Empowering local communities to protect forestry resources and reverse deforestation and forest degradation in high value Chilgoza forests in the Kalash valley of Pakistan
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FAO ;
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The Kalash valley of Chitral district of Pakistan possesses unique culture and forestry resources, including the Chilgoza forests, which are of high conservation value and a major source of livelihood. Chilgoza trees grow very slowly, thrive in high mountain areas of difficult access, and have a very low rate of survival in reforestation. The total forest area in the valley is 7 530 hectares with a population of 11 650. Forestry resources are limited and subject to deforestation and degradation, mainly due to fuelwood collection and animal grazing. 78 percent of these forests are understock and 74 percent of them have little to no regeneration. This has dire implications for the local communities who depend on the forests for products and services.
Following the Kalash community’s request to reverse deforestation and forest degradation, FAO developed a project under The Restoration Initiative (TRI) in line with the national initiative “Clean and Green Pakistan”. It aims to empower local communities and engage them in the conservation and management of the Chilgoza forest by supporting the gender-inclusive Chilgoza Forest Protection and Conservation Committees (CFPCC). As the CFPCCs are endorsed by the provincial Forest Department, they are empowered to implement rules and regulations.
The CFPCC set rules for forest protection (such as stopping the illicit cutting of trees, regulating livestock grazing, protecting wildlife, overseeing the harvesting of non-timber forest products) as well as for the harvesting of Chilgoza cones to prevent both overharvesting and the collection of immature cones. Improved Chilgoza cone harvesting tool sets have been provided and 12 assisted natural regeneration sites have been set up where local communities ensure grazing exclusion. Through local value addition for the Chilgoza nut, local communities increase their revenue. Local empowerment of communities allows for significant deforestation and degradation reduction.
Key words: Deforestation and Forest Degradation, Innovation, Gender, Economic Development
ID: 3485821