national-scale carbon sequestration reporting for a performance-based payment mechanism flowing from developed countries to developing ones.
Seconding his view, Faraz said carbon sequestration reporting could add to the national economy "significantly."
Anadolu Agency
July 25, 2022
Pakistan's mangrove cover has seen rapid expansion along the Arabian Sea over the past two decades due to coordinated efforts by government agencies and environmental organizations.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the eve of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which is celebrated on July 26 every year, Tahir Rasheed, a regional director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan, said that in Southeast Asia, Pakistan is the only country where mangrove cover has increased dramatically over the last two decades.
Between 1999-2021, the vulnerable mangrove area along Pakistan’s 1,050-kilometer (652-mile) coastline has increased to over 200,000 hectares (over 494,000 acres) from 46,000 hectares (over a 113,000 acres).
A colossal chunk of mangrove forest falls in southern Sindh province, whereas southwestern Balochistan province, which boasts a 700-kilometer (435-mile) coastline, shares a meager portion of nearly 4,000 hectares.
“We witnessed a decline of mangrove forest from 600,000 hectares along the Sindh coastline in the early 20th century to merely 46,000 hectares in the mid-1980s. However, the cover area of mangroves has increased to over 200,000 hectares along the Sindh and Balochistan coastline over the past two decades,” Rasheed said.
Due to the “well-coordinated” plantation and rehabilitation campaigns by the Sindh Forest Department the federal government, WWF-Pakistan, and civil society organizations, the country’s mangrove cover is increasing at a “good pace,” he went on to say.
A host of projects by WWF-Pakistan alone have contributed 16,000 hectares to the country’s overall mangrove cover, apart from the rehabilitation of 32,000 hectares, he added.
Danger still lurking
Mangroves, a group of trees and shrubs that grow in the intertidal regions of tropical and subtropical coastlines, are significantly important for ecosystems and are considered the first line of defense against cyclones, strong surges, tsunamis, and other natural calamities.
The Sindh coast, particularly the port city of Karachi, has been reeling from a relentless process of morphological changes mainly due to anthropogenic activities including industrial pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and land degradation in addition to natural processes.
Industrial and economic infrastructure development, land-grabbing and inhabitation along the coast, and the construction of huts at beaches have adversely impacted the marine ecosystems and mangroves of the adjoining creeks, say environmentalists.
Making matters worse, some natural phenomena such as high energy waves, tidal currents, and strong winds during monsoons have also influenced changes along the coast.
Acknowledging a “rapid” increase in mangrove cover in the country, Hammad Gilani, a Lahore-based environmentalist, nonetheless observed that the danger is still lurking.
“Mangroves along Pakistan’s coastal belt and Indus Delta are still facing two key threats in the form of sea intrusion and degradation,” Gilani, a researcher at the International Water Management Institute in Lahore, told Anadolu Agency.
“Deforestation (of mangroves) is not a big problem. But degradation, which includes some justifiable livestock needs, is really an issue,” he argued.
He noted that rising sea levels have long been wreaking havoc on mangroves, especially in the Indus Delta, from where the Indus River flows into the Arabian Sea.
Also, mangroves require a systematic flow of fresh water, which unfortunately does not persist at the moment, he said.
Gilani noted that the South Asian country has seen a rapid augmentation in mangrove cover after the 2010 massive floods, which, although inundating a fifth of Pakistan, made up for a freshwater shortage.
Sharing a similar view, Rasheed said: "To keep the momentum going, we have to create awareness among the masses, and especially the policymakers, about the environmental significance of the mangroves and reinforce how important they are as the threat is not over yet."
Bulwark against sea battering
Thick mangroves have long protected Karachi and its coastal communities from erosion caused by the Arabian Sea's unending waves, observed Shabina Faraz, a Karachi-based expert, who often writes on the environment.
However, she added, the fragile ecosystem faces numerous threats, from coastal development, urbanization, and encroachment to the commercial exploitation of mangroves, reduction of freshwater flows and sedimentation, erosion of coastal areas, chemical dumping, and raw sewage.
