The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Published by: IUCN Pakistan, Sarhad Programme Office.

The World Conservation Union

Copyright: © 2007 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Pakistan and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan was prepared by the The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Pakistan.

It was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Citation is encouraged. Reproduction and/or translation of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan, provided the source is fully acknowledged.

Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan.

The contents and the opinions expressed do not constitute an endorsement by the SDC.

Citation: GoNWFP and IUCN Pakistan (2007). Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan. IUCN Pakistan, Peshawar, Pakistan. 36 pp.

Author: Inam Ullah Khan

Editor: Dhunmai Cowasjee

ISBN: 978-969-8141-91-2

Design: Azhar Saeed, IUCN Pakistan

Printed by: Ferozsons Printers (Pvt) Limited

Available from: IUCN Pakistan Sarhad Programme Office House No. 109, Street 2 Defence Officers Colony Peshawar, Pakistan Tel: 091-5271728/5276032 Fax: 091-5275093 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Contents

Abbreviations 3

Executive Summary 4

Introduction 6

Background to the Projects 7 Natural Resource Focus 7 Partners 8

The Natural Resource Management-Livelihood Nexus 10

North West Frontier Province 10

Chitral 10 Sustainably Managing Non-timber Forest Products: Chilghoza Pine Nuts, Shishi Valley 11 Equitably Distributing Increased Irrigation Water, Kiramatabad, Mulkhow Valley 12 Encouraging Environment-friendly Mining Practices 14

Abbottabad 14 Sustainably Using Natural Assets, Narhotar Village 14

Dera Ismail Khan 15 Adopting a Livelihoods Approach to Warm Water Fisheries, River Indus and Thathal Lake 16

Peshawar 16 Improving Women's Livelihoods through Mushroom Farming, Union Councils Wadpaga and Kaneeza 17

Northern Areas 17

Ghizer 18 Benefiting Communities from Cold Water Fisheries, Gupis Valley 18

Diamer 19 Linking Rural Communities and Non-timber Forest Products, Hudur Valley 19

1

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Reflections from the Field 20 Exercising Natural Resource Ownership and Use Rights 20 Increasing Incomes and Improving Livelihoods 22 Involving Women in Natural Resource Management and Livelihood Opportunities 23 Involving the Marginalized and the Poor 24 Influencing Changes in Policy and Legislation 25 Assessing the Sustainability of Natural Resource Use and Management 26

Mushroom Farming 27 Chilghoza Forests 27 Fisheries 28 Water Resources 29 Natural Resources 29

Lessons Learned 30

References 31

Annexure I: Guidelines for Innovative National Resource Management/Livelihoods Model Projects 32 Annexure II: Criteria for Identification/Selection of Natural Resource Management/Livelihoods Projects 34 Annexure III: Criteria for Selection of Local Meso-level Partner Organizations 35

Annexure IV: Projects 36

2 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Abbreviations

AKRSP Aga Khan Rural Support Programme D.I. Khan Dera Ismail Khan IC Intercooperation IDVs Integrated Development Visions IPRP Innovation for Poverty Reduction Project IUCNP The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Pakistan LGO Local Government Ordinance 2001 NA Northern Areas NASSD Northern Areas Strategy for Sustainable Development NGO Non-Governmental Organization NRM Natural Resource Management NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products NWFP North-West Frontier Province PSNP Programme Support for Northern Pakistan SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SERVE Sustainable Education, Rural Infrastructure, Veterinary Care and Environment SPCS Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy SRSP Sarhad Rural Support Program UC Union Council WCS Wildlife Conservation Society WWFP World Wide Fund for Nature - Pakistan

3 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Executive Summary

xecuted from June 2004 to strategies or IDVs were already June 2007 with support formulated. E from SDC, PSNP aimed to support sustainable development The model projects not only in the NWFP and NAs by carrying attempted to demonstrate the link forward institutional mechanisms between poverty and equity with developed over past phases of the economic development and SPCS support projects, applying sustainable management of natural the lessons learnt from developing resources but also translate some the Abbottabad and Chitral district of the priorities of the IDVs and strategies to other districts in the strategies into on-ground NWFP and NAs and sharing implementation to demonstrate that experiences gained from sustainable management of natural implementing these strategies. resources is key to addressing poverty issues. With partners in the With new global trends and lead, the model projects were priorities, the context of the process-cum-result-oriented programme also underwent a endeavours, focusing on adding change. As a result, the challenge value to on-going partner initiatives for PSNP was to demonstrate the or designing actions to optimize contribution of healthy ecosystems approaches used by partners. and natural resources on reducing poverty and improving livelihoods To design and implement the model as well as to forge partnerships at projects, PSNP developed the local level for taking the work guidelines that included criteria for forward. selection of NRM-related initiatives as well as meso-level partner This led to the initiation of eight organizations. Together with an NRM-related model projects understanding of innovative and implemented through partners in successful community-based two geographical locations: in the natural resource management districts of Abbottabad, Chitral, projects carried out to date in D.I. Khan and Peshawar in the northern Pakistan, the criteria were NWFP and Ghizer and Diamer in used to select areas of intervention. the NAs. These sites were chosen to cover northern Pakistan and In order to monitor socio- areas for which conservation economic and ecological changes

4

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

occurring as a result of the initiatives, the projects carried out baselines studies covering socio- economic parameters, demography, natural resource status, tenure, rights, equity and benefit distribution and use patterns. To validate the results, assessment studies and joint evaluations were conducted. The findings confirmed that most model projects delivered positive tangible results.

Project outcomes can be conveniently divided into exercising natural resource ownership and use rights, increasing incomes and improving livelihoods, providing women with Community Elders in Hudur Valley, Gilgit natural resource management and livelihood opportunities, involving rural areas despite their the presence of linkages between the marginalized and poor, contribution to household incomes poverty and equity with economic influencing changes in policy and remaining low and involvement in development and sustainable legislation and assessing household chores virtually invisible, management of natural resources. sustainability of natural resource strategies and interventions to Adopting approaches that use and management. involve them in development address community needs and activities were also devised. help them realize conservation The interventions sensitized benefits, enhance community community elders to create space Sustainability issues, both in terms acceptance of external for the marginalized and poor by of the natural resource and interventions, involve all involving them in planning and initiative, were duly addressed. stakeholder groups, including implementation on the one hand With trends used as indicators local activists as well as the and taking decisions in favour of towards sustainability, the marginalised and poor, in the addressing equity issues on the interventions demonstrated that design, planning, implementation, other. Similarly, the projects were natural resources needed monitoring and evaluation of able to garner support of policy management in order to provide interventions, adapt formal makers for initiating change, sustainable benefits. planning and management tools bringing into practice participatory, for village-based institutions and community-based natural resource During the process, some very tailor initiatives to match existing management aimed at conserving useful lessons were learnt that models of society play a pivotal natural resources and improving can potentially help guide similar role in creating an environment in livelihoods. initiatives in different cultural, which communities can economic and ecological settings. participate proactively in the Given that women constitute a These lessons suggest that NRM development process and sizable portion of the workforce in initiatives can only be sustained in successfully implement initiatives.

5 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Introduction

UCN's mission worldwide is to developed. These IDVs were well conserve the integrity and received by district governments I diversity of nature and ensure and adopted as official documents that natural resources use is for implementation. equitable and ecologically sustainable. In Pakistan, IUCN The work in the NWFP, including played a key role in preparing a the provincial strategy and district national conservation strategy, visions, were supported from the three provincial conservation start by the SDC that had also strategies for the NWFP, partially supported work in the Balochistan and Sindh and a NAs. This led to the development strategy for sustainable of PSNP, a broader IUCN development of the NAs. In the programme in the north of NWFP, one of the Pakistan, covering the NWFP and recommendations of the the NA. PSNP built on the success conservation strategy was to of the four phases of the SPCS to devolve governance, particularly of respond to the changing context the environment, to administrative of decentralization and influence levels such as districts that were policies and institutions to support directly managing and using sustainable use of natural natural resources. Abbottabad and resources at the local level. The Chitral were chosen for this programme also capitalized on experiment and efforts were made experiences gained in developing to develop district-level the NASSD. conservation strategies. While continuing to work with At about the same time, political provincial and local governments, support for decentralization the emerging challenge was to continued to grow, culminating in demonstrate the contribution well- the approval of LGO 2001. The functioning ecosystems and ordinance called for a vision for natural resources could make each district. As a sequel to this towards poverty reduction and decision, district strategies were improving livelihoods. To this end, adapted to fulfil the requirements PSNP set out to build recognition of a vision and IDVs for Chitral and of the ways in which people Abbottabad were formulated. Later, depend on goods and services an IDV for D.I. Khan was also provided by natural ecosystems

6 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

for their day-to-day income and projects. Equally, attempts were sustainable natural resource their long-term well-being. made to implement some priorities management to improve rural Likewise, the focus shifted from of the provincial and regional livelihoods. But they also building institutional capacities strategies and IDVs on the ground. attempted to identify unwise needed for integrating natural resource use and environmental considerations into Each project was designed management practices to influence development planning to work at through a participatory, district and local institutions the local level, strengthening consultative approach, applying towards more equitable and networking and relationships lessons learnt to ongoing efforts. sustainable systems. between local governments, Particular emphasis was placed on communities and development involving women and marginalized Natural Resource Focus organizations working in the field. groups in planning, PSNP's goal also included creating implementation, monitoring and The model projects built on fora for collective decision-making evaluation. The projects focused lessons learnt from past and and developing processes to on adding value either to on-going current initiatives. As such, all ensure equitable and sustainable field initiatives or approaches innovative, successful community- use of natural resources. being used by other development based NRM projects carried out to organisations and local institutions. date in northern Pakistan were Background to the The main thrust was to design identified and assessed. In Projects people-centered projects to addition, organizations involved in enhance human well-being as well developing NRM projects meant to Efforts to demonstrate that as the natural resource base on impact positively on rural sustainable management of natural which it was primarily dependent. livelihoods were approached for resources can be key to Essentially, these replicable their understanding of local addressing poverty issues were projects were meant to test approaches to sustainable made through eight model interventions supportive of resource use. Initiatives were then selected based on guidelines (see Annexure I) and a criteria (see Annexure II) based on relevance to environmental conservation, potential for sustainable management of the critical natural resource and livelihood improvement of local communities, especially disadvantaged groups and women, community stake and replicability.

