Agricultural Research Council is now testing such approaches in a pilot program. The appropriate merging of engineering and biological solutions will require substantial participatory research and strong linkages between research and development. Community-based approaches are also needed. To reduce bare fallowing in the Potwar plateau, for example, farmers will have to abandon their traditional system of farming (the _do fasla-do sala_ system), in which fallow land is treated as common grazing land. Property rights will also need to be defined in order to implement more effective soil conservation programs. In the Swat valley, for example, much of the steep land is farmed by Gujars, who have traditional tenancy rights to the land, which is owned by the Puktoons of the valley. Because they do not own the land, the Gujars have little incentive to invest in soil conservation methods such as terracing and leveling.

# _Forests_

Forests occupy only about 5 percent of the land area in Pakistan, and only one-third of the forests are productive in terms of timber extraction. Forests nevertheless plays an essential role in the country's economy because of their importance as sources of fuelwood and grazing land. Almost a third of the nation's energy needs are met by fuelwood, and forests are used for grazing a third of the country's livestock. Catchment forests prolong the lives of the Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs, which are vital for generation of hydroelectric power and regulating water supply to the largest irrigation system in the world.

Over 4.2 million hectares of natural forests, of which 1.9 million hectares is coniferous forest are confined mainly to the northern hilly areas of Pakistan. Scrub forests, riverine forests, and mangrove forests are found in the Punjab and the Sindh. Planted forests include irrigated plantations, riverine forests, linear plantations along roads and canals, and farm trees (trees raised on agricultural farms). Farn forestry represents the largest source of wood, contributing more than 50 percent of total annual growth, 80 percent of timber, and 90 percent of fuelwood harvested in Pakistan. These forests also provide shelter from desiccating winds and sand, allowing marginal lands to be put to productive use; supplement and stabilize farmers' income; and provide farmers with fruits, fiber, fuel, fodder, small timber, green manure, mulch, honey, tannin, and leaves for sericulture. Decomposed tree leaves add nutrients to soil and some trees fix nitrogen. Productivity of these plantations has been falling over the years because of shortage of irrigation water, invasion by thorny shrubs, and inadequate operations and maintenance funds.

Deforestation leads to water erosion, which causes soil losses, siltation of reservoirs, and inefficiency in the irrigation system. This problem is most severe in the northern valleys, where migratory herdsmen and residents of the area have caused substantial destruction. The influx of Afghan refugees into the western border areas has placed additional strains on already overextended resources, and threatens to change the forest and rangeland ecosystem permanently. Deforestation is also a problem in the densely populated Indus Basin, where demand for housing land and crop land is increasing and large livestock herds have been introduced.

Establishing policies that do not distort the value of alternative uses for forest areas is also important. Artificially maintaining high agricultural output prices and low input prices, for example, increases the attractiveness of agricultural production and encourages the conversion of forests into farm land. Institutions are also required to increase awareness of sustainable 19