Conclusion
The riverine forests are important resource that provide various products and services to the local people and to outsiders. They play a very important social, economic, cultural and ecological role. They have suffered from mismanagement and lately by reduction in flooding. Their future is at stake. The riverine forests are an integral part of the river ecosystem. They must be rehabilitated for their social, economic, cultural, environmental and scientific values. It is important that this huge resource of vital importance is managed sustainably not only for the present generation but also for posterity. This would require political will, commitment of Forest Department, involvement of local communities, use of new and appropriate techniques and practices, as well as adequate financial resources. Various options and recommendations have been suggested for consideration and implementation by the relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Glossary
| Abkalani |
a Sindhi word which means flooding by River Indus. |
| Agro-forestry |
is the practice of growing agricultural crops with forest trees. |
| Clear felled areas |
are the areas of forests from where all trees are cut down and are made blank. |
| Dhand and dhoras |
less active or abandoned beds of river which are flooded. |
| Felling |
is the cutting down of trees. |
| Intercropping |
is planting of agricultural crops in between young trees |
| Tending |
weeding, cleaning and thinning operations for tree crop improvement |
| Thinning |
removing some trees to make space for growth of the remaining trees |
Bibliography
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Compiled by
Maliha Haswary
Education Unit IUCNP
Edited by
Abdul Latif Rao
Head, IUCNP-Forestry Programme |