This resulted in five focus areas: utilization of natural assets: forests and chilghoza pine nuts water resources and use rights water resources and livelihoods environment-friendly mining mushroom farming Meeting of community members in Khalti, Gilgit

7 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Partners and smaller institutions that could disseminated the knowledge be encouraged to work in gained. In short, the partners were Carried out in partnership with environment-poverty alleviation responsible for implementing the other organizations, the projects programmes. projects while IUCN provided aimed to benefit from the strength value-added to their efforts in of partners in community Once the initiatives and partner order to build institutional capacity mobilization and training, fostering organizations were selected, IUCN for replicating the interventions. gender and equity concerns, held joint meetings with them to promoting sustainability of the develop the projects, define roles The partner organizations were: resource base, addressing and assign financial ownership and usufruct, responsibilities. To simplify the Aga Khan Rural Support forwarding input for policy process, a standard project format Programme discussions and legislation, was developed with terms of Established by the Aga Khan monitoring project impacts on the partnership defined on a case-to- Foundation in 1982, AKRSP is a livelihoods of local communities case basis. To monitor the socio- community-based development and knowledge management economic and ecological changes organization that has experience of through documenting and sharing resulting from the initiatives, the working in northern Pakistan in the experiences and learning. projects initiated baselines studies field of integrated rural covering socio-economic development. By organizing local Partners were selected using parameters, demography, natural human, physical and financial specific criteria (Annexure III), resource status, tenure, rights, resources, AKRSP enables rural including their credibility in the equity and benefit distribution and communities to fulfil development project area, values on use patterns. To validate the needs through self-help and environment, development, social results of the projects, assessment eventually self-reliance. AKRSP justice, gender, equity, studies and joint evaluations were works in all five districts of the NAs governance and sustainability and conducted. and in Chitral District, NWFP, in 'fit' within the implementing pursuit of its mission of fostering organization's ethos and As envisioned, partner grassroots development. philosophy. It was mandatory for organizations took the lead in the partner organization to motivating and working with Intercooperation demonstrate clear strategic communities to raise awareness IC is a Swiss foundation engaged orientation and organizational on the contribution of natural in development and international structure, relevant experience in resources to livelihoods and cooperation since 1982. The implementing development poverty alleviation, the need to foundation's primary aim is to projects in a cost efficient, improve environmental conditions, alleviate poverty in rural areas effective manner through in-house access and benefit sharing with through pro-poor approaches and or engaging external expertise. marginalized groups, particularly working with committed partners. Apart from having sound women, and encourage enterprise IC Pakistan is an active member of monitoring and reporting systems, development and business the IC global network and believes the partner had to be innovative, approaches. IUCN provided in empowering partners to access learning- oriented with the technical assistance and financial and manage human and financial capacity to document and share support, conducted baseline resources. The IC-sponsored experiences. IUCN finally chose a studies on natural resources, 'Innovation for Poverty Reduction mix of partners: civil society socio-economic conditions and Project' (IPRP) is working to organizations that are well use rights, monitored progress, demonstrate that livelihoods of established in the NWFP and NAs documented the process and poor communities can be

8

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

improved by innovative, market- Sustainable Education, Rural experience and expertise in field- oriented diversification in NRM, in Infrastructure, Veterinary Care based conservation, WCS is today this case through the sustainable and Environment working in 53 nations across use of NTFPs. In Shishi Valley, Popularly known as SERVE, the Africa, Asia, Latin America and Chitral, IPRP is working with D.I. Khan-based NGO began North America for the communities harvesting and operations in 1998 with a focus on conservation of wild landscapes marketing chilghoza pine nuts. addressing poverty issues through that are home to a vast variety of mobilization, socio-political and species. WCS activities in northern Chitral Mine Owners Association political change. SERVE Pakistan include strengthening The Frontier Mine Owners contributes to this vision by management systems, improving Association (FOMA) seeks to bring supporting and working with collaboration between all relevant stakeholders on one community-based organizations on communities, government and platform to develop and promote socio-economic development other relevant stakeholders, the mining sector and create initiatives that can potentially creation of community resource employment opportunities in the empower marginalized groups and conservation and social region. The Chitral Mine Owners in turn reduce poverty. development organizations and Association, a chapter of FOMA, sub-committees to act as entry was established in 2001 with Sungi Development Foundation points for potential management members drawn from the entire Sungi Development Foundation conservation and development district. was established in 1989 to work ventures through interested at the grassroots level in what was stakeholders, wildlife research and Sarhad Rural Support Program then Hazara Division in the NWFP. surveys and community Established in 1989 in the NWFP, With the principal aim of conservation education. the SRSP is an NGO with a promoting good governance, livelihood-based approach to rural democratization and poverty World Wide Fund for development. SRSP works as a alleviation, Sungi focuses on Nature - Pakistan catalyst organization, providing empowering marginalized With country headquarters in communities with technical and communities through integration Lahore, six regional offices in material support and social into mainstream development Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, guidance to realize latent abilities. processes, advocacy for Gilgit, Quetta and Muzaffarabad Organizational capacities include enhanced livelihoods and rights as and project offices in Chitral, Zhob, community development, well as national-level policy and Nathiagali, Swat, Sonmiani, Jiwani, participatory infrastructure, gender institutional changes for pro-poor Khabeki (Salt Range) and Gahkuch and development, education, development. Sungi's fieldwork is Ghizer, WWFP works for the micro-finance, micro-enterprise carried out in select parts of the conservation of natural resources and NRM. Over time, SRSP has NWFP, Punjab and Azad Jammu through active participation of been supported by various donors, and Kashmir. local communities. Since 1990, including the World Bank-funded WWFP is involved in the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society conservation and protection of Canadian International Since 1895, WCS has worked nature and natural resources in the Development Agency, UK from its Bronx Zoo headquarters in Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindu Department for International New York City, USA, to inspire Kush mountain ranges by Development, Swiss Agency for care for nature, provide leadership preserving genetic, species and Development and Cooperation and in environmental education and ecosystem diversity and ensuring US Agency for International help sustain global biological sustainable use of renewable Development. diversity. With over 100 years of natural resources.

9 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

The Natural Resource Management-Livelihood Nexus

he projects (Annexure IV) through mountain passes that are were initiated in Northern all over 3,500 m (only the Lowari T Pakistan in areas for which and Shandur are motorable) or by IDVs or provincial/regional air. For four to five months in the conservation strategies were winter, the district is completely already prepared. This covered the cut off from the rest of the country. districts of Abbottabad, Chitral and D.I. Khan in the NWFP and The climate in general is dry Ghizer and Diamer in the NAs. temperate, ranging from sub-humid in the lower parts of the district North West that receive between 500 and Frontier Province 1,000 mm of rain annually to cold arid in the upper parts, particularly Chitral the high mountains that get less than 125 mm of rain in the year. The largest district in the NWFP, Chitral covers 14,850 sq km with a The Chitral IDV includes several population density of recommendations to improve approximately 21 people per sq management and use of natural km. The district is bound on the resources. All are based on issues north and west by Afghanistan raised by people during (specifically the provinces of consultations undertaken to Wakhan, Badakhshan and develop the vision and their Nooristan), on the south by the subsequent prioritizing. The highest districts of Upper Dir and Swat priority is the need to bring and the east by the NAs. additional land under irrigation based on the potential of the level Topographically, the area is land still available to support extremely rugged and agriculture. This, in turn, is mountainous with several deep, dependant on sufficient water being narrow valleys. The Hindu Kush available to irrigate the additional Mountains in the area have 40 land and the cost-effectiveness of peaks exceeding 6,000 m in conveying water to areas selected height, including Tirichmir, the for cultivation. A corollary to this highest peak in the range. Chitral priority is that disputes over land is also the most isolated district in ownership and water rights need to the province, accessible only be resolved as they would form a

10 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

critical part of any plan to increase household incomes.

Similar importance needs to be accorded to creating employment opportunities and poverty alleviation in the long term. Another priority highlighted by the IDV is the sustainable management of renewable resources such as forests, including NTFPs such as chilgoza pine nuts, to deliver multiple goods and services to meet the needs of people. Finally, Chitral's mineral deposits could provide both employment and financial resources for the district, provided that infrastructure is improved, investment and partnerships between the private-sector and Chilghoza Pine cone communities are fostered and environment-friendly mining about 58,940 ha. The Shishi Valley Land ownership is different in each measures are adopted. Accordingly, is drained by the Shishi River, village. In Askaari, Bayak and the projects undertaken in Chitral flowing north-east to south-west Bela, ownership is disputed and covered the areas of forestry, water which convergences with the under litigation. In Balpanj, a few supply and mining. Chitral River near Drosh. The tree is households have purchased the found scattered among oak and land while the rest are tenants Sustainably Managing deodar forests or as pure stands on paying a meagre amount to lease Non-timber Forest Products: drier, hotter aspects. the land. As such, they have Chilghoza Pine Nuts, Shishi become de facto owners: the Valley Shishi Valley is inhabited by four actual owners would have to go to Chilghoza pine is native to the ethnic groups: Chitralis, Pathans, court to raise the rent or get the subcontinent and natural to Chitral Gujars and Persian-speaking land vacated. In the Chitrali- in the Hindu Kush Range, parts of people in the village of Madaglasht. speaking villages, land ownership Dir Kohistan, South Waziristan and In the 10 villages in the project is clear but settlers are at a the Suleiman Range of Balochistan. area, which lies in the upper middle disadvantage due to restricted The tree also grows in the Western part of the valley, slightly more than access to forests and in turn to Himalayas on each side of the Pak- half the people are Chitralis (54%) timber, fuelwood and NTFPs India border. In the NAs, it is found with the remaining divided between such as pine nuts. In Kotek, in Diamer and parts of Nagar Valley Gujars (26%) and Pathans (20%). villagers have settled ownership in Gilgit district. Birgah, Daam, Kalaas and Ziarat by purchasing land from the are Chitrali-dominated villages, owners. Overall, 65 percent of Chilghoza pine can be found in while Balpanj is purely Pathan. households are landholders, Shishi, a large side valley in the Bayak and Bela are dominated by 27 percent are tenants and the southern part of Chitral with several the Askaris, Kawaash and Kotek remaining 8 percent are villages scattered over an area of with small groups of Gujars. landless.

