This document is a term paper on afforestation of sand dunes presented by Manoj Ranabhat. It discusses the concept of afforestation and characteristics of sand dunes. Some key points include that afforestation aims to establish forests in areas without vegetation through artificial means. Sand dunes are classified by size and shift due to wind and lack of vegetation. Successful afforestation of sand dunes requires selecting drought-resistant tree species that can stabilize the dunes, conserve moisture, and regenerate naturally. Common species planted include Acacia tortilis and Prosopis chilensis. The paper also discusses techniques for planting, maintenance, and protection of afforested areas.

1. Welcome
&
Nameste

2. A term paper
on
Afforestation on sand dunes
Presentation By
Manoj Ranabhat
M.Sc. Forestry
1st year
Roll No 32

3.  Introduction
 Conceptual
 Discussion
 Conclusion
Framework

4. o
o
Afforestation is the establishment of
forest by artificial means on an area
from which forest vegetation has
always or long been absent.
A sand dune is a mount, hill or ridge
of sand built either by wind or water
flow.

5. The valley or trough between dunes is
called a slack
 Large dune fields are known as ergs.
 Without vegetation, wind and waves
regularly change the form and location
of dunes.
 Dunes are not permanent structures.


6. Sand dunes are generally classified
into three categories :
 (a) small sand dunes - less than 1.5
metre in height,
 (b) medium sand dunes - 1.5 metre to
3 metre in height and
 (c) big sand dunes - more than 3
metre in height .


7. a) Locality factors
The mean annual rainfall in the region
varies from 100 mm to 450 mm.
 a wide variation in temperature range
in the desert.
 The highest temperature is during
May- June when mercury crosses 480 C.
 The mean winter temperature varies
from 140 C. to 160 C. and the lowest
temperature goes below the freezing
point at several places.


8. 

Wind of high velocity ranging 100 km
per hour to 150 km per hour are
experienced during summer.
These sand dunes have high wind
erodibility , high water infiltration, low
moisture capacity and very low
hydraulic conductivity.

9. The common practice of stabilizing sand
dunes consists of two steps;
(i) erecting micro windbreaks across the
wind direction in parallel strips or
checker board design using local
available plant material and
(ii) revegetating the sand dunes by
planting the seedling or sowing
seeds.

10. Rotted cutting of 60-80 cm length are
set into the sand
 Deep planting protects the planting
stock against deflection and secures root
development in comparatively moist
sand layer
 afforestation in these areas calls for
rapid stabilization of the drifting sand
dunes, maximum moisture conservation
and proper utilization, selection of
suitable species and efficient planting
technique


11. Live hedge is preferred because it
protects against wind action. Euphorbia
tirucalli and Jatropha curcus are often
handy for live hedge.
 Plantation of shelterbelt should also
form a part of desert afforestation
 They reduce the wind velocity and thus
check the shifting of dunes in the
leeward side. Windbreaks of Dalbergia

sisso, Albizia lebbeck, Acaia nilotica, A.
tortilis, Zizyphus mauritiana, Tamarix
aculeata, Azadirachta indica, Parkinsonia
aculeata, etc. have been successful.

12. Tree species suitable for dunes
fixation must be highly drought
resistant and have a well developed
root system, which is capable of deep
vertical penetration to reach the lower
moister layers of soil,
 capable of withstanding frost as well
as high temperature of both, abrasive
action of moving sands
 able to regenerate naturally either
through suckers or coppice.


13. capable of producing fire-wood,
charcoal, poles or posts, fodder, fibre
etc.
 For affoerstation of sand dunes the most
successful species are Acacia tortilis and

Prosopis chilensis.


The other species are:A. senegal, A.
nilotica, Tecomella undulanta,Eucalyptus
camaldulensis, Parkinsonia aculeata,
Zizyphus spp, Albiza lebbeck, Ailanthus
excelsa, etc.
Ten to twelve months old seedlings
should be planted in pits of 45 cm3 or
60cm3filled with weathered soil

14. raised nursery beds (about 22cm
high) as is practised in high rainfall
areas , sunken beds, about 30-45 cm
deep from ground level, are made in
arid areas
 raised in planting bricks have proved
very successful for sand dune
 bricks are prepared with the help of a
wooden or steel mould.
 hardening off of seedling should
begin with an exposure of an hour or
two when the sun is fairly low and be
gradually increased


15. Planting times :
 in the summer rainfall regions should
be done after the onset of rainy
season, when the sand is wet.
Whereas, in the regions receiving
winter rainfall, it is available to plant
late in the winter after the severe wind
storm.
 Planting depth:
 On coastal sand dunes, , large-sized
balled nursery stock of Acaia
cyanophilla are planted deep (at least
60 cm) in the sand with only the upper
1 to 3 leaves emerging .


16.  Spacement
:
Depending upon the site conditions
obtaining in different countries
different spacing of seedling have
been adopted. For example, in India ,
a spacing of 5 m2 for most of the tree
species and 2.5 m2 for Casuarina
equisetifolia have been suitable.
 In central Asia, general practice is to
plant with an inter-row and withinrow spacing of 1-2 m, 1 m
respectively


17. Fencing with five strands of barbed
wire and angle iron posts spaced 3-4
m apart has proved most effective and
cheaper in the long run.
 Locally available thorny bushes, ie.
Zizyphus nummularia are also used.
This type of fencing, through cheap,
is costly in the long run due to annual
renewal.


18. Sand dunes are one of the most
degraded land where vegetation is
typically absent, ecologically unstable
and create various environmental
problems and need immediate
afforestation
 Sand dunes have high wind erodibility,
high water infiltration, low moisture
capacity and very low hydraulic
conductivity


19. afforestation in these areas calls for
rapid stabilization of the drifting sand
dunes, maximum moisture conservation
and proper utilization, selection of
suitable species and efficient planting
technique
 species suitable for dunes fixation must
be highly drought resistant and have a
well developed root system, which is
capable of deep vertical penetration to
reach the lower moister layers of soil,


20. species must be capable of withstanding
frost as well as high temperature of
both, abrasive action of moving sands
 also be able to regenerate naturally
either through suckers or coppice
 For affoerstation of sand dunes the most
successful species are Acacia tortilis,

Prosopis chilensis, Parkinsonia spp.
Albiza lebbeck, Ailanthus excelsa etc.

Sand dunes are dominant formation in
Indian desert and practiced specially in
Rajasthan.

21. 




Dwivedi A.P., I.F.S.M.Sc.(Ag) AIFC(Hons).
1993, A Text Book of Silviculture
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissione
r/pip/factsheets/cp/documents/cp-02.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad079e/AD
079e07.htm
Khanna L.S. ,Principle and Practice of
Silviculture

22. for your patience