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Under the auspices of this project, large-scale plantations of Eucalyptus camaldulensis were carried out in the Malakand-Dir region on an area of 22,071.29 hectares. (54,497 acres) yielding over 14.723 million Eucalyptus trees in addition to other plant species. (See map at appendix-I on page-48) The project was aimed to raise the standard of living of the community in the project area by improving the productivity and use of the hillsides and marginal lands. The long-term objectives of the project were to:

1.1. Restore suitable vegetation to the denuded hillsides and marginal farmlands to create an ecologically and economically improved living environment on a sustainable basis.

1.2. Further develop an extension approach for these field activities.

1.3. Stimulate institutionalization of this extension approach at local level and within the N-W.F.P Forest Department.

1.4. In addition to the above objectives the project also emphasized institutional developmental, community organization, range land improvement, women in forestry and the training role of the project for forest staff in and outside the project, with a view to support the expansion and institutionalization of the social forestry in the Forest Department. The project was sponsored by the Government of the Royal Kingdom of Netherlands along with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Forest Department of the Government of the N-W.F.P executed the project with the technical assistance of DHV Consultant BV from the Netherlands and EDC Consultant from Government of Pakistan. Under the financial arrangement of the project, Netherlands provided Dfl 28,719,122 and the Govt. of Pakistan provided Rs. 43,379,000 during the period from July 1992 to June 2000 for implementation of the project. The report was transmitted to the Principal Accounting Officer (PAO) viz. the Secretary to the Government of N-W.F.P., Forest, Fisheries and Wildlife and also discussed with him (PAO) by the Director General Audit N-W.F.P. on the 24th of June, 2002 The views expressed by the PAO coincided with the findings of the Report.

2. FINDINGS
It has been established that although Eucalyptus has been the choice tree species in most of the Social Forestry Projects in the Asia Pacific Region due to its fast growth, high survival rate, short rotation and wide ecological range yet in the Malakand-Dir region, as in some other countries, it has registered pronounced deleterious effects on the environment.

2.1. HYDROLOGY In the Social Forestry Project Malakand-Dir, water shortage has appeared in the project area and dug wells and tube wells are running dry due to lowering of water table. This shortage is attributed to Eucalyptus plantations that have been carried out on a very large scale over the past 13 years resulting in an approximate 14.723 million Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is a tree capable of surviving in desert conditions as well as on waterlogged and Saline Soils. Its elaborate tap root system enables it to “mine” for water in semi-arid and arid conditions thus creating a drain on the water resources.

2.2. LOSS OF NUTRIENTS It was observed that the tree is a fast producer of biomass merely because of the large amount of water and nutrient intake as compared to all local plants and trees. There is also very little return of humus to the soil because of slow decomposition of leaves. There is rapid loss of nutrient reserves from the soil due to short rotation cropping of Eucalyptus trees.

2.3. ALLELOPATHY The tree has visible and scientifically established allelopathic effects on agricultural crops and other plants due to soil poisoning and toxicity. It is generally believed that oil-rich Eucalyptus leaf litter makes the soil toxic for seed germination and plant growth and thereby reduces the yield potential of most agricultural crops, certain grasses and even young Eucalyptus saplings.

2.4. ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL HAZARDS The tree exhibits a number of ecological and social hazards. It has been established as a big fire hazard due to its inflammable leaf litter. In Australia, the USA and India, fires have devastated huge plantations. The roots system of E. camaldulensis has tampered with the under ground utility services in the Hayatabad Township, Peshawar where Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees were cut on a large scale since they had choked and broken the under ground water supply, sewer and drainage pipes. Roadside plantations of E. camaldulensis posed a threat to road travelers and traffic since the tree was liable to breakage during strong winds. The trees have protruded into the drinking wells in the project area contaminating water.

2.5. BIRDS AND ANIMALS The numbers and diversity of animals, birds and insects are less in exotic Eucalypts than in natural forests. The tree does not support nesting and association of most birds because of its oily smell. Its leaves are not consumed by animals and it has therefore no fodder value.

2.6. TREE ECONOMICS E. camaldulensis spreading over 22,071.29 ha of nutrient rich land and hills in Malakand-Dir area should have a definite value in economic terms. However, it has been established that E. camaldulensis is very poor timber since it has twisted and
knotted fibre of short length, highly susceptible to breakage in stress conditions. The locals contend that as compared to other trees, it has little sale price in the market. They do not prefer to use Eucalyptus as fire wood, since they claim, it emits smoke, it has a disagreeable odour of eucalyptus oil and it burns to ash and has thus low heat value.