"Karachi city alone contributes 500 million gallons of untreated water to the sea. Apart from that, polluted water from 6,000 industries also contributes high-impact pollutants to the Arabian sea that negatively affect the mangrove ecosystem and marine fauna," she maintained, speaking to Anadolu Agency.
Gilani, the Lahore-based expert, said that despite an increasing mangrove cover, satellite imagery has punctuated the need for national-scale carbon sequestration reporting for a performance-based payment mechanism flowing from developed countries to developing ones.
Seconding his view, Faraz said carbon sequestration reporting could add to the national economy "significantly."
silicon0000
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ghazi52
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Tree plantation campaign launched in Nathiagali under Green Pakistan initiative 2024
NATHIAGALI, : Commissioner Hazara Division Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam Sunday inaugurated a significant tree plantation campaign at Nathia Gali Club, marking the commencement of the Green Pakistan Initiative 2024. The campaign aims to prioritize the planting of fruit-bearing trees.
Highlighting the objectives of the initiative, Commissioner Zaheer-ul-Islam emphasized the importance of promoting greenery in the Galyat region to foster social and economic development.
He underscored the invaluable role of forests in enhancing the natural beauty of the area and urged concerted efforts to prevent deforestation.
The inauguration ceremony, organized by the Galyat Development Authority (GDA as part of the Green Pakistan Initiative 2024, witnessed the presence of key figures including Director General Shah Rukh Ali, local government representatives, Forest Department officials, and delegates from various departments.
Commissioner Hazara Division urged relevant authorities to launch collaborative campaigns involving local residents and youth to combat deforestation and rejuvenate the environment. He emphasized the necessity of meticulously documenting all existing trees in the Galiyat region and ensuring continuous monitoring to safeguard against deforestation.
ghazi52
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Pakistan: Green again
A billion trees have been planted in recent years in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about fifty kilometres from Islamabad, the country’s capital. The landscape has been transformed, and so has society. The fight against global warming and the fight against poverty are one and the same.
Work in the nursery helps the women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, fight against both global warming and poverty.
22 January 2024
By Zofeen T. Ebrahim
Sitting comfortably on a footstool in her backyard under a tree providing her ample shade, Farzana Bibi puts a fistful of earth from the mound next to her into a black elongated rubber pocket. The clucking of hens and the lone rooster prancing around her tiny green backyard make for a perfect pastoral backdrop. Once filled to the top, she deftly makes a dip in the middle of the tube, lodges a seed in it and covers it with soil.
Idyllic and surrounded by mountains, Bibi's village of Najafpur, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, is some fifty kilometres from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
She is among the 400 women who have been trained in modern ways to prepare and propagate plant nurseries in their backyards and sell the saplings to the provincial government's forest department. It is part of the government's Green Growth Initiative's (GGI) Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project (BTTAP), to fight climate change and pollution by planting trees.
Pakistan’s total forest cover ranges between two per cent and five per cent of the land area – making it a country with one of the lowest forest cover in the region and well below the twelve per cent recommended by the United Nations.
In 2014, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (the movement for the restoration of justice, PTI) the political party which governed KP between 2014-2018, jumped into the global fray and joined the Bonn Challenge – which aims to restore 150 million hectares of the world's degraded and deforested lands by 2020. Headed by former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, the PTI ambitiously pledged to restore 350,000 hectares of forest and degraded land from 2014 to 2018.
More than a billion trees
In the short time it had, the forest department could not have completed or done what the political party had pledged, all on its own.The model adopted for the BTTAP became a business involving local communities. "We were able to complete the project in August 2017, ahead of time!" said Malik Amin Aslam, who is currently federal minister and Climate Change Advisor to Imran Khan, who became the country’s prime minister in 2018.
"The cost was estimated to be 22 billion Pakistani rupees ($155 million), and it was completed at Rs14 billion ($99 million), an anomaly for a government-funded project, which usually go over budget," pointed out Aslam, who was the force behind the initiative. In less than three years, 1.18 billion trees were grown.
The four-pronged strategy employed included planting new trees and regenerating existing forests; ensuring a high level of transparency; making this a people-centred programme; and taking on the powerful timber "mafia" or the illegal loggers.
