Juniper dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium oxycedri (DC.) M .Bieb, in Balochistan Province, Pakistan by William M. Cieslal, Ghulam ~o h a r n m e d~ and A. Hafeez ~u z d a r~Arceuthobium oxycedri, occurs from central Spain, across Arceuthobium oxycedn se retrouve dans le centre de I'Espagne, southern Europe, North Africa, the Near East, the Himalayas and dans tout le sud de I'Europe, le nod de I'Afrique, au Prmhe-Orient, western China where it infects Juniperus species and other hosts dans les Himalayas et dans I'ouest de la Chine ou il infecte les espttces of the family Cupressaceae. In Pakistan, A. oxycedn is presentJuniper et autres membres de la famille des Cupressacees. Au ly known from a single location, the Ziarat Forest, an 88,000 ha Pakistan, A. oxycedris a ete retrouve dans un seul endroit, la for6t forest ofJ. acelsa in northern Balmhistan Province where it presentde Ziarat, une forst de 88 000 ha de J. excelsa situee dans le nord ly encompasses a more or less contiguous area of approximatede la province de Balochistan ou il affecte presentement une superly 3,500 ha, or about 4% of the total forest area. A. oxycedn occurs ficie plus ou moins contigue de 3 500 ha, soit environ 4% de la over much of the upper headwaters of the Chasnak and the superficie forestiere totale. A. oxycedri est present dans la plupart Sasnamana Valleys of the Ziarat Forest. In the infested portions des hauts versants des vallees de Chasnak et de Sasnamama de of the Chasnak Valley, an estimated 3 1.76% of the host trees are la forst de Ziarat. Dans les zones infestees de la vallee de infected with a mean area dwarf mistletoe rating (DMR) of 1.53Chasnak, une proportion estimee a 3 1.76 % des arbres hates est and an estimated 2.03% annual mortality rate. Nearly 50% of the infectee selon un taux moyen de superficie du faux-gui (DMR) infected trees have a DMR of 6. By contrast, an estimated 22% de 1.53 et on estime le taux de mortalite annuelle a 2.03 %. Pres of the trees in the Sasnamana Valley are infested with a mean area de 50 % des arbres infectes ont un DMR de 6. Par contre, une pro-DMR of 0.52. No recent tree mortality, directly attributable to A, portion estimee a 22 % des arbres de la vallee de Sasnamana est oxycedri, was detected in the Sasnamana Valley and nearly 50% infectee a un taux DMR de 0.52. Aucune mortalite recente, of the infected trees have a DMR of 1. A. oxycedn was also detectdirectement attribuable a A oxycedris a ete detectee dans la valed in portions of four adjoining drainages. It is estimated that these lee de Sasnamana alors que 50 % des arbres infectes avait un taux infestations have been present for at least 25 to 30 years. In two DMR de 1. A oxycedns a ete egalement detecte dans quelques porof the drainages, the host tree is widely scattered and there is only tions des bassins versants contigus. On estime que ces infestations a limited potential for tree-to-tree spread. In the remaining two sont sur place depuis au moins 25 a 30 ans. Sur deux bassins vervalleys, infestations occur in relatively well stock...

The Ziarat forest in southwestern Pakistan is a fragile ecosystem. Forest health is poor because of harsh growing conditions and dwarf mistletoe infestations, and natural regeneration of the native juniper is sparse. Human use of the forest, especially fuelwood harvesting and grazing, has caused severe degradation. Yet because of its location, its advanced age, and the range of goods and services it provides, the Ziarat forest is a unique resource. The local people are aware of the tenuous condition of their forest, and attempts to manage this forest in a sustainable manner have begun.