Distribution of Gymnosperms In Pir Lasura National Park Distribution of Gymnosperms In Pir Lasura National Park

Survey carried out in June-July 2009 recorded a minimum of 159 plant species with 48 species of trees. Out of these only two species are of gymnosperms; Pinus roxburghii and Pinus wallichiana . One species of trees, Pinus roxburghii is widely distributed. It is present in all communities, and can be found in different combinations with different other species. Both of these species have ethnobotanical value and are used by local population for different purposes.


INTRODUCTION
The State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK,area around 13,200 km 2 ) occupies the western extremities of the Himalayan range with altitudes ranging between 500 m above sea level (asl.) in southern latitudes gradually rising to some 6,500 m (asl.) in the northern flanks. The area is famous for its scenic beauty and fascinating landscape, having permanent snowfields with alpine and subalpine vegetation, coniferous forests, and scrub forests, temperate plantations, dotted with rain-fed agriculture and limited rivarian forests.
Gymnosperms have a considerable ecological and economic value and have drawn much attention from the scientific community (Xiao and Ran, 2014). Pakistan hosts 17 known species of wild Gymnosperms. The Northern Hilly areas of Pakistan reportedly host mainly coniferous plants consisting of P. roxburghii, P. wallichiana, Picea smithiana, Taxus baccata, Abies pindrow and Abies spectabis (Chaudhri, 1963). P. wallichiana, frequently exploited as timber wood for the construction of building and preparation of furniture. P. wallichiana is the most valuable timber, only second to Cedrus deodara, which fetches very high price. The branches of P. roxburghii and P. wallichiana are used for preparation of sweeping material and making roof of huts and houses. It is abundant from Chitral eastward from 1800 to 3500 metres. Its wood is used for preparation of body of trucks and for construction purposes, i.e. doors, windows, etc. It is also used for furniture and fuel purposes.
Pinus roxburghii also known as The Himalayan spruce, is found in Kurram, Dir, Chitral, Swat, Gilgit eastwards and Kaghan but is rare in the Murree hills. A few at Nathia Gali and the northern slope on Mokshpuri. Its wood is used for timber, fuel and furniture. Its resin cleans blood and is used against several toxins. No previous report on gymnosperm diversity of PLNP is available. Sultana et al. (2018). Distribution of Gymnosperms in PLNP J Biores Manag. 5(1): 12-16

MATERIAL AND METHODS
13 Area: PLNP is located in Tehsil Nekyal of Kotli. The national park area falls in east of Kotli town (a district headquarters) at a distance of some 30 km. General area is known by the name of a saint (Pir), known as Pir Lasura. Total area under PLNP, as determined by the satellite mapping comes to 37.44 km 2 (3,744 ha. = 9,251.6 acres). The survey was conducted from June -July, 2009. The PLNP area was physically visited and the boundaries were marked with the help of Local Forest Guard, posted in the area. Important points on boundaries were marked using digitized GPS data on coordinates of such points placed on satellite imagery of the area using GIS (Geographic Information System). Available information on expected biota was collected through literature search and those available with field staff of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Forest Department. Attempts were made to collect/record all the plant species present under different microhabitat variation. Using such data list of the plant species in PLNP area was developed.

Sample collection:
The classification of plants was done using visual observation, comparison of field samples with available literature (Nasir andAli, 1970-2008;Stewart, 1972;Malik, 1992, 1993) and samples accessible at Herbaria of Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, and Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH), Islamabad.
Data from the quadrates was used to establish the relative distribution of the species found in each stand. Stand data was processed using TWINSPAN to develop vegetation types, based upon the stand similarities in the vegetative composition. The probable uses of the species found were confirmed by previously published literature and from the indigenous people.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Association analysis of vegetative cover occupied by different plant species in different stands was conducted using Ward's method (as a linkage method) and Euclidian methods (as a measure of distance). Four main vegetative types were identified, based upon Ward's similarity index, occupying different parts of PLNP. The general distribution of these vegetation types in the area was mapped (Figure 4). Pinus roxburghii, Pyrus pashia, Glochidion velutinum, (trees), Carrissa opaca, Justicia adhatoda L. and Berberis lyceum (shrubs) were present in all vegetative types, contributing to different vegetative covers.

CONCLUSION
Under the heterogeneity of the habitat, PLNP area has high plant diversity. The data available on distribution of plant species in different stands suggested that 96 species appeared in transect sampling. Only two species, Pinus roxburghii (Chir) and Pinus wallichiana (Blue pine) from the clade gymnosperm were observed. However, the analysis of transect data indicated that the relative coverage of these species was high when compared to others.