Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Plantation on Groundwater Availability in Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract: Eucalyptus tree was first planted in Pakistan in the 1980s under the project of Pakistan Forest Institute
sponsored by United States Agency for International Development. It is not native to Pakistan's environment, so it has
become a threat to the ecosystem. A mature Eucalyptus tree shape is like a shrub or tall tree. It is centered by the
number of controversies like allelopathy, loss of soil fertility, the substitution of conventional forests and causing
various hydro-ecological imbalances of an ecosystem. Eucalyptus tree consumes three times more water in arid and
semi-arid environments, because of vapor pressure deficit. About 80% of Pakistan's area is present in the semi-arid and
arid climate. Pakistan is facing a serious water shortage and rapid groundwater level depletion in many parts of the
country. It is believed that species of Eucalyptus tree are extracting more groundwater than water recharge. Therefore,
the present study is conducted to identify the adverse impacts of Eucalyptus plantation on the groundwater level of
Lahore. Six parks in Lahore were selected as study sites, i.e., Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jillani Park, Nawaz
Sharif Park, Jallo Park, and Johar Town Park. A total of 3,484 Eucalyptus trees were identified with different age
groups. These trees belong to the species of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus
sideroxylone. The study reveals that since 1990, the groundwater level has significantly reduced in study sites. It is
recommended that Eucalyptus trees may be replaced with other indigenous species so that the rate of groundwater
depletion can be slowed down.

Keywords: Eucalyptus, GPS, groundwater, water depletion, Lahore.