Page 39 - 4. Pre-Course Reading-Training on Forestry Audit 2019

Appendix 1: Forestry Audit Case Studies

8. Pests and Desease the balance of soil organic matter and nitrogen.
Eucalyptus is susceptible to termite attacks. Other diseases might 5. Sustainability issues need be linked to feasibility studies;
be introduced in the new ecological settings of Malakand-Dir this should be compulsory.
region.
6. Rehabilitation of the damaged ecosystem be ensured
through mitigation measures, thereby arresting further
decline of resources.
9. Climate
7. Problematic, waterlogged, and saline areas should be
Monoculture (i.e. single-tree plantations) has an adverse effect on reclaimed by planting Eucalyptus trees at scientifically
the environment through creating an imbalance in the biodiversity planned proper intervals.
cycle. The plantations affect the microclimate of the locality
because of greater evapotranspiration, and changes in soil 8. Eucalyptus plantations for shelterbelts and windbreaks
moisture and air humidity. The tree is ultimately bringing about an need also be established in a planned manner.
imperceptible yet definite change in the microclimate of the area.
9. Forest policies need be invoked to make environmental
impact studies mandatory and to establish sustainability
models, before approving forestation projects that promise
10. Poor Planning and Achievements
long-term social and economic benefits to the community.
The planners and implementers of the project have failed to foresee
the multiple problems associated with Eucalyptus plantations. 10. The restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged eco- 39
system be ensured through mitigation measures through

Efforts were not made to provide information to stakeholders, community participation..
including community members, on research findings and
experiences relating social forestry Eucalyptus plantations in other 11. Rotation and diversification of crops may also serve to
countries. The project failed, by and large, to achieve its long-term replenish depleted soils.
objectives as written in the project profile.
12. The overall impact on the national environment caused
by the tremendous number of eucalyptus trees growing in
the country needs be critically examined. And, a policy
11. Results of Field Surveys
needs to be framed to regulate their numbers to a more
Statistical analysis of the data collected through standardized appropriate level.
questionnaires (from 11 villages involving 164 respondents) Source: Office of the Auditor General of Pakistan, 2002. The Impact of Eucalyptus
showed that the majority respondents thought that Eucalyptus Plantations on the Environment under the Social Forestry Project Malakand-Dir. [Online]
plantations had lowered both fertility and the water table. Most Available at: www.environmental-auditing.org
respondents also believed that Eucalyptus had allelopathic effects
on the environment and, overall, was a problematic tree that
carried very little value beyond its use/need as fuel wood. 9. SHORTAGE OF RAW
MATERIALS FOR INDUSTRY

Recommendations
Title: Performance Audit Inbrief; “Sustaining Native
1. Eucalyptus, being a high consumer of water and soil
nutrient, should be planted in rain fed areas with over Forest Operations-Forest NSW”.
(Audit Office of New South Wales, Australia, 2009)
700 mm of annual rainfall, and only after proper planning
and assessment.
2. Careful planning and study is required to determine the Background
water requirements of other trees, plants, animals, and Forest NSW is a public trading enterprise within the NSW
human beings before undertaking Eucalyptus plantations Department of Primary Industries. Its key role is to sustainably
and deciding on the number of Eucalyptus trees per unit
area. The nature and quantity of the ground water resour- manage state forest and maintain timber supply. It also
provides community amenities such as camping areas and
ces need also be determined.
picnic grounds. In order to achieve this, Forest NSW must
3. Adequate thinning should be done in monoculture plan- balance resource management with conserving the natural
tations to reduce the number of trees and also to widen the environment, as well as comply with the many laws and
gaps between them. Indigenous trees species like Phulai regulations that control where and what is to be logged.
(Acacia modesta), Kau (Olea cuspidata), Chir pine (Pinus
roxburghii) and Oak (Quercus ilex) should be planted to
end the monoculture. As a matter of policy monoculture Audit Objectives
should be disallowed. Fruit orchards and economic olives To assess whether Forests NSW manages the supply of
need to be planted. Certain shrubs like Dodonaea viscosa hardwood to meet wood supply commitments and sustain our
(Ghwarraskay or Sanatha) need be planted and properly native forests. Specifically, the audit objectives are to find out
managed to help bring about economic uplift of the people whether Forest NSW:
and fulfill firewood requirements.
1. knows how much native forest and plantation harddwodd
4. To prevent even further nutrient depletion tree leaves and is avalable for harvesting (now and in the future); and
bark should not be removed from the forest floor. Periodic
laboratory testing should be done to monitor the soil nutrient 2. has promised to sell more native forests and plantation
balance even in the converted mixed plantations. Legu- hardwood than it can sustainably supply.
minous plants may be intercropped to assist in maintain