11 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

In Shishi, landholdings are small - pine nuts. Consequently, the capacities of local community an average of 0.23 ha per demand for nuts as well as its organisations in value addition and household - and have low price increased substantially entrepreneurship through improved productivity. The same is true for leading to unsustainable harvesting, processing and direct livestock owing to poor quality, harvesting. Pickers cut off marketing of pine nuts. Women underfed stock. A large area of the branches or even whole trees to were involved in the trade through valley is under rangelands that are get easier access to the cones, the processing process, including degraded. Similarly, the forests are jeopardizing future productivity extraction of nuts from cones, under tremendous pressure from and tree stands in some areas. extraction of kernels from the nuts, logging (for timber and fuelwood) Moreover, there were serious and polishing, grading and packing and grazing. The infrastructure too accidents every year, as cone of kernels. PSNP's interest was in is in poor condition and education, collecting is a hazardous activity resource mapping by documenting health and extension services are with the pickers having to climb prevailing socio-economic inadequate. Though labour is trees. Also, climbing trees meant conditions, customary and available, employment opportunities that harvesting was carried out by statutory rights to natural are restricted as only a few have the only a few households roughly resources and the status of the skills required to be hired. estimated at less that 31 percent. natural resource base and Women were not involved as cone prevailing management conditions. Close to a subsistence level of collection was an exclusively male living, households depend on a activity. Equitably Distributing Increased variety of income-generating on Irrigation Water, Kiramatabad, and off-farm activities, with the The IC Foundation's IPRP was Mulkhow Valley latter being more common. Over 56 working in Shishi Valley on Mulkhow, a remote valley in percent of the income is from chilghoza management since 2003, northern Chitral, is located in the labour (local, within the district and focusing mainly on community rain shadow zone, receiving scant services), 19 percent from forest organization, harvesting techniques rainfall in summer and precipitation resources (sale of timber, fuelwood, and safety measures (low cost tools mostly in the form of snow during mushrooms and chilghoza but and tree climbing training), and winter. The project covered the excluding forest labour), only 17 marketing (separating nuts from Kiramatabad area and five villages percent from agriculture (crops, cones and selling at Bannu). Given in the valley: Chatandok, Pasun, walnuts, fodder and livestock) and the need to add value to the on- Kundar, Raigas and Samagole. The 8 percent from business. going initiative, IPRP and IUCN villages are located next to the agreed to work jointly to main road through the Mulkhow The total forest area in the valley is demonstrate the potential of valley, about 15 km from Booni, the 14,774 ha, with protected forests sustainable management as a tehsil headquarters, and around 85 totalling 10,575 ha. The remaining means of maintaining or improving km from Chitral town. 4,199 ha is forest-owned and the production potential of managed by communities or chilghoza pines in the valley. Efforts Historically, the area is water individuals. The area covered by were made to increase incomes deficient. As a result, even though it chilghoza trees is estimated to be through further value addition to the falls under the double cropping 163 ha within the designated forest. processing and marketing aspects zone, single crop production is the Since chilghoza trees also grow of the trade and securing access practice. In the spring, glacial melt among oak forests, it can be safely rights to natural resources for provides adequate irrigation water. assumed that an equal area is disadvantaged groups, including However, in summer, only limited covered there, raising the total to women, in a bid to address poverty spring water is available and is 326 ha. and gender aspects. insufficient to reach the tail end of the irrigation system in lower parts In the past, chilghoza cones were IPRP focussed on raising of the villages. Besides the lack of picked for domestic consumption awareness among communities on irrigation water, the area is only. Around 2000 or 2001, traders the economic and ecological value characterized by limited cultivable from Bannu started purchasing of chilghoza pine and building landholdings, poor physical

12

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

women. Women have the right of inheritance to land and property but are traditionally deprived of their share.

In Mulkhow, the water distribution system and water rights are institutionalised. In general, water is distributed according to landholding size rather than to families. However, in some cases, certain families have specific rights over water resources. In Samagole, water is distributed equally among all households regardless of landholding size.

Against this backdrop, the project Water reservoir in Mulkhow, Chitral focused on developing a reservoir to improve water availability in infrastructure, a low literacy rate, of education restricts opportunities. summer and upgrading the water unorganized communities and Only a few are employed by the distribution system in the five negligible opportunities for off-farm public or private sector. Similarly, a villages. Once additional water was or self employment. small proportion is self-employed, available, the first priority was to mostly comprising those running irrigate existing cultivated land An average landholding is around 9 retail shops or vehicle/tractor followed by bringing additional chakawarums1 or 0.97 ha, of which owners. cultivable land under irrigation. only two-thirds is cultivated Mechanisms for the equitable because of water scarcity. Women are considered equal distribution of water within the Livestock and cereal crops remain partners in all farming activities and community, including the mainstay while fruit and influence men's decisions on land disadvantaged groups and women, vegetable production is insignificant allocation for different crops and were also put in place. due to lack of irrigation water. The choice of seed varieties and water deficit has also led to low fertilizers. Livestock management, The SRSP was working in Chitral cropping intensity and production like elsewhere in Chitral, is a female since 2002 on physical that lead to below par farm responsibility. Women also engage infrastructure improvement, incomes: in Mulkhow, the overall in off-farm activities to supplement including communication, land annual income from farm sources is household income. They produce development and irrigation. about 28,000 rupees compared to shu, the traditional Chitrali woolen Assessing the potential to address 57,787 rupees for the district. fabric, which is either marketed or issues of poverty and livelihoods by used by the family. In most increasing supply of irrigation water Agriculture is the main source of households, women also make in the target area, PSNP and SRSP livelihood for more than 90 percent sheep wool rugs and practice entered into a partnership and of the households but off-farm embroidery that is sold for cash. launched this demonstration. incomes contribute over 70 percent Still, women's control over PSNP's intervention was to add of household incomes. This is resources remains low. Men value to an SRSP-supported through public or private sector continue to be in charge of capital, initiative. The project itself, building employment, self-employment or both cash and kind, and decide its a water reservoir, was not original casual/daily wage labour. The lack use even if it has been earned by but it was innovative in two

1.Local land measure equivalent to 2.14 kanals or 0.108 ha.

13

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

respects. First, the project environmental impacts, particularly though, rugged, mountainous monitoring put in place was novel on fragile mountain environments, terrain. The district's location at the and important for SRSP's future as well as scenic landscapes. base of the Himalayas allows the initiatives to improve rural area to enjoy temperate weather. Of livelihoods. Second, the project's This initiative built the capacities of the total area, forests cover 20.3 efforts to document the distribution mine and processing unit owners to percent while 35 percent2 is system and traditional water rights extract and process economically agricultural land. The remaining and in turn develop a more viable stones in a safe manner, consists of rangeland, shrub land equitable water distribution system while reducing waste and and sparse vegetation. The district were unique. increasing the supply potential of is heavily rain dependent, with only mines. The project also assisted in 0.4 percent of total area designated Encouraging Environment- improving the quality of finished as irrigated land, compared to 11.1 friendly Mining Practices products, facilitating access to percent in the NWFP and 14.7 With over 20 economically capital for introducing modern percent for settled districts in the valuable minerals found in Chitral, technology and increasing province. the district is rich in mineral household incomes from the resources. These include resource. The Abbottabad IDV clearly gemstones such as aquamarine, acknowledges that forest resources ruby and jasper, metallic minerals, The AKRSP has actively engaged play a critically important role in the including iron, copper and gold, with the mining sector in Chitral economic life of the district and that and non-metallic minerals such as since 2000 by facilitating mineral natural resource conservation and marble, granite, serpentine, exploration, laboratory testing of wise use could go a long way in quartzite and slate. Of particular minerals for quality and assisting mitigating poverty, particularly in interest are the high quality marble with the development of market areas with a large rural population and granite deposits. Marble can linkages. For its part, PSNP and in economies that are be found in three major belts focussed on identifying safe, dominated by agriculture. The IDV extending from Broghil in the north environment-friendly mining suggests developing social forestry to Arandu in the south. Large techniques through initiatives such to boost forest-based livelihoods, deposits of granite also exist in as pollution control, waste rock increase fuelwood supply and the district. disposal and facilitated the upkeep protect natural forests and the of Chitral's natural beauty, environment. The vision suggests Despite the presence of high- important from a tourism devising a consensual framework quality marble deposits and the perspective. The potential of stone that facilitates the active recent increase in the number of handicrafts for improving livelihood involvement of local communities in mines and processing units, marble options of disadvantaged groups forest management. One of the extraction and processing is at a and women was also explored. The options is to formalize forest rudimentary stage in Chitral. Out- project involved the private sector entitlements and ensure continuity dated mining techniques continue through the Chitral Mine Owners of policy aimed of protecting to be used leading to high wastage Association. community interests. and small, irregularly shaped blocks that reduce yields of Abbottabad Sustainably Using Natural Assets, dimension stones. The processing Narhotar Village industry also uses inefficient, out- Abbottabad district is named after Narhotar Village, in Lora Union dated technology for finishing. James Abbott, Hazara's first Council, lies to the south-west of Further, though pollution is not a Deputy Commissioner. The district Abbottabad with an estimated problem at present, mining can is spread over an area of 1,967 sq population of 2,619 people3, potentially have many adverse km, with predominantly scenic, comprising 1,208 males and

2. Government of NWFP and IUCN, 2004. Abbottabad - An Integrated Development Vision. Peshawar and Karachi: GoNWFP and IUCN Pakistan. 3. 1998 census figures subsequently updated in 2003-04 by the Bureau of Statistics. OR Estimates for 2003-04 based on 1998 Census figures.

