Biosphere reserves of Pakistan
Lal Suhanra
Lal Suhanra National Park | |
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Bhawalpur | |
Coordinates | 29°12′0″N 71°48′0″E / 29.20000°N 71.80000°E |
Area | 162,573 acres (657.91 km2) |
Established | 1972 |
Governing body | Lal Suhanra National Park Administration |
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Location and ecosystem
The reserve is located in the
Wildlife and attractions
The wetland, Patisar Lake, was initially built as a water reservoir and was an important habitat for waterfowl in winter but is now largely covered with reed beds and aquatic vegetation.
Some archaeological remains of an ancient civilization are discovered along the dry Hakra River bed which crosses the park.[8] According to 1997 statistics, around 1 million national and 50,000 foreign tourist visited the park each year.[8] The Punjab government has plans to convert the Lal Sohanra National Park into a wildlife safari park. One of the prominent attractions is the lion safari which allows guests to see lions in their natural habitat at close range.
Ziarat Juniper Forest
Ziarat Juniper Biosphere Reserve | |
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Location | Ziarat, Balochistan, Pakistan |
Nearest city | Ziarat |
Coordinates | 30°23′54″N 67°44′00″E / 30.39833°N 67.73333°E |
Area | 247,000 acres (1,000 km2) |
Established | 2013 |
Governing body | Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department |
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Ziarat Juniper Forest is a biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2013.[10] It is the largest contiguous natural Juniper forest in Pakistan. It is also the second oldest, trailing behind the one in California.[11] The forest ecosystem is considered to be the second largest in the world and is home to some of the oldest species of Juniperus excelsa. The forest has a global significance because it is considered vital for carbon sequestration.[12]
Location
The total area of the reserve is 111,852 ha (1,118.52 km2) of which 11,243 ha (112.43 km2) is the core area including 40,090 ha (400.9 km2) of transition area and the rest 60,519 ha (605.19 km2) is buffer zone.
Wildlife
There are many important species found in this ecosystem including animal and birds, The Suleiman markhor, urial, black bear, and wolf, as well as more common species such as Afghan pika, fox, jackal, and several species of birds like chukar partridge are found. The forest also contains a rich diversity of plant species of medicinal significance with over 50 percent of the 54 cataloged species known to have medicinal or ethno-botanic value, which local people use as indigenous treatments for a variety of diseases. In Ziarat a herb called Ephedrasinica is found in abundance from which a chemical called ephedrine is extracted.[13]
Palas valley
See also
- National Parks of Pakistan
- Protected areas of Pakistan
References
- ^ "Biosphere Reserves". Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development. UNESCO. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Asia and the Pacific". Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development. UNESCO. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ "Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development". UNESCO. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Trans-boundary actions are needed to protect biodiversity". Technology Times. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- ^ "Protected Areas". WWF Pakistan. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ "Drylands and Desertification". Flanders-UNESCO Trust Fund for Science. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Lal Suhanra National Park". Wildlife of Pakistan. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lal Suhanra". Biosphere Reserve Information. UNESCO. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Muhammad Akram; Zameer Ahmed Soomro. "Rehabilitation of degraded dryland rangelands through scientific management of land, water and vegetation resources and grazing systems in Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve" (PDF). Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Bhagwandas (1 June 2013). "Ziarat juniper forest added to Unesco list". DAWN. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "Pakistan's Juniper Forest makes it to the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves". IUCN. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "Man and Biosphere initiative for Juniper forests of Balochistan". UNESCO Pakistan. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- ^ "Juniper Forests, Ziarat". WWF. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "Prospects and implications of promoting Palas Valley, Kohistan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve" (PDF). Palas Conservation and Development Project. WWF Pakistan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2012.