Communities asked to be tolerant to wildlife species

CHITRAL, April 16: The Snow Leopard Foundation Chitral organized closing ceremony of one of its USAID-SGAFP funded project in Chitral. The project closing ceremony was attended by a large number of NGO heads, government officers, community activists and mediapersons, says a press release. Divisional Forest Officer Wildlife Imtiaz Hussain was chief guest on the occasion. Hafeez Buzdar, Director Conservation SFL, gave presentation about its organization and the phasing out project which was funded by USAID-Small Grant Ambassador’s Fund Program. It was stated that the Snow Leopard Foundation undertook a project “Snow Leopard Conservation through Practical Measures in Six Villages of District Chitral”. This project was executed in the villages of Mori Payeen, Barghuzi, Koghuzi, Kuju Payeen, Bokhtuli and Parsan. Under the USAID-SGAFP project, the SLF Chitral helped the communities in construction of predator’s proof corral, training community workers in animal husbandry, livestock vaccination and providing environmental education student through the establishment of students Nature Clubs. Mr. Imtiaz Hussain, Divisional Forest Officer Wildlife, lauded the work of SFL and thanked USAID-SGAFP for supporting the communities. He stressed the importance of wildlife in Chitral and said the communities must be tolerant to wildlife species which were our precious wealth. The DFO said that Chitral was habitat of precious wildlife thus ecotourism could be promoted here. He said that other organizations should also work in conservation sector to strengthen the important area. He promised full support to the organizations.]]>