According to Aslam, who also serves as Global Vice President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), sixty per cent of the billion-tree target was reached by "natural regeneration through community-managed protection of the forests". These forests were divided into about 4,000 enclosures, with the communities given the incentive of collecting dead wood. They also benefited from green jobs as forest nigehbans, or community-assigned guards, who protected the enclosures from grazing, fire and the illegal felling of trees.
The remaining forty per cent target was achieved by employing a public-private model of shared revenues and growth – like the nurseries being tended by Bibi and others. The government was also able to extricate nearly 3,000 hectares of its land from encroachers.
The project was lauded both nationally and internationally. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature- Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) was tasked with carrying out an independent annual performance audit of the BTTAP. Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, said the project was "a good step in the right direction".
Tackling unemployment
Meanwhile in Najafpur, Bibi's husband, Shaukat Zaman, joins in to fill the pockets. His poultry business folded two years ago, after a deadly virus annihilated the entire lot of chickens. He has been unable to recover the loss and start anew. Between them, they are able to fill a thousand tubes with soil and seeds in a day. The completed tubes are stacked neatly at the back of the courtyard."We provide the seed and the pockets, they get the soil, mix it with organic fertilizer and put in the labour," explained Mohammad Tehmasip, BTTAP’s project director.
Over the next few weeks, Bibi and Zaman have to fill as many as 25,000 pockets. In about six to eight months, the saplings that survive will be bought by the government's forest department for Rs6 per sapling. "There's lots of unemployment in our village, so every little bit helps," Bibi says. Her three sons, all graduates, are out of work and help tend her nursery.
"In less than a year, they earn about Rs150,000 ($1,060) for running these one-unit (with 25,000 saplings) nurseries and we pay them in three installments," said Tehmasip. The first thing Bibi plans to do with the money she gets from selling the saplings is to make a proper grave with a tombstone for her 20-year-old daughter Anam, who died suddenly a few months ago.
"Last year, Anam had made her dowry from the money she earned from preparing a nursery," she says, her eyes welling up.
"I'd never seen so much money in my life; my life has changed completely, and all that without leaving home!" says 30-year-old Rubina Gul, bursting with enthusiasm. "My son goes to a private school now," she smiles. She and her husband, Sajjid Zaman, have been preparing and tending to nurseries since 2015.
"The first year we used our front yard to grow the saplings," Gul recalls, adding that from the profits, they were able to set up a bigger nursery in an empty plot they owned, and also to convert part of it into a shop, which they rent for a monthly income. They were also able to buy a second-hand van. "We are now able to visit the adjoining valleys," Gul beamed.
...and now the 10 billion challenge
When the PTI formed the federal government in August 2018, the party decided to expand the project nationwide by planting 10 billion trees.Terming it an "upscaled" version of the BTTAP, Aslam said it was, by nature, quite different, as it dealt with more diverse ecological zones, different terrains and different managerial models for tree plantations.
"The 10-billion-tree tsunami (BTT) is a much more complex endeavour, as it traverses diverse landscapes and forestry models across six regions – from mangroves to plantation blocks to natural reserves and urban forestation," he explained. Having battled and won against illegal loggers in KP, the authorities are ready to confront the land "mafia" in Punjab "to make space for forests to thrive," Aslam said.
And they are already walking the talk. An hour's drive from Lahore, at Balloki, in Punjab province, the government has succeeded in extricating state-owned land from those illegally occupying it. They have turned it into a nature reserve covering 1,011 hectares. Using legal channels, the government aims to recover twenty years of rent arrears for illegal use of the land from eighty politicians and landlords. It also plans to drive out encroachers from the riverine forests and wetlands along the River Indus, soon.
Changing mindsets
For those who got this once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride the BTTAP wave, it was a huge learning experience. "The forest department, once considered the most corrupt department, went through a thorough cleansing. The working improved manifold too. Earlier there was no monitoring, no accountability and the forest officers hardly ever even went into plantation sites. All that has changed. We may not have had the most trained team, but it became, by far, the most dedicated and motivated," KP's environment secretary, Nazar Shah, claimed.
Next, violators – often from the most influential segment of society, and who considered themselves invincible – were dealt with using an iron hand and penalized. All this was only possible because of political commitment at the top.
