Project Title Plantation of 1000 Ficus Trees (Banyan and Pipal) for restoration of habitat of

more than 100 avian species in District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan

Project Information

Project Cost : Rs. 415,000 WWF-P Funding : Rs. 300,000 Partner’s Share : Rs. 115,000 Project Duration : One Year Project Start Date : April 12, 2012 Project End Date : April 11, 2013

PROJECT LOCATION & BENEFICIARIESLocal Communities of 12 villages in District Kasur

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Habitat restoration of more than 100 avian, mammalian and reptilian species

Afforestation through planting 1000 Ficus trees Environmental education and awareness raising

among the local communities Support to the local culture associated with the

Ficus trees in the study area

Methodology

Nursery Raising for Ficus trees included Vegetative Propagation Method.

Among Vegetative Propagation Method following two techniques were adopted;

A. Plant Cutting

B. Air layeringNote: In addition, 100 % success was observed while

experiencing seed germination

Results

1,200 Banyan plants have been planted at 100 different sites in a stretch of 20 x 10 km in the project area

2,300 Pipal plants have been planted in the project area Awareness raising campaign Motivation / sensitizing to the local communities Identifying local partner CBOs The foundation stone of habitat restoration have been laid in the

project area and it is expected that in the coming few years, the planted 3,500 Ficus trees will add to the habitat of different faunal species

Project’s outputs not achieved and reasons?

All the project outputs have not only been achieved but some extra activities have also been conducted. These

include development of techniques for;

Pipal seed extraction Pipal seed germination Air layering preparation Plantation of trees in far beyond number than the agreed

number in the project i.e. 3500 trees in place of 1000

Conclusions & Recommendations

There is a misconception that Pipal trees are not the preferred tree species. The Safwan Foundation has received a number of applications demanding the Pipal trees in large numbers due to its being non-shady characteristics and having a timber value.

Air layering is a time saving technique but if we want to plant millions of trees than bottle method is best and cheapest among all.

The time span (one Year) is too short for Ficus trees project. A minimum 3-year project should be launched to get the excellent results.

Due to high fluctuations in fuel prices, transportation is very expensive and nursery raising is a capital intensive as well as labor intensive followed by knowledge/skill intensive job, due to above mentioned factors minimum 0.6 million (PKR) is a recommended amount for such a project.

VISITING OF PLANT NURSERIES

The Staff of SF visited 25 Nurseries

The staff of Safwan Foundation visited 25 nurseriesin Pattoki to obtain the Pipal Seedlings, 24 of themtotally refused to provide even a single plant. Onlythe Zam Zam nursery claimed that they had theseedlings. They demanded 200 PKR per one year oldplant. Later we visited the site and witnessed theplant seedlings.

Mr. Muhammad Saleem 0300-4092929.

Mr. Muhammad Ghaffar 0300-4086363.

Zam Zam Nursery.

Selection of Sites with GPS CO-Ordinates

Community Participation- The Volunteers

Involvement of local Communities

TWO PUPPET SHOWS

Agreements with local CBO’s

Land Acquiring for Nursery

Preparation & Conservation of Rooting Hormones

Types of Rooting Hormones

K-IBA 0.5/500 ml with Acetone water soluble.

Indole Butyric Acid (C12 H13 NO2=203.74) 1gm/1000 gm.powder based IBA.

Willow Tea .

Aspirin as rooting hormones.

Propagation via Vegetative Means

Plant Cutting

Air Layering

Head Cutting

Propagation via Seed

Pot Method

This method is very easy and cheap.

Bottle Method

The bottle method is also cheap, although this is a bit tricky method but germination rate is amazingly high.

Inspection of the Project

Preparation for Pipal Seedlings

SUCCESSFUL GERMINATION

Promotional Material-Undertaking by volunteers

Slogans in the form of brouchers/handouts

Messages

Media Coverage

Total Plantation

Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) 1200 plants

Pipal (Ficus religiosa ) 2300 plants

Grand total 3500 plants

Back up Stock 5000 Plants

Achieved 3 times than the original target.

Recommendations

The time span (one Year) is too short for ficus trees.

minimum 3 years required to chase the excellent results.

Due to high fluctuations in fuel prices transportation is very expensive and nursery raising is a capital intensive as well as labor intensive followed by knowledge/skill intensive job, due to above mentioned factors minimum 0.6 million (PKR) is a recommended amount for such a project.

Thanks to WWF-P

I, on the behalf of my supporters and volunteers of Safwan Foundation, Samaj Sewa Development Foundation and Heaven East Community Board are thankful to WWF-P for their financial and technical assistance for the successful completion of this long term habitat restoration project .

Safwan Shahab Ahmed/Project Executant