14 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

1,411 females living in 437 traditional use rights to grazing, coordination mechanisms that households with an average family grass cutting and collection of dry could assist in meeting size of 6.2 people per household. wood for fuel from the village community needs. Ethnically, 70 percent of the shamilat-e-deh6. According to the population is Dhund, popularly Wajib-ul-Arz, only ancestral owners The project focused on known as Abbassis, 10 percent of land are entitled to a share of strengthening existing community Syeds, 5 percent Awans, 5 percent land from further distribution of organization for sustainable use of Gujars, 5 percent Karal or shamilat-e-deh, precluding those natural resources, initiating the Chaudhry and the remaining 5 who are landowners through development of a forest percent from marginal groups and purchase or other means in the management system that would craftsmen. village. Individual or household not only prove beneficial to local possession or acquisition of land communities but also encourage The available revenue records earmarked for community needs or forest sustainability and increase reflect that the total village area is religious purposes is prohibited. agricultural production. Various 1,306 acres, of which 347 acres activities were combined to raise are cultivated, 258 acres comprise Only 20 percent of households are awareness and interest of the forests, 600 acres remains covered totally dependant on agriculture. community in forest management, by shrubs and grasses and 101 The remaining 80 percent including clarity on rights regarding acres is mahdooda land.4 This supplement their household income tenure and use of natural means only 26.6 percent of village with off-farm employment. It is resources that were already land is cultivated while the rest is estimated that agriculture documented in government used as grassland. In addition, a contributes 60 percent of total revenue records. guzara forest covering 125 acres household income, with crops falls within the Narhoter village contributing 40 percent, livestock Dera Ismail Khan catchment. The landholdings are 40 percent and forestry 20 percent. small - about 3 acres per Dera Ismail Khan is the southern- household - with per capita land Sungi began work on sustainable most district of the NWFP. To the being 0.5 acres. As the irrigation management of natural resources north, the district shares boundaries system was swept away by floods with active community participation with Tank and Lakki Marwat. In the in 1992, agriculture is limited to the in Narhotar in 2003. Cognizant of west is South Waziristan Agency, production of barani or rain-fed the natural resource potential in with the Indus River on the east. crops such as wheat, maize and Narhotar, PSNP joined hands with The district is spread over an area mustard. Vegetable production is Sungi and launched a small of 7,326 sq km and is situated 580 dependant on water availability. initiative to demonstrate that feet above sea level. The 1998 equitable and sustainable utilization census recorded a population of Land tenure is based on status of of natural assets could improve the 853,000 people with over three- individual households and families, livelihoods of villagers, including quarters or 82.25 living in rural with different types of stakeholders, women and marginalized groups. areas. land owners, non-owners and the PSNP added value to the process government being recognised. by facilitating working relations The major part of the district Generally, most households are between village community consists of the daman or sloping landowners. The various rights and organisations and government line piedmont plain that extends down concessions (both legal and agencies, notably the agriculture into the Dera Ghazi Khan district of traditional) can be confirmed from and forest departments. the Punjab. The western part is the Wajib-ul-Arz5 for Narhotar Participatory forest management intersected by numerous hill village. Both land owners and non- was also encouraged by discussing torrents, which flow from the slopes owners have property rights and options and identifying better of the hills of Suleiman Range,

4. Mahdooda land is area set aside by the Forest Department for the conservation of trees, where the breaking of land by the owner for cultivation is not allowed. 5. Local term for land revenue record. 6. Common property belonging to the village.

15 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

bringing water with heavy silt. such, it suggests that D. I. Khan's of explosives, poisonous Canals irrigate 30 percent of the capture/culture fisheries and chemicals and electrocution, are area while the remaining 70 percent aquaculture potential be being used. The result has been is spate irrigated by seasonal hill systematically studied with a view smaller fish catch, disturbed torrents fed by monsoon and winter to developing these resources as species composition and rains. Agriculture and livestock components of a diversified threat of local extinction of rearing dominate the economy. economy. some species.

That said, the fisheries sector is Adopting a Livelihoods Approach Implemented by Sustainable also important, with more than 60 to Warm Water Fisheries, River Education, Rural Infrastructure, percent of the NWFP's fish Indus and Thathal Lake Veterinary Care and Environment, production coming from D.I. Khan. The livelihood sources of the three the project in D.I. Khan was tasked Freshwater catch comes from groups are quite different. The with promoting community-based several waterbodies in the district, Thathals' main source of income is fish resource conservation and including the Indus River and agriculture and livestock, though management practices to improve connected lakes on the eastern some are also employed as daily livelihoods of poor communities, boundary of D.I. Khan, irrigation labourers. The Sindhis, who have including the Kihals. The project canals and waterlogged areas. skills in fisheries management and also identified reforms in policy Fishing leases and licenses for the artisanal trades such as building and legislation in consultation with whole stretch of the river and lakes boats and weaving nets, depend all stakeholders, including are auctioned annually to on fisheries and work mainly as traditional fishermen. commercial contractors and labour for the fish contractors. regulated under the West Pakistan The most disadvantaged of the Peshawar Fisheries Ordinance 1961 and the three groups, the Kihals are North West Frontier Province dependant on seasonal agricultural Peshawar district lies in the middle Fisheries Rules 1976. There are work and basket weaving/rope of the NWFP with Peshawar, the many challenges facing the making. They have also resorted to capital city of both the province and management of freshwater begging. the district, situated near the fisheries, ranging from economic, eastern end of the Khyber Pass. political and technical to social. Women's economic contribution Peshawar is literally the frontier city Management of inland fisheries patterns indicate that among the of Central Asia and historically a from a fish stock protection, Kihals, they contribute equally to part of the Silk Route. production and sustainable the household economy, whereas Age-old traditions continue to livelihoods perspective has still to among the Sindhis and Thathals, prevail in the district, restricting become a focus of public sector men dominate. women to the confines of the custodians or private sector home. This reduces the potential of beneficiaries. Under the Fisheries Rules 1976, women to contribute productively river fisheries are leased out to to household income besides The D.I. Khan IDV endeavours to commercial contractors. Local limiting their role in decision-making provide a coherent and long-term communities living alongside the at the household level. sustainable development vision for river do not enjoy fishing rights. In the district, integrating both fact, the only benefit accessible to The SPCS acknowledges the environmental and socio-economic local communities is occasional importance of women and their issues. The IDV takes stock of the employment on daily wages by fish contribution to household incomes potential for fisheries to improve contractors. in particular and the economy in livelihoods, owing to favourable general. For development to be aquatic, ecological and climatic As departmental capabilities and sustainable the principles of conditions. In the same vein, the infrastructure to enforce rules equitable access to natural document also reflects on some of remains inadequate, unsustainable resources as well as their the major constraints impeding the harvesting is taking place. Illegal economic benefits must accrue to development of fish resources. As catch methods, including the use both genders, the document

16 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

asserts. To improve the livelihoods reflect two distinct cultural and north-east, Indian-administered and living standard of communities linguistic contexts: Wadpaga is Kashmir to the south-east, Azad in such a way that both men and Hindko speaking area while Pushto Jammu and Kashmir to the south- women reap benefits, the SPCS dominates in Kaneeza. east and the NWFP to the west. strongly recommends that women The region is home to some of the be specifically involved in In both areas, women observe world's highest mountain ranges, development efforts. This is not strict purdah. As a result, they are including the Karakorum and the only because they are socially generally precluded from outdoor western Himalayas. The Pamir disadvantaged but also due to the activities except post-harvest Mountains are to the north and the fact that many development handling of agricultural produce Hindu Kush lies to the west. initiatives will only succeed with and livestock management. The Amongst the highest mountains are their meaningful involvement. literacy rate is low and women Godwin-Austen (K2) and Nanga have little exposure to income- Parbat. Keeping the cultural context in generating activities other than view, the need was to identify small embroidery and sewing. Cultural Over the last several decades, the ventures that would enable rural barriers provide little space for natural resources base of the NAs women, especially belonging to small family-owned enterprises have come under increasing stress landless and small-farmer families, where women can play a as a result of a growing human to contribute to family income. This productive role in raising population and the opening of the would enhance their social status household incomes. Karakorum Highway. At the same and involvement in household time, the authorities are well aware decision-making. Pivoted on these ground realities, that increased development the project focused on mushroom interventions are seriously Improving Women's Livelihoods farming as an activity that would impacting the fragile environment, through Mushroom Farming, allow women in rural areas to be especially aquatic systems. Union Councils Wadpaga and involved in development, Kaneeza increasing women's and household The natural forests of the NAs are Union Councils Wadpaga and income without substantially among the most important in the Kaneeza are respectively located increasing their workload or country and are found in the about 12 km to the east of rankling cultural sensibilities. The south-western portion of the area Peshawar and 20 km to the north focus was on poor families in the in Diamir district, the southern part of the city. The union councils villages and every effort was made of Gilgit district, the Punial area of to involve men in the process to district Ghizar and a few pockets pave the way for women's of Baltistan district. Legally- involvement. SRSP was designated forests cover 281,000 responsible for the initiative. For its ha while scrub forests cover an part, IUCN provided SRSP the estimated 381,200 ha, together opportunity to work in an NRM- covering over 9 percent of the based project and revive their NRM NAs. Forests protect the programme. Besides, IUCN also watershed of the Indus River, gave technical support in gender support a rich array of and NRM approaches. biodiversity, are a source of forage for the livestock population and Northern Areas contribute to the national supply of softwoods and the local supply The NAs comprise six districts: of timber and fuelwood. In Gilgit, Ghizer, Skardu, Ghanche, addition, forests supply a range of Astore and Diamer. Geographically, NTFPs, including medicinal A woman worker handles freshly Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor is to plants, spices, nuts, honey, picked mushrooms in Wadpaga Union the north-west, the Xinjiang Uyghur mushrooms and plants such as Council, Peshawar Autonomous Region of China to the sea buckthorn.

