The effect of deforestation on soil quality in Lesser-Himalayan community forests of Abbottabad, Pakistan

Fuelwood and timber harvesting have induced deforestation in community forests of Lower and Upper divisions of Galliyat. To date, studies showing effect of deforestation on soil characteristics have been conducted in Upper Galliyat especially in Ayubia National Park. This study was conducted to explore the effect of cutting of tree species on soil characteristics in community forests of Lower Galliyat. Forests inventory was carried out to assess the abundance of existing tree species. The plot-based abundance of recorded species ranged up to 67.0 individuals/0.1 ha; where, Pinus wallichiana had highest abundance. The forests’ area was categorized into (i) dense-vegetation zone with abundance of ≥ 41.0 individuals/0.1 ha; (ii) moderate-vegetation zone with abundance of 21.0-40.0 individuals/0.1 ha and (iii) least-vegetation zone with abundance of 0.0-20.0 individuals/0.1 ha. Then, samples were collected from surface (0-20 cm) and sub-surface (20-40 cm) soils from each plot of three vegetation zones. The collected samples were processed to assess bulk density (BD), soil moisture content (SMC), water holding capacity (WHC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and soluble nutrients. The BD, SMC, WHC and pH ranged 1.2±0.21-2.5±0.17 g/cm 3 , 10.0±0.9-27.0±1.77%, 21.0±1.0-39.0±2.7% and 5.8±0.12-6.9±0.15, respectively in three vegetation zones. The EC, SOC and nutrients were not only higher in soil of dense-vegetation zone but also in surface soils in all vegetation zones. The removal of tree species has resulted in either the erosion, quality deterioration or nutrients reduction in soils of community forests in Lower Galliyat. The results will help policy makers to take measures to prevent the erosion and quality deterioration of soil as well as to conserve soil in community forests.