Broadleaved forests

Mangrove forests or coastal forests are located in the shallow waters along the coast near the mouth of the Indus River. The forests are poorly stocked and the species are few. They are mainly composed of Avicennia officinalis. Where accessible they are cut for fuelwood and are mostly shrubby. The leaves serve as a valuable fodder. In inaccessible areas, trees attain a height of about 10 m.

Upland hardwood forests occur on mountains above 1 500 m elevation in small patches in shallow and moist depressions and other sheltered spots. They also form strips along mountain streams. Large patches of this type of forests are rare. Individual trees may be very large in size since many are mature or overmature. The most common trees are oaks (Quercus dilatata and Q. semecarpifolia), walnut (Juglans regia), horse chestnut (Aesculus indica), alder (Alnus nitida), kalakath (Prunus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), batangi (Pyrus pashia) etc. Betula, Populus and Rhododendron species are also present. In the dry temperate forests, between 1 800 and 3 000 m, broadleaved trees include Acer spp., Fraxinus spp., Quercus spp., Pistacia khinjak, etc. These forests occur west of the Indus and in isolated patches east of the Indus not reached by the monsoon rains and where rainfall is confined to winter rain and snow. They are also present in patches of various sizes in moist depressions or along mountain streams.

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last updated: Monday, January 12, 2004