17

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Cold water fisheries are also found of the NWFP. The district covers At 1.15 acres, a household's in the rivers of the NAs with an area of 12,324 sq km with a average cultivated landholding is around 28 fish species, including population of 120,200 people, of small. Moreover, the area falls in a exotic trout. Trout culture began in which 51percent are women. single cropping zone. This the NAs in 1908 when brown trout Ghizer is one of the poorest landholding size is half that of seed was first introduced from districts in the NAs in terms of adjoining villages as people lost Kashmir and bred in a small food security, infrastructure, large swathes of land after a recent hatchery in Gilgit. Later, fingerlings economic opportunity and trained thunderstorm flood caused were released into rivers human resources. However, it is landslides, dammed Ghizer River throughout the NA, including gifted with rich water resources, in and created a permanent lake. The Ghizer River in Ghizer Valley. the form of flowing rivers, streams, mountainous terrain means that springs, ponds and natural lakes, little additional land is available for The NASSD recognizes the vital offering opportunities for cultivation. role of forests of the area and the development of capture and role of NTFPs in improving culture fisheries and aquaculture. Fish from the Ghizer River and new livelihoods and poverty reduction. lake are available but currently de Similarly, cold water fisheries are Benefiting Communities from facto rather than de jure. The 1999 viewed not only as a means of Cold Water Fisheries, Gupis Valley amendment to the Northern Areas improving food security in a region The village of Khalti is located in the Fisheries Act 1975 grants rights to that is beginning to import food Gupis valley of Ghizer district at an communities to manage local but also as a means of altitude of 7,000 ft above sea level. fisheries but it has yet to be supplementing household The village comprises five small adopted and practiced. The result incomes. The NASSD particularly hamlets: Aliabad, Bushating, is that communities have no sense mentions women and the need for Ghamez, Khalti and Khutum. of ownership, do not see awareness raising, education and Reaching the village requires themselves as stakeholders and capacity building. travelling a distance of 136 km from regard fisheries to be under the Gilgit which amounts to a 180- government's purview. Ghizer minute drive. The main Gilgit-Chitral road passes through two hamlets, Most of the population is Ghizer district shares its western benefiting them with all sorts of dependant on off-farm boundary with the Chitral district transportation facilities. employment: government service (31%), private sector (8%) and business (2%), agriculture (24%) and work as skilled (9%) and unskilled (12%) labour.7 The remaining are pursuing their education. In Khalti, the share of off-farm employment in household income is 60 percent. About 27 percent of households can be considered poor and 17% ultrapoor.8 More than half the women in the village are not involved in any economic activity and are therefore unable to contribute significantly to household income. As their economic contribution remains low, their overall position in the household and community is Picturesque view of the Trout Project area in Khalti, Gilgit insignificant at best.

18

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

The project established a replicable Comprising 30 villages with a milk production with most families model of sustainable harvesting population of 6,509 males and keeping up to four animals to and management of cold water 3,277 females in 575 households9, balance production with fodder trout fish for poverty alleviation of Hudur is socially and economically consumption. rural communities, including the divided into two groups based on marginalized and women of the one major determinant: ownership Another large group of people are Khalti community in particular and of natural resources, especially employed as skilled or unskilled Ghizer in general. AKRSP was forests and NTFPs. The early labour, the second largest responsible for the intervention. settlers or malikaan10 are the actual occupation in the valley. Public owners of resources and have all and private sector employment is Diamer use rights. The late settlers or in the shape of jobs in government ghair malikaan have no right to use primary schools and dispensaries Diamer district, with Chilas as the the natural resources without or in retail trade. district headquarters, is the consent of the owners. About 40 gateway to the NAs. Compared to percent of the households are The culture and traditions of the other districts of the NAs, Diamer is ghair malikaan and have been Hudur Valley being rigid, women considered less developed. The granted limited concessions for are normally confined to the home. district is bounded by Astore the collection of fuelwood, Consequently, they are completely district in the east, Kohistan and livestock grazing and the collection dependent on men for the most Mansehra in the south, Ghizer in and sale of NTFPs such as basic requirements to making the north and north-west and Gilgit chilghoza pine nuts and household decisions or availing in the north and north-east. mushrooms. education and health facilities.

Linking Rural Communities and Over 40 percent of the population This project benefited from the Non-timber Forest Products, of Hudur Valley is involved in experiences of the Shishi Valley Hudur Valley agriculture with farm incomes chilghoza initiative. IUCN, the Hudur Valley is situated in the based on crops and vegetables, WWFP and the WCS joined hands heart of Diamer district and is rich livestock and forestry resources. to initiate a community-based in natural resources. In fact, it is The valley falls in a single cropping chilghoza pine conservation and considered one of the richest area due to the cold and short management project. The main valleys for timber and chilghoza cultivation season in the upper objective was to demonstrate the nut production. The local reaches of the valley. This results potential of chilghoza pine for population has complete access to in fodder scarcity which in turn improving the livelihood of rural the natural forests that provide encourages the rearing of small communities, including abundant timber, fuelwood, ruminant, mainly sheep, because disadvantaged groups, and valuable medicinal plants and of their comparatively moderate ensuring the sustainability of the chilghoza pine nuts. Owing to the fodder requirement. Sheep are resource. wealth of natural resources, the also the main source of wool that local population have relatively is used for local winter clothing. high income levels. Some larger livestock are kept for

7. Khan, Maqsood, 2006. Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Report, Sustainable Management and Harvesting of Trout Fish Resources for Poverty Reduction in Freshwaters of Gupis Area in District Ghizer, Northern Areas, June 2006. Peshawar: IUCN. 8. Ibid. The poverty line is defined as a per capita income of less than Rs. 10,543 for the year 2006 and the poorest/ultra-poor households are those who are half-way below this poverty line i.e. Rs. 5,272. 9. Unknown, May 2007. Socio-economic Baseline Survey of Hudur Valley. Gilgit: IUCN. 10.Malikaan and ghair malikaan are local words.

19 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Reflections from the Field

he key objective of these other biodiversity. It is clear that projects was to link natural access and use of natural T resource management to resources is based mainly on land improving household incomes and ownership and associated rights. livelihoods, particularly of the However, these vary according to marginalised, very poor and the context and are often de facto women. The findings can be rather than de jure. Clear land grouped into a number of areas: tenure and use rights along with effective, efficient management l Exercising natural resource regimes and regulatory systems ownership and use rights can form the basis for equitable and sustainable use of natural l Increasing incomes and resources in village catchments. improving livelihoods Though land tenure may vary, l Involving women in NRM and equitable decision-making livelihood opportunities structures for the use of natural resources can significantly l Including the marginalized and influence decisions, often poor benefiting the poor. Examples from the chilghoza pine nuts project in l Influencing changes in policy Shishi Valley, Chitral, and Hudur and legislation Valley, Diamer, testify to the fact that community-based l Assessing the sustainability of organizations (CBOs) can create natural resource use and space for more equitable access management and benefit sharing within communities, particularly among Exercising Natural the poor and women. Earlier, for Resource Ownership instance, labour from outside the and Use Rights community was hired to collect cones. Sensitising CBOs and right Natural resources refer to the owners to the impact of this natural capital people can access practice on the poor and women such as soil, water, forests, in the community led to a bar on rangelands, wildlife, fisheries and external hiring. Instead, the

20

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

community decided to hire labour parts of the district to control important milestone was the first- from local women-headed logging for fuelwood. ever dialogue between households, ensuring they disadvantaged communities such benefited economically from the In Kiramatabad, Mulkhow Valley, as the Kihals, Sindhis and Thathals process. Such households covered the CBO instituted a management and district-level policy makers on not only widows and their system allowing the poor in the water resources and fisheries. This dependants but also those whose community an equitable share of raised awareness about of the male members were employed additional irrigation water from the disadvantages of commercial down country or abroad. This new reservoir. For a start, the fishing for the poor among created space for women who had whole village participated in policy makers. no role in decision-making earlier. recording the traditional water distribution system to avoid Awareness of legal provisions for Harvesting periods were also fixed differences of opinion in the future. natural resource management and by CBOs and widely publicised Using this customary arrangement use can benefit communities in through announcements from as a base, an equitable and local decision-making with mosques, providing equal sustainable water distribution government development agencies. opportunity to everyone involved in scheme that had unanimous Abbottabad district and Narhotar the trade. This clarity in exercising approval from all stakeholders was village were part of Hazara when use rights to natural resources and developed to ensure smooth the first land settlement took place equitable distribution of benefits supply of water on a turn-by-turn in 1872. Though forests were among those involved in the basis to each household. For the reserved for government ownership chilghoza pine nut trade resulted in first time, poor families were and management, sizable swathes safeguarding social coherence in included in the decision-making of forest land close to villages were the communities. The measure process. set aside to meet the bona fide also reduced, if not resolved, domestic needs of local conflicts arising due to perceived Further, maintenance, distribution communities. These forests were loss of control by landowners and and audit committees were set up designated as guzara and their disadvantaged groups alike. and assumed responsiblity for the ownership was vested in local maintenance of the reservoir, people, either as individual property, In Chitral, community management equitable allocation of additional jointly owned through family of the Shishi forest and its NTFPs, water and regular inspections. The ownership or as village shamilat. including chilghoza pine nuts, is members of the committees were Over time, however, being piloted. Moreover, a forest selected through a transparent, misinterpretations about these management plan has been open at a meeting that drew forests and their tenure, developed by the communities and participants from all households, management and use became well forest department with support including the poor. The process entrenched. Similar confusion from IUCN. Once approved, the has ensured that the poor in the prevailed about water resources plan will be the first of its kind community have a voice and and their use. In Narhotar, a survey focusing on chilghoza pine, participate in decision-making that to document tenure, access and opening the door for developing impacts their lives. use rights concluded that the village management plans for other had ownership titles to 14 perennial NTFPs. Awareness raising and For Thathal, D.I. Khan, decision- springs and streams. This value addition to the trade have making at a different level was knowledge helped the community also led to unforeseen benefits: required to effect change in secure rights to use the water efforts are underway to conserve usufructs related to waterbodies points for irrigation of additional and protect chilghoza forests. For and fisheries. District level land based on the Wajib-ul-Arz for his part, the District Forest Officer institutions had to be convinced to the village. They also had specific has prohibited the transport of intervene on effective, equitable legal rights to the guzara forest. sawdust used as cooking and policy and legislation at the This helped in accessing the guzara heating fuel in the valley to other provincial level. Locally, an forest set aside for subsistence use.

