Forested Land

The total area of the district Hangu is 132266 hectares while the total estimated area under forest is 40170 hectares, which is 30.4% of the total area. In Hangu these scrublands comprise of dry subtropical mixed evergreen scrub forests. It is the characteristics of scrub zone that the trees are growing mixed with other bushy vegetation.

Main trees and shrub species in the forests of Hangu district are given below with there Botanical and local names.

The following species are indigenous to the district.

 

S. No.	Botanical Names	Local Names
1.	Dodona Viscosa	Sanatha, Warawoni
2.	Acacia Modesta	Palosa
3.	Monitheca Buxifolia	Gurgura
4.	Prosopis Luliflora	Musquite (Kikar)
5.	Punicea Granatum	Anar
6.	Ficus fruiticase	Fiq
7.	Celtis Australis	Tagho, togh
8.	Nanorohpes Ritchiana	Mazari
9.	Olea Farroginea	Khawan
10.	Acacia Morethania	Ber

 

Source: Hangu Socio Economic Draft Report, District Forest Department,

 

The forested area in Hangu is not confined to a single section. Some areas are under government control while others are privately owned. There are 4 kinds of forests in Hangu.

Government Controlled Forests:

These are fully controlled and managed by the Forest Department and are totally government owned where local people have little or no concessions. They can only collect dry twigs and fuel wood and can graze cattle with the permission of the Forest Department. ¹⁶ In table below, government forests in Hangu along its areas are given,

S. No.	Name of Location	Area (Acres)
1.	Babar Mela	500
2.	Hangu including Khrasha, Lakhti Banda, Bagato	6000
3.	Serki Piala	1200
4.	Khawaja Khizar (Jozara)	704
5.	Samana	3000
6.	Kachi Musa Khel	355
7.	Road side Plantation (Main road Jazora to Thall)	75 Ac/km
8.	Mazri Areas	20000 (Approx)

Source: obtained from district forest department.

Communal Controlled Forests:

There are a number of good forest areas in Hangu that are communally controlled. These forests are mostly controlled and supervised by the villagers themselves. They fulfill local demand for fuel wood and fodder.¹⁷

Individually Controlled Forests:

Individual control refers to a family. Before joining Pakistan, Hangu was a state of Bangash Khans. They still have a major portion of cultivated land and hilly areas in Khalifa Banda, Kach Banda, Zinki and Khrasha. They keep tenants to look after their lands and forests.