Mubashir Ali | Chitral Today
BOONI: Environment activists of Chitral Heritage and Environmental Protection Society (CHIPS) carried out tree plantation campaign in the grazing lands of Booni Gol.
According to a press release, a total of 750 pine saplings, provided by the Upper Chitral Forest Department, were planted during the initiative.
The drive aimed to promote environmental protection and sustainability. Residents of Booni Gol Qasmanda participated in the drive, joining hands with CHEPS to contribute to the vision of a greener and more sustainable future.
This year’s campaign builds on the success of a similar plantation drive conducted last year, initiated by Sajjad Ali, CEO of the Magnus Khel Seed Production Society. That effort also focused on planting trees in the same grazing areas, in collaboration with the local community.
Traditionally, these lands have been used as pastures for livestock. However, the community now envisions transforming them into green spaces to combat the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
Emphasizing the importance of land preservation, CHEPS Chairman Rahmat Ali Jafar stated, “For me, there is no difference between the center of Booni and these mountain grazing lands. If we safeguard these lands, only then can Booni remain protected.”
This initiative stands as a commendable example of how community engagement and collaborative efforts can effectively raise environmental awareness and inspire collective action toward a more sustainable future.
It also marks a significant shift in local priorities where once these lands served as a guarantee for livestock feed, they are now being repurposed as a guarantee for human survival. In today\’s climate-sensitive era, allowing grazing on mountain slopes is akin to inviting ecological disaster.