21

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Another positive outcome was a well as the line department and Increasing Incomes and consensus within the village on administration. This led to flexibility Improving Livelihoods sustainable forest management. in the interpretation of policy and The villagers approached the legislation and provided space for Mountain communities can Forest Department to initiate the individual income generation by increase their household incomes process of joint forest sale of fish caught under angling by value-addition to current management in the area through licenses and community practices and will actively support the development of a management management and use through a developments which offer similar plan and the selection of a share in income from fish licenses opportunities. Chitral's Shishi management committee. To take on the provision that the Valley has a largely traditional this process forward, community community is involved in fisheries economy with households, members unanimously agreed to conservation. These changes were comprising landowners and nominate two individuals to ensured through notifications tenants who earned low incomes negotiate with government. Once issued by the Fisheries in comparison with the rest of the formally established, this initiative Department and the NAs district. With a shortage of will be the first of its kind in the Administration. This was the first cultivable land, local communities Galiat area, opening the window instance for the NAs, the could not survive by agriculture for other such ventures. administration at the regional level alone and practiced a mixed agro- as well as the department at the silvo-pastoral subsistence living, Another example is from Khalti in local level of coming forward with making use of the diversity of Ghizer where awareness of legal an unprecedented commitment natural resources in the valley. provisions and willingness to towards community-based Non-timber forest products and engage in discussions set the management of natural resources chilghoza nuts in particular stage for addressing the needs and stewardship in the contribute towards cash incomes and interests of communities as fisheries sector. and local subsistence.

A roasting machine for chilghoza nuts in Shishi Valley, Chitral

22

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

As a result, there was keen interest helps increase incomes and processing and poultry and within the community in improve livelihood. This became livestock management. To improve interventions that led to increased evident in Kiramatabad, Mulkhow, their life skills and diversify household incomes. They easily where the construction of the livelihood options, the adopted measures to improve pre- water reservoir resulted in 30 communities were linked with the and post-harvest management of percent additional irrigation water provincial Literacy for All Project chilghoza nuts and tools that becoming available during the which opened three adult literacy improved safety of pickers during water-stressed summer period. centres in the Kihal area. harvest operations. Households This allowed households to bring were ready to learn skills needed more area under cultivation, Involving Women in for small enterprises, marketing increase production per acre of Natural Resource through cooperatives and links with existing cultivable land and start Management and external markets. The communities double cropping. An additional Livelihood Opportunities managed to successfully adapt to benefit was the saving which adding value to chilghoza nut would otherwise have been spent More often than not, environment- collection and marketing. The on purchasing wheat and straw. related roles of women go result: harvesting figures showed unacknowledged. Women use relative improvement from the 2003 In Khalti, Ghizer, the new lake natural resources in the collection level, number of households offered fishing opportunities and of water for household needs, involved in chilghoza collection renewed interest in cold water farming, fishing and collecting increased by 30 percent and fisheries. Under the Northern food, fuelwood and NTFPs. average income per household by Areas Fisheries Act 1975, the sale However, they are constrained by 20 percent, of which 35 percent of trout fish is prohibited. But after limited access to renewable energy was from chilghoza nuts. dialogue between the Khalti sources, lack of property rights community and district and education. Women's When the Shishi model was administration, the latter has contribution to NRM has to be replicated in Hudur, Diamer, it allowed the harvest and sale of a acknowledged or they will remain contributed significantly to adding specific number of trout by anglers marginalized from valuable value to the chilghoza nut market on an experimental basis. The physical resources such as as local communities started maximum number of fish that may irrigation water or forest products selling nuts instead of whole be caught at any time has been and human assets, including cones, earning comparatively specified to prevent over training and credit benefits. This is better returns. In 2006, each family harvesting. As a result of not only an equity issue but also earned approximately 50,000 to networking and increased one of efficiency and effectiveness. 100,000 rupees from the initiative. exposure, several community Without the participation of The additional income allowed members of both sexes have been women, sustainable development families to purchase goods for motivated to re-engage in initiatives are clearly less effective. improving their livelihood, including aquaculture while eight new farms vehicles, farm implements, are in the process of being In Khalti, the NAs Administration machinery, land and livestock, the established. Other livelihoods took the bold step of employing last understood as a sign of wealth options being explored include two women as guards, paving the in the area. Some families that tourism and trout sport fishing way for women entering non- could not afford an education for competitions that would allow traditional occupations. Moreover, their children earlier have now sidelines businesses such as sale training sessions were held started sending their children to of angling equipment, local food exclusively for women in unusual down country schools. Borrowing items and handicrafts to flourish. activities such as value-added fish money, a common practise among processing and preparing special the poor, was also less prevalent. In D.I. Khan, Thathal, the capacity trout dishes. of communities to improve For mountain communities, an livelihoods was enhanced by In Shishi, women activists from the investment in new technology training in fish storage and villages of Pathan and Gujar were

23 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

trained in improved cone collection system and implementing water for All Project. The most dramatic techniques and post-harvest management practices. Practically, and visible change is that the value-added work such as the availability of irrigation water women and children of the Kihal separating chilghoza nuts from for kitchen gardening and community have stopped begging. kernels, grading, roasting and domestic use meant a reduction in packing. Though this activity the household workload by In Hudur Valley, though women added to their workload, it was obviating the need to walk long were involved in picking cones and seasonal and lasted for a short distances to fetch water from separating and sorting nuts in their time. The benefits were both neighbouring villages or depending homes, they could neither be tangible and intangible: women on water carriers or rainwater for approached directly nor participate earned extra income, were irrigating crops. in trainings. To redress this involved in training and shown to marginalization, the men were play a productive role in adding to In Kiramatabad, Mulkhow, women sensitized to the value of women's household income. were involved through women-only involvement which resulted in organizations, formed with them expressing an interest in In Narhotar, Savera Tanzeem Baria representation from all households. involving women in capacity Khawateen, a women's community As in Narhotar, about 35 women building initiatives. organization was already in place. were trained in vegetable The organization was included in production and, with the Involving the Marginalized efforts to enhance agricultural availability of additional water, and the Poor production, improve access to could grow vegetables not only for productive services and address domestic needs but also for sale, Groups within communities can the issue of water shortage, contributing to household become marginalised on the basis through training in vegetable incomes. One spin-off of the of limited land ownership and use farming, access to vegetable and additional water was that it was rights, ethnicity and culture. The crop seed varieties, compost used to grow fodder crops near poor can include marginal people formation for domestic agricultural homes, reducing the time and but poverty can be defined by use and repair and rehabilitation of effort otherwise spent by women many factors, including access to irrigation channels. With the on collecting feed for livestock. natural, produced, human, social introduction of kitchen gardening, and political capital.11 access to seed facilities and In Thathal, the route to women's training, women grew a variety of involvement in capacity building In Northern Pakistan, each village seasonal vegetables such as activities was through the has well-defined hillside radish, potatoes, chillies, spinach, cooperation of male members of catchments to which villagers have garlic, peas, tomatoes, onions and the communities. Once the men access according to land carrots on 35 plots measuring half were convinced of women's ownership and traditional rights a kanal each. This eliminated their potential to contribute to defined at the local level. Access dependency on external markets, household incomes, a vocational to chilghoza pine trees is based on afforded them a decision-making centre for the Kihal and Thathal traditional rights to guzara forests role on when to buy and sell women was established in the and wastelands. Both Tenants and produce and confidence to village. As a result, the women the landless collect chilghoza manage home-based natural have access to training, providing cones according to community resources. them with the skills to generate decisions while settlers have income. Thirty-two women were limited access within the Women were also involved in the enrolled in the adult literacy boundaries of village catchments. setting up a village water supply programme set up by the Literacy In privately-owned forests,

11.UK Department for International Development. Sustainable Livelihoods Guidance Sheets. http://www.livelihoods.org/info/info_guidancesheets.html#6. Natural capital: land, water, forests, marine and wild resources; produced capital: physical infrastructure, tools and technology and credit; human capital: health, nutrition, education, knowledge and skills; social capital: networks and connections, the benefits of patterns of association; and political capital: power or powerlessness.

24

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

proprietors enjoy the first right to government land for housing and resource vis-à-vis livelihoods collection. The landless, on the submit a case for approval to the through meetings with the three other hand, are allowed to collect provincial government. relevant communities: the Kihals, leftover cones. Since cone Thathals and Sindhis. The effort harvesting is difficult and Influencing Changes in proved useful. The district nazim laborious, it is mostly the poor who Policy and Legislation made a commitment to help the are involved in the task. communities access water Sustainable management of resources and conserve fish stock. In Hudur Valley, Diamer, the poor natural assets cannot be ensured A District Fish Protection had limited access to chilghoza without enabling legal and Committee was established with pines which impacted their administrative mechanisms. the mandate to review the existing incomes and livelihoods. Once Accordingly, lacunae in policy, Fisheries Act and to formulate a sensitized to the predicament of legislation and governance were set of recommendations for the poor, the community took a identified and steps taken towards community participation in number of steps to include these initiating change needed to fisheries management as well as groups in decision-making and support participatory management provisions to regulate fish catch. sharing benefits from the chilghoza for sustainable resource use and The recommendations, under the trade. These included livelihood improvement. seal of the district nazim, were representation in village chilghoza- submitted to the NWFP Chief related committees, improving In Shishi Valley, it was through the Minister's Office for action. access to the resource by setting involvement of government staff in harvesting periods based on the the field that gaps in legislation The issue of community-based maturity of the cones as well as were identified and efforts made to fisheries conservation and harvesting tools, involvement in plug them. Both the awareness management arose in Khalti in trainings on worker safety and raising campaign and direct Ghizer District, convincing the NAs value-added production contact with the communities Administration to review existing techniques such as roasting and helped the NWFP Forest fishery policy and law and identify collective marketing down country. Department staff appreciate the legal provisions for community fact that the current rules management and benefit-sharing. In Thathal, the Kihals were the governing NTFPs in general and If such provisions were missing, most marginalized and deprived chilghoza nuts in particular were amendments were to be members of the local communities. not equitable. This resulted in the suggested. According to the In a bid to improve their situation, review and redraft of operational Northern Areas Fisheries Act 1975, the Kihals were organized into rules for chilghoza forest all natural waters are state owned groups and then introduced to management being drafted that and marketing fish, particularly stakeholders such as local are currently under review. trout species, caught from these politicians and government staff, waters is prohibited. Legally, the providing them with a level playing Similarly, gaps in legislation around communities could not fish field to discuss issues regarding community management of local commercially for trout or sell their access to fish resources. This fisheries were identified in D.I. catch. The review recommended resulted in building their Khan after dialogue with the local changes in the Fisheries rules, confidence and capacity to communities. Benchmark studies allowing half the license fee to be negotiate access rights. Another identified that fisheries were being shared with communities involved spin-off was that during seriously degraded due to over in fisheries conservation. interactions with the district fishing by commercial contractors government the Kihal community with few or no benefits accruing to Similarly, anglers were not allowed leaders raised the issue of the local people. This led to the to sell trout in the market, need for land for housing. For his initiation of dialogue with the depriving them of an alternate part, the district nazim approached district government on the need source of income. The review also the Revenue Department to initiate for change, with policy makers recommended allowing the sale of measures to identify suitable oriented to the importance of the trout caught under an angling