2.7. SOIL EROSION The tree is found to contribute to soil erosion since the leaves do not decompose soon and are washed away by wind and rain from the hill slopes leaving the soil barren and exposed to erosion. In Malakand-Dir as well as in many other sites studied, Eucalyptus has been found to contribute to soil erosion due to poor or no ground vegetation.

2.8. PESTS AND DISEASES It has been known from many Eucalyptus growing countries and from experiments in research institutions in Pakistan that Eucalyptus has susceptibility to termite attacks. Other diseases might crop-up in the new ecological settings of Malakand-Dir region.

2.9 CLIMATE Monoculture i.e. singletree plantations have definitely cast an adverse effect on the environment by creating an imbalance in the bio-diversity cycle. The plantations have an effect on the microclimate of the locality because of greater evapotranspiration, change in soil moisture and air humidity. The tree is ultimately bringing about an imperceptible yet definite change in the microclimate of the area. 2.10. POOR PLANNING AND ACHIEVEMENT The planners and implementers of the project have failed to foresee the multiple problems associated with Eucalyptus plantations. Efforts were not made to provide information to stake holders including community members on research findings and experiences regarding the characteristics of Social Forestry Eucalyptus plantations in other countries. The project failed, by and large, to achieve its long-term objectives as written in the project profile. 2.11. RESULTS OF FIELD SURVEY Statistical analysis of the data collected through standardized questionnaires from 11 villages involving 164 respondents as sample population revealed that the majority respondents were of the opinion that Eucalyptus plantations had lowered both fertility and the water table. The majority of the respondents believed that Eucalyptus had allelopathic effects on the environment and was a problematic tree that carried very little value beyond its use/need as fuel wood.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS.
3.1. Eucalyptus being a high consumer of water and soil nutrient may therefore be planted in rain fed areas with over 700 mm of annual rainfall after proper planning and assessment.

3.2 A careful planning and study is required to determine the water requirements of other trees, plants, animals and human beings before undertaking Eucalyptus plantations and deciding on the number of Eucalyptus trees per unit area in consonance with water/nutrient availability. This will be like appropriating the water/nutrient budget in the locality to each consumer to avoid imbalance. The nature and quantity of the ground water resources need also be determined.

3.3 Adequate thinning should be done in the monoculture plantations to reduce the number of trees and also to widen the gaps between trees. Indigenous trees species like Phulai (Acacia modesta), Kau (Olea cuspidata), Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) and Oak (Quercus ilex) should be planted to end the monoculture and as a matter of policy monoculture should be disallowed. Fruit orchards and economic olive need be proliferated profit. Orchard trees certain shrubs like Dodonaea viscosa (Ghwarraskay or Sanatha) need be planted and properly managed to attain economic uplift of the people and fulfill fire wood requirement.

3.4 Soil nutrient balance should be critically examined and tree leaves and barks should not be removed from the forests floor so as to prevent further depletion. Periodic laboratory testing should be done to monitor the soil nutrient balance even in the converted mixed plantations. Leguminous plants may be intercropped to assist in maintaining the balance of soil organic matters and Nitrogen.

3.5 Sustainability issues need be linked to feasibility studies and should be made compulsory.

3.6 Rehabilitation of the damaged ecosystem be ensured through mitigative measures so as to arrest further decline of resources.

3.7 Problematic, waterlogged and saline areas should be reclaimed by planting Eucalyptus trees at scientifically planned proper intervals.

3.8 Eucalyptus plantations for shelterbelts and windbreaks need also be made in a planned manner.

3.9 Forest policy need be strengthened to make Environmental Impact Studies mandatory and to establish sustainability models before approving forestation projects that promise long-term social and economic benefits to the community.

3.10 The restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged ecosystem be ensured through mitigative measures through community participation since recovery in the normal course cannot be envisaged even over a
long period of time.

3.11 Rotation and diversification of crops may also serve to replenish depleted soils.

3.12 The overall impact on the environment at the national level by the tremendous number of eucalyptus trees growing in the country need be critically examined and a policy framed to regulate their numbers keeping in view the water nutrient budget and other matters associated with the tree.