The towering Suleiman Mountain range, which stretch across three of Pakistan's four provinces, has been home to dense pine forests. A variety of grasses and shrubs covered the lower slopes, providing fodder for wild animals and cures for many diseases. Th e local Shiranis jealously protected their mountain reserves, banning all commercial exploitation--of either fuelwood or timber. This in effect became an informal accord amongst these tribals prior to any outside intervention.

This informal inter-communal agreement helped the survival of the precious Chilgoza pines(Pinus gerardiana), whose edible seeds are a popular delicacy and thus a good source of income. These trees also protect the soil and keep it moistened to support a v ariety of grasses and medicinal herbs which in turn support various forms of wildlife, especially the Urial(Ovis orientalis) and the endangered Suleiman Markhor(Capra falconeri jerdoni). Hundreds of dead and dying trees in the forest met the fuel and timb er requirements of over 100 villages. Most importantly, the only perennial stream and dozens of springs were kept alive because of these trees.

However, over the years, respect for traditionally sustainable utilization of forest resources gave way to social and economic compulsions. The forest treasures were steadily looted and the only surviving patch of Chilgoza forest, spread over about 200sq km area, came under pressure. Tracks were built and forest-cutting began.

Although the Balochistan Forest Act does not allow commercial exploitation of trees, political conflicts resulted in the wanton flouting of rules. If permits to transport Chilgoza logs were refused at the local level, higher authorities at the provincial headquarters gave the green signal. Hence, despite the ban, the market was flooded with timber.

The result was that large areas of once fertile land were washed away. Several of the springs dried up and floods become more frequent, creating deep ravines and gullies.

One of the main problems was land ownership. Every piece of land is jointly owned apart from the forest, so all kinds of livestock, from camels to goats, graze at random, seriously degrading the land. This livestock cannot be stopped from their habitual g razing, but if there were fences to contain their activity less damage would be done. Unfortunately though, no single family could afford to fence even a small part of land or rehabilitate it by planting trees and shrubs.

This is where WWF-Pakistan stepped in. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 1990-91 which provided an insight into the local social conditions, the culture and economic compulsions behind the cutting of trees.

In October 1991, WWF brought together 15 notable people representing eight villages to discuss the problems of the Chilgoza forests and the possibility of restricting their exploitation. Some of the participants were not on talking terms; others had not m et for over five years. The idea of a short-term conservation agreement, which could be signed by any Chilgoza forest owner irrespective of the size of his land, was introduced. As many as 64 forest owners signed the agreement, creating a pact for two yea rs and protecting 16sq km of land.

Realizing that the signatories would need viable alternatives to desist from cutting the forest, WWF focused on activities that could generate income from other sources. Top priority was given to the rehabilitation of abandoned agricultural lands and plan ting of fruit trees. WWF reached an agreement with the people whereby land owners had to reconstruct an old irrigation channel for the rehabilitation of their agricultural lands with financial help from WWF.

The channel was completed in two months, the once abandoned agricultural land was irrigated and by summer, hundreds of kilograms of wheat were produced. Another 1km long irrigation channel was subsequently built, again with financial and technical help f rom WWF, and two nurseries were set up. Efforts are underway to repeat this success and persuade other communities to settle their rights of land ownership so that proper range management and afforestation work can be carried out.

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