25

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

license. The NA Administration has tools and techniques and links to ● The EPB has proposed a agreed, in principle, to the mine product markets. Mine Handicraft and Mosaic Tile proposed changes in and has owners in Chitral were linked to Making Training Centre in the allowed local anglers to market the Small and Medium Enterprise district. trout. This has not only benefited Development Authority (SMEDA), ● In recognition of the enormous the local communities in terms of the Export Promotion Bureau potential of marble mining in income but has also enhanced (EPB) and the US Agency for Chitral, the Strategic Working their motivation and commitment International Development Group on Marble and Granite towards conservation. However, Strategic Working Group on has recommended the district the agreement has still to be given Marble and Granite. The results as one of eight sites for a legal cover. have been: model quarry to be established ● SMEDA's Aik Hunar, Aik Nagar. at a cost of 35 million rupees. In Chitral, efforts to promote Tne Village, One Product environment-friendly mining and programme, similar to Assessing the processing practices led to a initiatives inThailand and Japan Sustainability of Natural review of the environmental will focus on marble products Resource Use and impacts of the sector in turn in Chitral. SMEDA has also Management leading to proposals for policy received approval from the change and a set of federal Ministry of Industries, The sustainability of both the recommendations on remedial Production and Special resource and intervention was measures presented to the district Initiatives for a Marble assessed. Trends were taken as government. In light of the Handicraft Training Centre at indicators towards sustainability as recommendations, the district Chitral and a proposal for a the initiatives were for too brief- government has created a Regional Business lived to produce concrete figures. monitoring cell that provides Coordination Centre in the However, they have set the stage information on modern mining district is under consideration. for demonstrating that to benefit

Bird»s eye view of Chitral

26

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Indiscriminate logging of chilghoza pine trees in Hudur Valley, Gilgit from a resource, sustainable care Chilghoza Forests cutting and the collection of needs to be taken and that too in immature cones but also from a sustainable manner. There are a number of issues logging, overgrazing, soil around chilghoza forests, with erosion and land slides. Mushroom Farming local people divided in their opinions over voluntary trade-offs In Shishi Valley, increased Mushroom farming is dependent versus use. Pragmatic and realistic awareness helped communities on the availability of spawn and steps need to be taken to address realize the multiple benefits of marketing opportunities. In the issue of resource sustainability chilghoza pine and work towards Wadpaga and Kaneeza union and the livelihoods it supports in conserving the forests. As such, councils, Peshawar, steps were settings where: they were willing to invest in taken to reduce risks from the ● Chilghoza tree cover is modern forestry management tools start. Women cultivators were declining due to intensive and techniques and nut collection linked with the Agricultural cutting for fuelwood. practices to increase their Research Institute at Tarnab, ● A high demand and attractive livelihoods. They agreed to: Peshawar, and an agreement for prices for pine nuts in national ● Maintain mother trees and regular supply of spawn was and international markets has retain cones on each tree to signed. Strong links with local led communities to employ sustain natural regeneration. restaurants and other market unsustainable harvesting ● Conserve large tree crowns by places were forged and collective methods such as cutting whole avoiding excessive branch marketing, rather than individual branches and harvesting lopping during cone collection. sale, enabled women to negotiate immature cones to save time ● Reduce the incidence of better prices, encouraging regular and labour. injuries to green trees by only production in line with market ● Natural regeneration is seriously allowing local villagers to demand. affected not only due to branch harvest cones.

27 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

● Minimize instances of pre- In Hudur Valley, the traditional responsible for monitoring the mature cone picking by forest management system was implementation of decisions agreeing on a harvest calendar adapted to support regeneration of related to forestry while a valley- and implementing it through degraded chilghoza stands. In the based organization, which consists collective decision-making at older forest management regime, of all the jastero and influentials, the village level. the jastero or community elders became the highest level decision- ● Use proper tools for cone were responsible for a forest. The making body. However, all groups collection. elders managed the forest through including ghair malikaans are now ● Establish conservation the zaitu system instituted through represented in both committees. committees to implement village wardens or a sub- community rules. committee responsible for Fisheries ● Ban cutting of green branches implementation of their decisions and chilghoza trees and or even a local forest conservation If the fisheries sector is to impose a fine of 3,000 rupees and management committee, contribute to improving livelihoods, and 10,000 rupees, comprising elders from each fish stock in Thathal Lake and the respectively, to ensure malikaan family of the area. This Indus River in D.I. Khan needed to compliance. system was unable to address the recover from over harvesting. The issue of poverty as almost 45 communities, with support from In 2004, five people died and 12 percent of the population the Fisheries Department, have were seriously injured during cone comprised ghair malikaan families started monitoring harvesting collection. However, safety with limited access to chilghoza levels and stopped fishing training and appropriate pines. As a result, the communities between May and August, the harvesting tools improved the were motivated to revise their breeding season. Moreover, situation with no falls or casualties system by transforming the zaitu contractors have been motivated reported in 2005 and 2006. into a conservation committee to restock the lake with fingerlings.

Angling competition in Khalti, Gilgit

28

Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

The Khalti community in Ghizer district and the government are carefully planning and implementing joint actions for the recovery of trout and the improvement of its habitat. A sense of ownership and responsibility has motivated the community to take decisions in favour of managing the resource. For example, women who previously used to wash their clothes alongside the lake have discontinued the practise to avoid polluting the water with detergents. Two male and two female watchers have also been appointed to patrol the area, making noteworthy strides in checking and controlling illegal fishing practices such as the use of explosives to catch fish. The Preparing for winters in Khalti, Gilgit NAs Forest Department has contributed by restocking the lake new water distribution system. equitable water distribution will with 7,000 trout fingerlings. For sustainability, it was important remain a tricky matter. Water to monitor the effect of the new harvesting projects should be The result has been that system on different stakeholders, mindful of perpetuating existing local anglers as well as outsiders ensuring that none were worse inequities as the success of similar who recently visited the area off. As a preemptive step, the initiatives will depend have reported that both catch and communities instituted measures on how communities address fish size has increased to prevent water loss and recover the issue of distributing considerably, indicating a trend some of the costs, in cash or additional water. towards improvement. Indicators kind, for reinvestment and of sustainability of the resource maintenance. This was effected Natural Resources and initiative can be seen through the establishment of a through: village fund, with households In Narhotar, the initiative has led to ● Restocking of river. monthly contributions. Widows consultative and cross-sectoral ● Measures for people-centred and the very poor have been discussions on managing nature policy and legislative exempted from these resources issues, creating a sense frameworks. contributions. of ownership and commitment ● Developing partnerships for within the community and ensuring conservation. The upshot of this arrangement is continuity and efficacy. A certain ● Highlighting and demonstrating that adjoining villages are degree of economic diversification the potential of conservation motivated to approach various has taken place, especially in for improving livelihood. development organizations to agriculture and forestry. replicate the scheme in their area. Participatory orientation has Water Resources While the initiative of constructing also led to the incorporation of reservoirs in water scarce areas the needs of local communities In Kiramatabad, the benefits were was strongly endorsed by partner into development priorities for the result of water storage and a communities, the issue of the area.

29 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Lessons Learned

he adoption of a pragmatic The identification and engagement of strategy for linking poverty local activists can help influence and T and equity with economic educate local communities and development and sustainable enhance their access to the benefits management of natural resources of sustainable development. acts as a cornerstone to safeguard the sustainability of an initiative. An The adaptation of formal planning approach that addresses community and management tools for village- needs and presents a prognosis of based institutions can add value to positive economic changes expected outputs, enhancing efficiency and through the intervention can help effectiveness. Tailoring new systems communities appreciate the benefits to match existing community of conservation, encouraging dynamics also improves chances of proactive participation in the process the initiative's success. In fact, if and in turn assisting in the success interventions do not match existing of the initiative. models, glitches may occur in implementation and long-term In conservative societies, it is sustainability of interventions. advisable to engage in sensitization activities to enhance receptivity It is equally important to institute an towards external interventions, effective communication and creating an environment conducive information sharing system in multi- to successful implementation. party initiatives to avoid Moreover, the involvement of the misunderstandings arising from entire community in the design, different messages being conveyed planning, implementation, monitoring to communities by the various and evaluation of an initiative is likely partners. to dissolve barriers between socio- economic groups, particularly the Also, appropriate tools and training marginalised and the poor. opportunities need to be available for ownership by all groups, while communities if safety measures are simultaneously promoting equity. It introduced as part of the also reduces impressions about interventions. interventions as a 'foreign agenda' with ulterior motives towards cultural and religious norms.

