Free wild and Fruit plants distributed at Kalash valley lower Chitral.
By Gul Hamaad Farooqi.
CHITRAL: In order to improve the forest cover and enhance alternate livelihoods opportunities in Chilghoza Landscape in Chitral range, thousands of plants of different species have been distributed among the local communities at Kalash Valley Bumburate.
Some 4000 fruit plants and 4000 wild plants were distributed free of cost in Kalash women and children. Fruit plants distribution ceremony was held at Bumborat Divisional Forest Officer Chitral Farhad Ali was chief guest on the occasion. While Ajaz Ahmed Provincial Coordinator GEF Chilghoza Project, Ziaur Rehman Value chain Development specialist, Shahzad Ahmad Deputy Forest Manager Chitral were also present on the occasion.
Talking to the gathering Ajaz said that distribution of Fruits plants was part of the GEF funded project, “Reversing Deforestation and Degradation in High Conservation Value Chilgoza Pine Forests in Pakistan” implementing by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the collaboration of Ministry of Climate Change, forest department Khyber Pukhtunkhaw, with the objective of improved local livelihoods through increased productivity and enhanced services and functions of the Chilghoza forests of Pakistan. The project brings around 30,000 hectares areas of Chilghoza forests under sustainable forest management through active participation of the local communities.
This will also include 3600 hectares under Assisted Natural Regeneration and 800 hectare under agro forestry and farm forestry. He said the Chilghoza Forest Landscape in Chitral is unique in ecological means and economical way.
DFO Chitral Farhad Ali said that forest degradation has consequences for climate, environment vulnerability, biodiversity conservation and livelihoods and there is a need to take joint action for forest Conservation.
He said that joint efforts are required to conserve these forest resource and he urged the local people to plants more trees during the spring tree planting camping’s, he assured that Forest Department will provide plants and ttechnical gguidance to the community. He also appreciated the efforts of GEF Chilghoza Project in restoration of the Forest resources in the target valley.