Many in the forest department said it brought about a change in the way people in KP started looking at trees. The traditional wisdom of conserving and preserving forests has been revived. "Today we see a strong ownership in the communities," said Ubaidur Rehman, community development officer with the KP forest department. “Without the community on board, this project would not have succeeded.”
"What makes the BTT special is that it is not just about planting trees but about changing mindsets and making people think differently about the role of trees, nature and valuing their conservation. The billion trees project helped us change the behaviour of people, especially the children and youth of KP province, and made them value the trees as a natural asset. It did that not just within the province, but also catalyzed a green political movement across the country – which is now more sensitized to ecological conservation," Aslam added.
And though it looked like an “impossible" task, especially for a province where the timber "mafia" rule was so well-entrenched, today, in retrospect, the two most important lessons for Aslam were: "Firstly, that if you give nature some space and a chance to rebound, it does so beyond your expectations and calculations; and secondly, that nothing is impossible if you wholeheartedly commit to it and are willing to work hard.”
silicon0000
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Tree Plantation for Karachi:
Planting trees is an important first step, but our real responsibility begins beyond that. Caring for the new trees, nurturing them to maturity and making sure they can truly flourish. Apart from this, cutting of trees and stopping the timber mafia is the most important issue at the moment. When the existing trees are cut, not only all our hard work is wasted, but we feel that we have been exploited by the timber mafia and because of a few vested interests, those who plant new trees are also discouraged. Try to plant such trees which are fruitful and shady and their wood is not used by timber mafia. First the sapwood was planted, then conocarpus and now emphasis is being put on planting Neem and Shethum so that the valuable wood of Neem and Shethum will be used by the timber mafia. So try to plant such trees which are fruitful and shady and their wood is not used by timber mafia.
Fruit and Shade Trees for Karachi's Hot, Humid Climate (Wood Not Ideal for Timber):
Here are a few plants that thrive in hot, humid tropical conditions (Karachi Weather), providing both fruit and shade, but have wood not particularly useful:
Banana (Musa spp.)
Fast-growing and reaching maturity in just 15-20 months, banana plants offer a generous amount of shade with their large leaves. They produce edible fruits that are a staple food source in many tropical regions. However, the banana plant itself is not a tree, but rather a giant herb. Its pseudostem, while providing some structural support, is not suitable for timber due to its high moisture content and fibrous nature.
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Known for its stunning display of vibrant purple flowers in spring, the Jacaranda is a beautiful flowering tree that thrives in hot and humid climates. It matures into a large tree with a wide-spreading canopy, providing ample shade. Jacaranda does produce wood, but it's weak and brittle, making it unsuitable for timber purposes.
Mango (Mangifera indica)
The iconic mango tree is a popular choice for tropical landscapes. Not only does it provide a dense, shady canopy, but it's also known for its delicious and commercially important fruit. Mango wood is technically used in some applications, but it's known to warp and crack easily, limiting its usefulness for timber.
Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)
This iconic palm tree is a mainstay in many tropical regions. Coconut palms grow tall and slender, offering shade with their large fronds. They are famous for their coconuts, a versatile fruit with a hard outer shell and a delicious inner nut meat and milk. While coconut wood can be used for some applications like furniture, it is generally considered weak and not suitable for large-scale construction due to its splintery nature.
Gulmohar Tree (Royal poinciana)
Gulmohar tree are fast-growing trees and can reach maturity in just a few years. They produce beautiful flower and provide decent shade. Gulmohar tree wood is generally considered weak and brittle, not suitable for timber.
Moringa oleifera
Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and used extensively in South and Southeast Asia. The moringa tree's leaves and seeds are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, making it a valuable source of food and potentially offering health benefits and used as vegetables and for traditional herbal medicine. It's also used for water purification. Tree wood is soft and doesn't hold up well as building material and timber use.
Citrus trees (Orange tree / Lemon tree)
Lemon and orange trees certainly provide fruit and some shade in tropical environments but typically don't grow as large as the other options mentioned previously. Their canopies tend to be more open and may not provide extensive shade. Citrus wood is similar to mango wood. It can be used for some applications but is known to be weak and prone to warping, making it unsuitable for timber use.
Guava (Psidium spp.)
