The
Palas Conservation and Development Project is working with the
main focus on biodiversity conservation in the area through
the effective involvement of local communities. Loss of natural
resources has directly affected the biodiversity of the Palas
valley, particularly, the cutting of forest has affected the
ecosystem and wildlife in general. PCDP is struggling to raise
awareness about the effect of natural resources degradation.
As a result of this, the Palasi people have started to realize
the facts regarding natural resources degradation and loss of
biodiversity.
|
Sherakot village in Kuz Palas
|
Sherakot village is an example in this regard. This beautiful
village had abundant forest population cover, but during the
last decade, people have cut the forest in large quantity without
any planning for regeneration or reforestation. Moreover, in
1997, the Government of NWFP announced an illogical and forest
damaging policy. People took the advantage of this policy in
their own interest, and increased the damage to the forest.
The timber mafia and other groups with vested interests damaged
the precious forest to such an extent that soil erosion affected
adversely many acres of cultivated land. Subsequently, floods
washed away water mills at the main Sherakot bridge. It also
caused reduction of population in wild vegetables and mushrooms,
even the water springs began to dry up..
|
Deforestation at Sherakot
|
Now people have started to think about the causes of these
losses and a local khel (tribe) named “Pheray khail”
held a participatory meeting (jirga). After long discussion
and sharing of lessons learnt, they decided to take practical
measures to improve the situation collectively. The local
community decided to conserve the larger portion of the forest
of the village at “Khowrgi”. Even the owner of
the forest, will not cut any tree in this area and if someone
does not follow the Jirga decision, he will be fined accordingly.
The Jirga has fixed a penalty for such losses and the fine
decided is Rs.120/sq. ft for one log and @ Rs.65/sq. ft for
other timber. The Community will review the progress of the
forest protection measures and collect the fine from the persons
who damage the forest.
Community of Pheray khail, is fully determined to conserve
the forests of Khowrgi!
Saleem Ahmad PO-COP
|
