CHITRAL: Forest plants were distributed among local people in Kalash valley of Bumburate under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The plants were distributed under the “Reversing deforestation and degradation in high conservation value chilgoza pine forests in Pakistan” project.
Under this campaign, 15,000 seedlings of forest plants were distributed with the support of the Forest Department Chitral.
Ajaz Ahmad, provincial coordinator FAO KP, said the objectives of the campaign was to improve local livelihoods through increasing the productivity and enhanced services and functions of the chilgoza ecosystem in the selected valleys.
He also said the plants included indigenous multipurpose fast trees which will be used as agroforestry, farm forestry and plantations on degraded sites by the local people/farmers.
The Chilghoza Forest Protection and Conservation Committees (CFPCC) formed in the valley are playing their vital role in facilitating the local people in planting trees, he further added.
An event was held at Bumburate with the participation of local communities, members of the Chilghoza Forest Protection and Conservation Committees and other stakeholders, where free plants were handed over to local communities.
The only solution is to reduce the pressure on the local forest, as these plants provide us with fuel for wood and fodder, added Mr. Abdul Majied Qureshi, President CFPCC Bumburate. He said the chilghoza pine nuts were a major source of livelihood for local communities, and that these forests need to be protected by providing alternative sources of fuel and fodder.
Umair Nawaz, SDFO Chitral, requested the local people to plant the seedlings properly and urged the locals to plant fast growing tree species on farmlands and other sites to reduce pressure on the local forest.