ID Artigo: 856
Titulo: Management of Scarce Water Resources for rehabilitation of degraded rangelands in Arid And Semi-Arid Marginal Ecological Zones of Southern Pakistan
Resumo: Drylands with an aridity index of 0.05-0.65 constitute 40% of the earth surface and 75% of Pakistan. The communities in southern drylands of the country are poor and pastoral. The un-certain rainfalls, water shortage, and mounting pressure from growing human and animal population are resulting in degradation of natural vegetation and loss of soil fertility. The ecosystem rehabilitation work under the SDC funded Farm Forestry Support Project was initiated in 2003 in District Karak using silvo-pastoral system with hillside ditches and sand dune stabilization techniques. The objective was to recover vegetation and increase productivity of the area with minimum cost. The activity was carried out with participation of civil society organizations and farmers’ associations. The results recorded in 2008 showed profuse plant growth in terms of trees, shrubs and grasses with a potential to provide timber, fuel wood and fodder for livestock. Maximum harvesting of rainwater and conservation of moisture also resulted in growth of natural grasses and shrubs. Within a short period of 5 years, plant growth in height and diameter of 6 meters and 20 centimeters respectively was recorded. The average vegetation soil cover of 45% and increase in soil organic mater and nitrogen content was also recorded.
Palavras Chave: Drylands; rangelands; degradation; silvopastoral; water-harvesting; tree growth; fodder