PESHAWAR: Pro-Vice Chancellor of Hazara University, Professor Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, has expressed serious concern over the rapid decline of Himalayan Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum), a rare native tree species found in the forests of the Hazara region.
Dr. Shah said the species, locally known as Raintol, is a distinctive component of the moist temperate forests of the Lesser Himalayas but has now become confined to only a few isolated locations.
According to him, recent photographs and video footage from Chamiali (Thandiani) indicate that only a handful of mature trees remain in the area. Another small and limited population of the species has also been reported from Jalgali in Mansehra District.
He warned that the continued decline of the Himalayan Rhododendron poses a serious threat to the region’s biodiversity and natural heritage, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation measures.
Professor Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba Shah called on relevant government departments, research institutions, conservation organizations and the public to take immediate and coordinated action for the protection, propagation and reintroduction of the species into its natural habitat.
He stressed that safeguarding this rare tree is essential to preserving Pakistan’s unique forest ecosystems and ensuring that this valuable natural heritage is protected for future generations.
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