Guava trees are known for their prolific production of sweet and tangy fruits. They grow into large shrubs or small trees, offering decent shade with their dense foliage. Guava wood is generally considered weak and brittle, not suitable for timber.
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Papaya trees not provide good shade but are fast-growing trees and can reach maturity in just a few years. They produce delicious, pear-shaped fruits throughout the year. Papaya trees have a hollow trunk and soft wood, making them unsuitable for timber.
Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Starfruit trees are known for their unique star-shaped fruit with a sweet or slightly tart flavor. They grow into small to medium-sized trees with a wide canopy, providing good shade. Starfruit wood is soft and not very strong, limiting its use in construction.
Here are a few more plants that are not native but can grow well in Karachi's hot, humid tropical conditions:
Dragon fruit tree
Dragon fruit cactus (Hylocereus spp.) is native to Central and South America, perfectly adapted to hot, humid tropical climates. They require minimal care and flourish in Karachi's weather. Dragon fruit vine climbs on structures and can reach up to 20 feet in height. The mature plant produces beautiful white flowers at night and delicious pink or white colored fruit. The green stems of the dragon fruit cactus are not woody and cannot be used for timber purposes.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
The mangosteen is a tropical fruit tree prized for its exquisite flavor. It grows into a medium-sized tree with dense foliage, offering good shade. While the wood can be used for some applications, it's generally considered weak and not very durable for timber.
Durian (Durio zibethinus)
Durian is known for its large, spiky fruit with a pungent odor that some find offensive. However, the flesh inside is prized by many for its rich, creamy texture and unique flavor. Durian trees grow large and provide ample shade. The wood is soft and not particularly strong for construction purposes. (Important Note: Durian fruit can be very heavy and fall from the tree unexpectedly. Use caution when planting near walkways or structures.)
Ficus (Ficus spp.)
With a vast variety of species, ficus trees are popular choices for tropical landscapes. Many ficus varieties grow large and develop dense canopies, perfect for creating shade. Some species, like the edible fig (Ficus carica), even produce delicious fruits. While some ficus trees can produce wood, it's generally considered soft and not very durable, limiting its use for timber.
Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
This unique fruit tree is native to Southeast Asia and thrives in hot, humid climates. It produces hairy red fruits with a sweet and slightly tart flavor. The tree itself grows large and bushy, providing excellent shade. Rambutan wood is not very strong and is susceptible to rot, making it unsuitable for construction. While not native to Pakistan, rambutan trees can be grown successfully in Karachi with proper care.
Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora)
Also known as the Brazilian grape tree, jaboticaba is a fascinating fruit tree native to South America. Unlike most fruit trees, jaboticaba produces its purple fruits directly on its trunk and larger branches. The tree itself is relatively slow-growing but can reach a good size, offering decent shade. Jaboticaba wood is soft and brittle, limiting its use in construction. Jaboticaba trees are not commonly grown in Karachi, but they may be possible with special care and a protected location.
Canistel (Pouteria campechana)
Often called the eggfruit because of its oval-shaped fruit with a bright yellow interior, canistel is a popular fruit tree in tropical regions. The fruit has a sweet, custard-like flavor and can be eaten raw or used in desserts. Canistel trees grow large and provide good shade. However, the wood is soft and not very durable. Canistel trees are well-suited to Karachi's climate and can be grown successfully.
Black Sapote (Diospyros nigra)
Also known as the chocolate pudding fruit, black sapote is a unique fruit tree native to Mexico and Central America. The fruit has a dark brown, almost black flesh with a rich, chocolate-like flavor. Black sapote trees grow tall and can provide good shade. The wood is soft and not very strong, limiting its use for construction purposes. Black sapote trees are not typically grown in Karachi, but they may be possible in a protected location with careful management.
The list offers several options for plants, but it's not exhaustive. I'd be happy if you add some additional plants.
By planting trees (which sustain) and working together, we can create a better environment for ourselves and future generations.
If possible, share this with others.
