Chilghoza Pine forest Conservation, for economic empowerment
CHITRAL: local hailed importance of pine nut. Forest resources are important for area like chitral, because forest support the 90 % of the livelihood of the local communities. The forest of chitral besides providing timber, fuel wood, but also endow with valuable non-timber forest produce, like , Medicinal plants, Mushroom, wild fruits & Chilghoza pine, said Ajaz Ahmed, District Incharge, Non-timber forest Produce, NWFP Forest department. While addressing in a meeting with the members of Village committees in his office. He said that Chilghoza pine is a valuable tree found in the dry temperate forest of chitral and provides economic opportunity for the local forest dwellers, if utilize it sustainable approach. But unfortunately this valuable species is vanishing from this region due to pre mature harvesting and non availability of seeds for natural regeneration in forest and wild. The Directorate of Non-timber forest produce, NWFP Forest department is working in Chitral for the conservation, promotion and sustainable management of all non-timber forest produces, for conservation and economic empowerment of the local communities. In order to conserve the Chilghoza pine and its sustainable utilization, the directorate is providing technical support to the local communities, so that they can play an active role in the management of forest resources in chitral. He also said that forest department, is trying his level best to conserve these resources in this regards Gulzar ur Rahaman, Divisional Forest Officer Chitral has also issued directives to the range Forest Officers to ensure to control over harvesting of Chilghoza nut. Ajaz said that 2009 is good seeds year for Chilghoza nut in chitral and we will get more income from this products this year. He also confirms that a well-defied area has been declared as Chilghoza reserve with community participation in many localities where harvesting of Chilghoza is prohibited for a long period to have desired level of regeneration. He requests the local community to protect these valuable species for economic and environmental welfare.
Leave Your Comments