Micropropagation of Ornamental Juniper

Balochistan has approximately 141,000 ha of Juniperus forests. Approximately 86,000 ha of these forests are found in the Ziarat and Loralai Districts. It occurs at elevations between 1980 and 3350m. Growing conditions are harsh. Precipitation averages 328 mm annually and occurs mostly as snow.Slopes are steep and soils are shallow and rocky and it is common to see junipers growing in narrow crevices in the limestone bedrock. Ziarat lies at an altitude of almost 8000 feet above sea level at 30.3 latitude and 67.8 longitude. The climate is extremely cold in winter while summers are pleasant. It is rich in biodiversity with large variety of fauna and indigenous medicinally important flora. The evergreen Juniper excelsa forest here is the second largest forest of the world. This is the world oldest living species on the earth also called as living fossils; their age is up to 2000 years