Planting trees is an important first step, but our real responsibility begins beyond that. Caring for the new trees, nurturing them to maturity and making sure they can truly flourish. Apart from this, cutting of trees and stopping the timber mafia is the most important issue at the moment. When the existing trees are cut, not only all our hard work is wasted, but we feel that we have been exploited by the timber mafia and because of a few vested interests, those who plant new trees are also discouraged. Try to plant such trees which are fruitful and shady and their wood is not used by timber mafia. First the sapwood was planted, then conocarpus and now emphasis is being put on planting Neem and Shethum so that the valuable wood of Neem and Shethum will be used by the timber mafia. So try to plant such trees which are fruitful and shady and their wood is not used by timber mafia.
Fruit and Shade Trees for Karachi's Hot, Humid Climate (Wood Not Ideal for Timber):
Here are a few plants that thrive in hot, humid tropical conditions (Karachi Weather), providing both fruit and shade, but have wood not particularly useful:
Banana (Musa spp.)
Fast-growing and reaching maturity in just 15-20 months, banana plants offer a generous amount of shade with their large leaves. They produce edible fruits that are a staple food source in many tropical regions. However, the banana plant itself is not a tree, but rather a giant herb. Its pseudostem, while providing some structural support, is not suitable for timber due to its high moisture content and fibrous nature.
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Known for its stunning display of vibrant purple flowers in spring, the Jacaranda is a beautiful flowering tree that thrives in hot and humid climates. It matures into a large tree with a wide-spreading canopy, providing ample shade. Jacaranda does produce wood, but it's weak and brittle, making it unsuitable for timber purposes.
Mango (Mangifera indica)
The iconic mango tree is a popular choice for tropical landscapes. Not only does it provide a dense, shady canopy, but it's also known for its delicious and commercially important fruit. Mango wood is technically used in some applications, but it's known to warp and crack easily, limiting its usefulness for timber.
Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)
This iconic palm tree is a mainstay in many tropical regions. Coconut palms grow tall and slender, offering shade with their large fronds. They are famous for their coconuts, a versatile fruit with a hard outer shell and a delicious inner nut meat and milk. While coconut wood can be used for some applications like furniture, it is generally considered weak and not suitable for large-scale construction due to its splintery nature.
Gulmohar Tree (Royal poinciana)
Gulmohar tree are fast-growing trees and can reach maturity in just a few years. They produce beautiful flower and provide decent shade. Gulmohar tree wood is generally considered weak and brittle, not suitable for timber.
Moringa oleifera
Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and used extensively in South and Southeast Asia. The moringa tree's leaves and seeds are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, making it a valuable source of food and potentially offering health benefits and used as vegetables and for traditional herbal medicine. It's also used for water purification. Tree wood is soft and doesn't hold up well as building material and timber use.
Citrus trees (Orange tree / Lemon tree)
Lemon and orange trees certainly provide fruit and some shade in tropical environments but typically don't grow as large as the other options mentioned previously. Their canopies tend to be more open and may not provide extensive shade. Citrus wood is similar to mango wood. It can be used for some applications but is known to be weak and prone to warping, making it unsuitable for timber use.
Guava (Psidium spp.)
Guava trees are known for their prolific production of sweet and tangy fruits. They grow into large shrubs or small trees, offering decent shade with their dense foliage. Guava wood is generally considered weak and brittle, not suitable for timber.
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Papaya trees not provide good shade but are fast-growing trees and can reach maturity in just a few years. They produce delicious, pear-shaped fruits throughout the year. Papaya trees have a hollow trunk and soft wood, making them unsuitable for timber.
Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Starfruit trees are known for their unique star-shaped fruit with a sweet or slightly tart flavor. They grow into small to medium-sized trees with a wide canopy, providing good shade. Starfruit wood is soft and not very strong, limiting its use in construction.
Here are a few more plants that are not native but can grow well in Karachi's hot, humid tropical conditions:
Dragon fruit tree
Dragon fruit cactus (Hylocereus spp.) is native to Central and South America, perfectly adapted to hot, humid tropical climates. They require minimal care and flourish in Karachi's weather. Dragon fruit vine climbs on structures and can reach up to 20 feet in height. The mature plant produces beautiful white flowers at night and delicious pink or white colored fruit. The green stems of the dragon fruit cactus are not woody and cannot be used for timber purposes.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
The mangosteen is a tropical fruit tree prized for its exquisite flavor. It grows into a medium-sized tree with dense foliage, offering good shade. While the wood can be used for some applications, it's generally considered weak and not very durable for timber.
