The degradation of riverine forests is largely attributable to the unfavourable ecological conditions, that have been a part of the riverine belt. The flooding of these forests have been continuously reducing due to abstraction and extraction of water upstream. The years 1958 and 1973 were very high flood years. Tube-wells and lift-pumps on diesel oil engines or electric motors, were installed by farmers for cultivation. The Forest Department could not change the irrigation system radically and on large scale due to the uncertainty of floods, lack of expertise as well as lack of funds. However, certain initiatives were taken through development financing which are listed in Table 4
Table: List of the development schemes of the riverine forests implemented in Sindh
S. # |
Name of Scheme |
Physical target (ha) |
Total Cost (RS .m) |
1. |
Rehabilitation of riverine forests of Sindh (1966-67 to 1973-74) |
2,400 |
4.0 |
2. |
Re-afforestation of the high lying areas in the riverine forests of Afforestation Circle Sukkur (1982-83 to 1988-89) |
1,600 |
13.0 |
3. |
Re-afforestation of high lying areas in the riverine forests of Afforestation Circle Hyderabad (1982-83 to 1987-88) |
1,480 |
10.5 |
4. |
Raising of fast growing species in Thatta District (1983-84 to 1988-89) |
1,808 |
17.2 |
5. |
Reforestation of High lying areas in the riverine forests of Dadu District (1988-89 to 1992-93) |
? |
? |
6. |
Reforestation of 2000 acres in riverine and irrigated forests of Khairpur District ( 1988-89 to 1993-94) |
8,00 |
13.1 |
7. |
Re-afforestation of high-lying areas in the riverine forests of Larkana District |
3,040 |
41.7 |
8. |
Sindh Forestry Development Project |
21000 |
1144.0 |
"Forestry in Sindh since Independence" Forest, Wildlife &Environment Department, Government of Sindh"
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