30 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

References

Haq, Ehsanul, February 2006. Socio-economic Conditions and Institutional Mechanism for Water Distribution in Kiramatabad, Mulkhow, District Chitral. Chitral: IUCN

Khan, Maqsood, June 2006. Socio-economic Baseline Survey Report. Sustainable Management and Harvesting of Trout Fish Resources for Poverty Reduction in Freshwaters of Gupis Area in District Ghizer, Northern Areas. Gilgit: IUCN

Malik, Nazir Ahmed, June 2006. Baseline Survey Report of Village Narhotar, Union Council Lora, District Abbottabad. Peshawar: IUCN

Riaz, Mohammad, n.d. Geological Evaluation of Marble as Resource Base In Identified Areas of Chitral. Chitral: AKRSP

Ahmed, Rizwan, n.d. Baseline Survey on the Potential of Mushroom Farming for Improving Livelihoods of Women and Marginalised Groups in Two Select Union Councils of Peshawar. Peshawar: IUCN

Ahmed Maqsood, May 2006. Socio-economic Baseline Survey of Hudur Valley. Gilgit: IUCN

Haq Rafiul, September 2006. Baseline Study on Socio-economic Conditions and Fish Resource Assessment in D.I. Khan. Peshawar: IUCN

Yusuf, Muhammad, September 2005. Baseline Survey of the PSNP-IPRP Model Project on Poverty Reduction and Livelihoods Improvement through Sustainable Management of Chilghoza Pines in Shishi Valley, Chitral. Peshawar: IUCN

Yusuf, Muhammad, August 2006. Baseline on Socio-economic Conditions of the Local Community and Environmental Challenges from Marble Mining and Status of Pollution. Peshawar: IUCN

Yusuf, Muhammad, February 2007. Support Tenure System that Secure Access to the Chilghoza Resource by Poor People of Shishi Valley, Chitral. Peshawar: IUCN

Zaman, Saeeduz, n.d. A Report on Land Tenure and Ownership in Village Narhotar, Union Council Lora, District Abbottabad. Abbottabad: IUCN

Zaman, Saeeduz, May 2006. Study on Exploration of the Potential of Management of Non-Timber Forest Products in Narhotar Village, Union Council Lora, District Abbottabad. Abbottabad: Sungi

31 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Annexure I: Guidelines for Innovative Natural Resource Management/Livelihoods Model Projects

rogramme Support for Northern Pakistan (PSNP) would like to engage in innovative model projects where poor communities can be P the main beneficiaries of sustainable natural resource management, in close collaboration with select partners from government, civil society and the private sector.

This paper catalogues some guidelines on the selection of topics and implementation modalities, especially the role of PSNP in these projects.

PSNP seeks to:

● Address sustainable natural resource management and livelihood issues of poor communities, including marginalized groups and women ● Be demand-driven ● Remain innovative and effect tangible benefits for local stakeholder communities ● Work in partnership with implementing agencies rather than as the main implementer of projects ● Develop model projects with a potential for replication in a broader format and area ● Operate on limited budget and human resources

In addition:

● Definition of Natural Resource Management: NRM has to be understood in a broad sense, including agriculture, a clean and healthy environment and scenic landscapes. ● Identification of topics: These were demand-driven and included priorities expressed by local communities in the process of IDV formulation and strategies for sustainable development, IUCN national and regional priorities with potential for synergy among different programmes, project ideas generated in the earlier stage of PSNP planning and issues of special interest of partner organizations. ● Selection of field sites and communities: These were selected keeping in mind the interest of communities and partner organizations together with considerations of good demonstration potential such as accessibility for selected topics and availability of socio-economic databases, for example in Union Council Salhad, Abbottabad and Union Council Kuh, Chitral. ● Share of responsibility between PSNP and partner organizations: The distribution of roles between PSNP and partner organizations was determined on a case-to-case in the Terms of Partnership.

32 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Possible tasks for Programme Support for Northern Pakistan ● Compiling relevant experiences, including techniques and approaches, in the selected topic ● Conducting baseline studies, if required ● Studying community rights, including government legislation and customary rights, of respective natural resources ● Supporting the formulation of project documents ● Facilitating linkages among institutions. ● Supporting institutions assume key functions with a multi-stakeholder approach ● Supporting devolution of government functions and fiscal devolution ● Training of partners ● Mobilization of specialized expertise through IUCN or external consultants ● Maintaining limited role in implementation. ● Monitoring changes in living conditions of beneficiary communities ● Special monitoring of impact on disadvantaged groups and woman ● Providing input for policy formulation and legislation based on field experiences ● Documentation and knowledge sharing ● Capitalizing on PSNP strengths ● Ensuring merger of NRM with poverty and livelihood ● Accessing cutting edge knowledge ● Providing expertise in policy and legislation and strategy development ● Convening relevant people from different backgrounds on common platform ● Networking with people and institutions from government, civil society and the private sector ● Participating in policy dialogue ● Forming interdisciplinary teams ● Facilitating entry points

Tasks for Partner Organizations

● Participating in project planning ● Assuming primary responsibility in project implementation ● Monitoring and reporting project progress

Financial Resources

● Financial contribution to partners for implementation of model projects has to be defined on a case-to-case basis ● Additional funds to be sought from partners, beneficiaries (in kind) and other sources, if required

Human Resources of Programme Support for Northern Pakistan

● It is important to be realistic in defining the share of responsibilities between PSNP and partner organizations ● The main focus of PSNP staff for the years to come will be on model projects ● Engage PSNP's internal expertise, where needed and available ● Engage qualified consultants for specific tasks

33 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Annex II: Criteria for the Identification/selection of NRM/Livelihoods Projects

Criteria Rating Ranking Low Medium High 1 2 3 4 5 Rating x Ranking Relevant to environmental conservation, and/or potential for sustainable management of critical natural resource base 5x Potential for livelihoods improvement for local communities (tangible benefits) 5x Potential for livelihoods improvement specially for disadvantaged groups and woman 5x Responding to an important need (demand) expressed by the local population 4x Innovative project with potential for replication in a broader area 4x Availability and interest of appropriate partners for implementation, IUCNP member as potential partner 4x Comparative advantage for IUCN and partner organization 4x Capacity for IUCN and partner organization to mobilize the necessary expertise (cutting edge technology and approach) 4x Potential for mobilizing the needed financial resources from partner organizations, PSNP, local funds and other sources, potential for sustainability after project ends 4x Legal security, allowing participation in decision making and benefit sharing by involved communities or potential for improvement of policy and legal framework 3x Potential for field-testing of new conducive policies and legislation 3x Potential for involvement of devolved institutions according to their key role and in a transparent manner (Governance) 3x Potential for involvement of the private sector 2x Potential for identification of project sites with special comparative advantages (where socio economic studies have been done, accessibility etc.) 2x Interesting learning field for IUCN and partners about NRM and poverty/livelihoods nexus Relevance for IUCNP and Region, potential for synergy with country programme and regional initiatives of IUCN 2x Interesting field for exchange of experiences and knowledge management 2x Supportive for the consolidation of IUCN reputation 1x

Total points:

34 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Annex III: Criteria for the Selection of Local Meso-level Partner Organizations

Criteria Relevant specially for CSOs Gov. Org Private Sector Renowned organization with good working record in the area X 1. Shared values with IUCN regarding environment, development, social justice, gender, equity, governance, sustainability etc. X X No religious or political bias X X X 2. Official registration as per the legal requirements of the Government of Pakistan X X Functional policy making and executive body X 3. Clear strategic orientation and organizational structure. Proposed project fits within the mission/mandate of the organization X X X 4. Capacity to implement the proposed project in a cost efficient and effective way X X X 5. Professional expertise in the field of collaboration or capacity to mobilize the needed expertise X X X 6. Capacity to mobilize funds for the implementation of the proposed project X X X 7. Good coordination and networking capacity including with government agencies (Multi-Partnership approach) X X 8. Capacity to provide input for policy discussions X X X 9. Sound monitoring and reporting systems, capacity to document and share experiences and learningX X x 10. Reliable and transparent accounting and auditing procedures X x 11. Innovative and learning oriented (system and initiatives for staff learning) X X X

35 Natural Resource Management for Improved Livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

Annex IV: Projects

Project & Location Objective Partner Poverty Reduction and Livelihoods To demonstrate the potential of chilghoza pine Intercooperation-Innovation for Improvement through Sustainable management for improving the livelihoods for rural Poverty Reduction Project Management of Chilghoza Pines in communities including disadvantaged groups and Shishi Valley, Chitral women, while at the same time ensuring the sustainability of the resource base.

Storage and Equitable Distribution To make optimum use of he scarce water resources Sarhad Rural Support Program of Water Resources for Improved and ensure mechanisms of equity in distribution of Rural Livelihoods in Kiramatabad, water amongst the community members including Mulkhow Valley, Northern Chitral disadvantaged groups and women for reducing poverty and improving livelihoods.

Environment-friendly and Safe To promote and introduce environment-friendly, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Marble and Granite Mining for minimum waste and safe mining/quarrying by building Chitral Chapter of the Frontier Mine Sustained Livelihoods in Chitral the capacities of the mine owners, investors, workers Owners Association and others involved in or dependant on stone quarrying in Chitral district for making optimal use of the mineral dimensional stone resources (marble, granite, serpentine, slate) and enhancing sustainable livelihoods.

Equitable and Sustainable To demonstrate the equitable and sustainable Sungi, Forest and Agriculture Utilization of Natural Assets in utilization of natural assets for improving the Departments Narothar Village, Abbottabad livelihoods of villagers including women and marginalised groups.

Sustainable Management of River To establish a replicable model for sustainable Sustainable Education, Rural Based Fish Resources for Poverty management of river-based fish resource for poverty Infrastructure, Veterinary Care and Alleviation in D.I. Khan alleviation of rural community groups including Environment, district-level staff of the marginalised and women of part of river Indus in D.I. Fisheries Department Khan.

Promotion of Mushroom Farming To demonstrate the potential of mushroom farming as Sarhad Rural Support Program Enterprise Amongst Rural Women of a tool for improving the livelihoods of women and Peshawar District marginalised groups in rural communities and to generate knowledge about culturally compatible sustainable income generation opportunities for women based on natural resources.

Sustainable Management and To demonstrate a community-based conservation and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Harvesting of Trout Fish Resources sustainable use model in managing trout fish in Northern Areas Fisheries Department, for Poverty Reduction in freshwater resources; to create economic and income local communities Freshwaters of Gupis Area in generation opportunities for marginalised groups District Ghizer, Northern Areas including women and the ultra-poor through enhancing local skills; and enhancing the local knowledge base about trout fish conservation and community-based nature tourism experiences in Ghizer district and sharing the knowledge with the global community.

Community-based Chilghoza Pine To demonstrate the potential of chilghoza pine for World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan, Conservation and Management for improving the livelihoods of rural communities Wildlife Conservation Society, local Income Generation in Hudur Valley, including disadvantaged groups while at the same communities District Diamer, Northern Areas time ensuring the sustainability of the resource base.

36