Durian (Durio zibethinus)
Durian is known for its large, spiky fruit with a pungent odor that some find offensive. However, the flesh inside is prized by many for its rich, creamy texture and unique flavor. Durian trees grow large and provide ample shade. The wood is soft and not particularly strong for construction purposes. (Important Note: Durian fruit can be very heavy and fall from the tree unexpectedly. Use caution when planting near walkways or structures.)
Ficus (Ficus spp.)
With a vast variety of species, ficus trees are popular choices for tropical landscapes. Many ficus varieties grow large and develop dense canopies, perfect for creating shade. Some species, like the edible fig (Ficus carica), even produce delicious fruits. While some ficus trees can produce wood, it's generally considered soft and not very durable, limiting its use for timber.
Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
This unique fruit tree is native to Southeast Asia and thrives in hot, humid climates. It produces hairy red fruits with a sweet and slightly tart flavor. The tree itself grows large and bushy, providing excellent shade. Rambutan wood is not very strong and is susceptible to rot, making it unsuitable for construction. While not native to Pakistan, rambutan trees can be grown successfully in Karachi with proper care.
Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora)
Also known as the Brazilian grape tree, jaboticaba is a fascinating fruit tree native to South America. Unlike most fruit trees, jaboticaba produces its purple fruits directly on its trunk and larger branches. The tree itself is relatively slow-growing but can reach a good size, offering decent shade. Jaboticaba wood is soft and brittle, limiting its use in construction. Jaboticaba trees are not commonly grown in Karachi, but they may be possible with special care and a protected location.
Canistel (Pouteria campechana)
Often called the eggfruit because of its oval-shaped fruit with a bright yellow interior, canistel is a popular fruit tree in tropical regions. The fruit has a sweet, custard-like flavor and can be eaten raw or used in desserts. Canistel trees grow large and provide good shade. However, the wood is soft and not very durable. Canistel trees are well-suited to Karachi's climate and can be grown successfully.
Black Sapote (Diospyros nigra)
Also known as the chocolate pudding fruit, black sapote is a unique fruit tree native to Mexico and Central America. The fruit has a dark brown, almost black flesh with a rich, chocolate-like flavor. Black sapote trees grow tall and can provide good shade. The wood is soft and not very strong, limiting its use for construction purposes. Black sapote trees are not typically grown in Karachi, but they may be possible in a protected location with careful management.
The list offers several options for plants, but it's not exhaustive. I'd be happy if you add some additional plants.
By planting trees (which sustain) and working together, we can create a better environment for ourselves and future generations.
If possible, share this with others.
ghazi52
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- Mar 21, 2007
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The Plant 4 Pakistan Campaign has been kicked off under the auspices of Green Pakistan Initiative, envisioned by Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Under the Plant 4 Pakistan drive, a comprehensive plan has been implemented to promote plantation, reduce pollution and check encroachment in different districts of the country.
The districts where the campaign has been launched include Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Hazara and Malakand Divisions and district Poonch and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The Plant 4 Pakistan drive is aimed at restoring the land allocated for planting forests in the country and to promote plantation.
The provincial governments will be the leading force, which will be fully supported by the corporate sector, youth, common people and Pakistan Army.
The Plant 4 Pakistan Campaign will continue till the year 2026, and its scope will extended to other districts as well.
The project will not only help reduce pollution, but it will also develop timber industry in the country besides benefitting the owners of agriculture lands.
Under the Plant 4 Pakistan drive, a comprehensive plan has been implemented to promote plantation, reduce pollution and check encroachment in different districts of the country.
The districts where the campaign has been launched include Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Hazara and Malakand Divisions and district Poonch and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The Plant 4 Pakistan drive is aimed at restoring the land allocated for planting forests in the country and to promote plantation.
The provincial governments will be the leading force, which will be fully supported by the corporate sector, youth, common people and Pakistan Army.
The Plant 4 Pakistan Campaign will continue till the year 2026, and its scope will extended to other districts as well.
The project will not only help reduce pollution, but it will also develop timber industry in the country besides benefitting the owners of agriculture lands.
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