The Shigar Microcosm 35 Occasional Papers Geographie
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35 The Shigar Microcosm WATER TOWERS OF HUMANKIND NATURAL FORESTS LIVE- ANIMAL CROP CASH STOCK HUSBANDRY FARMING MAR- CROPS KETING SUBSISTENCE SECTOR MOUNTAIN timber HOUSE- firewood HOLD OFF - FARM SECTOR PUBLIC NGO SECTOR army service trade TREE civil wage PLANTA- service labour INTERNATIONAL TIONS migrant DEVELOPMENT tourism INSTITUTIONS labour Socio-economic Investigations in a Karakoram Oasis Northern Areas of Pakistan Edited by Hermann Kreutzmann Matthias Schmidt Andreas Benz Occasional Papers Geographie Occasional Papers Zentrum für Entwicklungsländer-Forschung (ZELF) Institut für Geographische Wissenschaften Freie Universität Berlin ZELF 2008 Editor of Occasional Papers Geographie Prof. Dr. Hermann Kreutzmann Contact Centre for Development Studies (ZELF) Department of Geography Freie Universitaet Berlin Malterserstr. 74-100 D-12249 Berlin [email protected] Tel: +49 – 30 – 838 70223 Fax: +49 – 30 – 838 70757 © 2008 Centre for Development Studies, Freie Universitaet Berlin OCCASIONAL PAPERS GEOGRAPHIE Heft 35 The Shigar Microcosm Socio-economic Investigations in a Karakoram Oasis Northern Areas of Pakistan Edited by Hermann Kreutzmann Matthias Schmidt Andreas Benz Zentrum für Entwicklungsländer-Forschung (ZELF) Institut für Geographische Wissenschaften Freie Universität Berlin 2008 PREFACE Building bridges for mutual understanding The report presented herewith is the outcome of a joint effort. Various parties have contrib- uted to the materialisation of this project in which different partners cooperated for mutual benefit. Knowledge transfer requires the collection, generation and processing of data and their subsequent interpretation and presentation of findings. Consequently this report on the Shigar microcosm benefits from earlier scientific undertakings and academic projects aimed at an improved knowledge base and an enhanced understanding and interpretation of devel- opment processes and transformations in high mountain oases. Shigar is a prime example for the quest of increasing our knowledge. Visitors to the region very often bypass Shigar on route to their quest for high peaks of the Karakoram which abound in the upper valley. Previous research efforts go back to colonial times when linguists and historians tried to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the culture and living conditions in the remote corners of the mountain belt. After independence scat- tered research projects were randomly executed. One of the more prominent efforts was the joint Pak-German Research Project “Culture Area Karakoram” in the early 1990s. During the multi-disciplinary programme sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Council, DFG) Shigar became one of the target areas for a number of researchers. The nexus of research and implementation was emphasised on in the aftermath. Of great importance for regional development in itself became governmental and non-governmental activities aiming at improved infrastructure, education, health services, cultural heritage and economic enterprises. These activities have grown in recent years. In the framework of im- plementing development packages the need for background information and baseline sur- veys became ubiquitous. Planning without sound foundation is an awkward affair. Therefore all development agencies have devoted more efforts in recent years towards research and data gathering. Cooperation between academia and practice has become unavoidable and is fortunately growing. This felt need was the driving force for the joint effort that was suggested by IUCN last year when a team from our research cell was invited to do a socio-economic survey of Shigar oa- sis. The Centre for Development Studies at the Freie Universitaet Berlin is part of the Geo- graphic Sciences and in that capacity students are trained in executing fieldwork. Taking up the offer by IUCN we devoted and organised a two-semester course to prepare for fieldwork in Shigar and to evaluate the gathered data. The modest results of this undertaking are hum- bly presented herewith. A project like this needs support and encouragement from a host of institutions. First of all, we are grateful to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its staff members who have prepared and managed the implementation of the exercise in great style and who have been helpful to our team throughout planning and working. In addition we were supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), an institution which creates bridges for mutual understanding and supports students in both directions by supply- ing stipends and scholarships. The Freie Universitaet Berlin and the Department of Earth Sciences sponsored the project and provided ample support in administrative fields. Especially in times when world politics are affecting international travel and academic exchange we have been grateful that this joint I project could materialise. In addition we enjoyed the company from students of the Kara- koram International University (KIU) Gilgit and the National University of Science and Tech- nology (NUST) in Islamabad during our stay in Shigar. Mutual learning and knowledge trans- fer becomes easier when personal dialogue is enabled and enhanced by sympathy and friendship. In Shigar we have found such a constellation. Other governmental and non- governmental institutions were supportive and our thanks go to the Raja of Shigar, the Assis- tant Commissioner, the representatives of Aga Khan Development Network and to the local interpreters, guides and resource persons. A project like this is planned in offices, institutions and universities. Without the support, the hospitality and the by now long-standing friendship with citizens of Shigar we would not have dared to suggest such a research enterprise. Consequently this report is dedicated to the people of Shigar and we hope that it supports planning exercises and might even be useful as a reference work for future research and knowledge transfer. Berlin, July 2008 Prof. Dr. Hermann Kreutzmann Participants from the Freie Universitaet Berlin Prof. Dr. Hermann Kreutzmann, Chair of Human Geography and Director of the Centre for Development Studies Dr. Matthias Schmidt, Research Associate at the Centre for Development Studies Andreas Benz, Doctoral Student at the Centre for Development Studies Students: Altenkirch, Rachid Leimbach, Johannes Schoger, Heinke Bittner, Christian Mahrwald, Susanne Steinert, Julia Bräunig, Lars Maikowski, Tine Voss, Franziska Dieckhoff, Svenja Methke, Danielo Wächter, Tim Guenther, Nadine Michel, Christina Wegner, Nicole Höber, Johannes Neutz, Sabrina Wiemer, Stefanie Koss, Christina Paul, Daniel Wrede, Malte Landschulze, Jana Piel, Sarah II Content 1. LAND USE IN SHIGAR ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Methods and implementation ................................................................................... 1 1.3 Results ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Present state of land use in Shigar Proper ........................................................... 2 1.3.2 The cropping system ............................................................................................ 4 1.3.3 Spatial structure of land use ................................................................................. 6 1.3.4 Impact of animal husbandry on livelihood ............................................................. 7 1.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 9 2. BUILT ENVIRONMENT: CHANGES IN THE SHIGAR OASIS ............................. 11 2.1 Introduction and research concept ......................................................................... 11 2.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Built environment of Shigar .................................................................................... 13 2.4 Construction activities in Shigar ............................................................................. 19 2.4.1 Reasons for new constructions ........................................................................... 21 2.4.2 Choice of settlement area ................................................................................... 21 2.4.3 Reconstruction activities by IUCN ...................................................................... 23 2.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 26 3. INFRASTRUCTURE IN SHIGAR ........................................................................... 27 3.1 Introduction and research concept ......................................................................... 27 3.2 Traffic infrastructure ............................................................................................... 28 3.3 Public power grid .................................................................................................... 31 3.4 Telecommunication infrastructure .......................................................................... 32 3.5 Conclusions and recommendations ......................................................................