Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

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Wetlands have significant economic importance for local communities, who harvest several
wetland species of fauna and flora for food and for economic gain. Sindh’s wetlands feed an
ever-increasing human population and a substantial dependent population of wetland
species, both plant and animal. (IUCN 2007).
4.3
Reserve Forests:
Approximately 2.29 percent of the total area of Sindh is covered with forests. The forests of
Sindh are important for soil stabilization, particularly in the vast arid zone of the province as
well as for the protection and productivity of neighboring agricultural lands. Forests are
important sites that support a rich diversity of flora and fauna and meet fuel wood and fodder
needs of local communities. Forests are also important as grazing grounds for livestock and
provide important non-timber products such as medicinal plants, spices, and honey.
Many important forest species are disappearing owing to water deficiency, water logging, and
salinity, all of which induce severe land degradation. This will have far-reaching implications
for other sectors including agriculture, wildlife, and wetlands, to name only a few. Water is the
lifeline of the forest sector and this is rapidly diminishing resource. Coupled with natural
disasters related to climate change and drought, the sustainability of the forests of Sindh is
being threatened.
05
Flora of Indus Ecoregion: