Fading Shadows: Once Popular Native Trees Vanishing in South Punjab
Atif Ismail
Multan: They once stood like quiet sentinels across South Punjab—majestic Kikar, resilient Shisham, soothing Neem, and the generous shade of the sprawling Bohar. These native trees shaped not just the natural landscape but the very rhythms of life in the region’s villages and towns. Today, they are vanishing—silent victims of unchecked urbanization, agricultural sprawl, and environmental neglect.
For generations, indigenous species like Kikar (Acacia nilotica), Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), Toot (Mulberry), Neem, and Bohar (Banyan) formed the ecological and cultural backbone of South Punjab.
They offered shade on scorching days, firewood for warmth, timber for homes and furniture, and medicinal relief for common ailments. Most importantly, they were communal touchstones—places where elders gathered for evening discussions, where children swung from roots, and where travelers found comfort on sun-drenched roads.
But those trees—those memories—are fading fast.
A Vanishing Heritage
In many rural settlements, the Bohar tree was once revered as a living monument. Its generous canopy hosted weddings, community councils, and impromptu cricket matches. Neem, known for its healing properties, was a staple in courtyards and mosque compounds. Shisham and Kikar supported the once-thriving carpentry and furniture-making industries of Multan and Bahawalpur.
Now, these trees are increasingly rare sights.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/plastic-dreams-when-pollution-replaces-play-in-abdullahs-world/
Environmentalists warn that their decline is not merely an issue of vanishing greenery—it marks a profound cultural erosion. “These trees are more than flora. They are part of our memory, our identity,” said a local historian in Bahawalpur.
What’s Killing the Trees?
The causes are numerous, and deeply interconnected.
Agricultural expansion has been relentless. As land pressure grows, farmers have cleared native trees to make space for cash crops, replacing diverse ecosystems with monocultures. Urban development has bulldozed old canal banks, groves, and village boundaries to make way for roads, housing schemes, and commercial blocks.
Climate change has compounded the problem. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and worsening water shortages have made it difficult for native species to thrive. Shisham, once a resilient hardwood, is now severely affected by dieback disease, a fungal infection flourishing in stressed ecosystems. The lack of investment in research on pest-resistant and climate-adaptive tree varieties has worsened the crisis.
Even local behaviors have shifted. Trees are often felled for firewood or aesthetics, their ecological role overlooked. And when the government does replant, it’s usually fast-growing exotics like Eucalyptus or Conocarpus—trees that provide little support for native biodiversity.
Can the Tide Be Turned?
Experts believe it’s not too late—but action must be swift and sustained.
Reintroducing native tree plantations along canals, roads, schools, and public spaces could start to rebuild lost ecosystems. Engaging schoolchildren in awareness campaigns about the cultural and ecological value of indigenous trees can create future custodians of the land.
Community-led initiatives, such as tree adoption programs, and incentives for farmers to retain old trees, could help preserve what remains. Supporting nurseries that grow native saplings and funding research into resilient Shisham and Neem varieties are also crucial.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/climate-change-is-reshaping-pakistans-agriculture-can-we-adapt/
Legislation is needed too—to protect mature trees from being cut down arbitrarily and to ensure development projects factor in local ecology.
Planting Hope, One Sapling at a Time
According to the Forest Department, the Plant for Pakistan project is underway, with around 736 saplings planted per acre on government land. However, officials admit that local interest remains low due to a lack of short-term gains, while water scarcity threatens the survival of new plantations—especially in remote regions.
The way forward, experts stress, lies in local participation, water-efficient native species, and policies rooted in ecological wisdom, not aesthetics or speed.
More Than Just Trees
These trees are more than passive witnesses to change. They are carriers of memory, symbols of resilience, and quiet bridges between generations. Their loss is not just environmental—it’s emotional, spiritual, and cultural.
If action is delayed, a generation may grow up without knowing the shade of a Bohar tree, or the distinct scent of a Neem leaf crushed between their fingers.
Saving these trees means saving the soul of South Punjab—a legacy that deserves more than fading shadows.
The feature report was released by APP on April 28, 2025.
