Plight of mountain communities

A couple of days back, I had the chance to be part of a media exposure visit organized by WWF-Pakistan, to its project,Improving Sub-watershed Management and Environmental Awareness in and around Ayubia National Park (G200-Western Himalayas). The Coca-Cola Foundation funded project aims to sustain the flow of clean water in selected springs and streams and conserve the area’s biodiversity. The project interventions directly contributeto protect natural resources of the area especially reducing deforestation, reviving natural springs, sensitizing communities and climate change adaptation and mitigation for a resilient future.
The media visit was funded by WWF-Pakistan’s project Building Capacity on Climate Change Adaptations in Coastal Areas of Pakistan to highlight the issues of mountain communities and how they are affected by extreme weathering events.
The mountain ecosystems supports livelihoods of millions of communities but it’s distressing to see that since independence, little has been done by the government to address their issues, most of themenvironmental ones.
In the mountainous regions of Himalayas, lies the beautiful Ayubia National Park (ANP). Its spread over an area of 3,312 ha, and listed among the 200 Global Eco-regions. The national park exists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and is endowed with three diverse ecosystems; namely sub-Alpine meadows, moist temperate forests and chir pine forest ecosystems. These ecosystems have provided a healthy supply of clean water to communities for centuries. Moreover the forests also provide fodder for livestock, fuel wood for cooking and heating and non-timber forest products i.e. vegetables and medicine.
Unfortunately, the areais suffering from the negative impacts of human-led activities. For centuries, the local communities were dependent on the forest to meet their energy needs. Moreover, an increasing population and unsustainable tourism industry has worsened the issue. To reduce the pressure on forests, Shell Pakistan in 2004 introduced Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a fuel source in the area but people rejected it, as forest wood is more convenient and easily available in the area.
Deforestation has not just affected the scenic beauty of Pakistan but also the springs recharge. Out of 27 springs, which supplied water to Murree cantonment during the British era, six have completely dried out, while the flow of water in the remaining has decreased to a greater extent due to reduction in vegetation cover during the last five decades (According to 2004 WWF-Pakistan report).
The natural springs are also affected from poor sanitation and poor solid waste management system of hotels, as untreatedwaste is dumped in natural springs, which becomecontaminated. This has lead to an increase in water-borne diseases including typhoid and hepatitis, which were not known earlier but are highly prevalent today.
It was assessed that Coliform bacteria in the water channels is the main reason for water-borne diseases and after testing of water samples it was revealed that human fecal matter is found in the water channels. Therefore fencing of the sources of water channels should be implemented but till now the government has not done anything in this regard.
Even though the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) charges hotels a conservancy tax to deal with pollution and dust bins and compactor truck are in available but a proper solid waste management system needs to be introduced.
Since people are completely dependent on forest wood for survival, fuel-efficient stoves are a good option by which pressure on forests can be reduced. Solar water heaters are also effective and prove to be a good alternative to directly heating water, especially for mosques as forest wood is extensively used by householdsduringwinters.
A precious indigenous tree, the Himalayan yew (Taxuswallichiana), locally known as burmi, that grows in Kaghan, Kashmir and Swat,has been used extensively in graves and has now become endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).The use of wood in graves is a centuries old practice which has reduced the population of Himalayan yew to a great extent.Therefore WWF-Pakistan advocated for conservation of the Taxuswallichiana tree by sensitizing religious leaders and communities on its preservation. People in LundiMandri, Ratri, KhunKhurd, Mohra, Arifabad, Touheedabad, Jaswara, Barmigali etc. (a total of 15 hamlets) have agreed to the idea to use RCC slabs, made of concrete, in graves. However, much needs to be done as people in some areas still use the Himalayan yew to make graves and it’s the government’s job to ensure the complete ban of this practice.
The impacts of climate change are also evident in the area, according to Muhammad Waseem, Coordinator, Watershed Management Project, WWF-Pakistan, ‘Nathiagali and the adjoining areas are witnessing climatic impacts in the form of sudden temperature rise and fall, and shiftingrainfall patterns thus affecting spring recharge. Increases in temperature have also lead to an increase in the population of wild bores in the area, which was never experienced before 2006. It can have severe ecological implications.’
The timber mafia is stronger than ever as their voice can be heard in the power corridors, as is evident from a decision taken by the previous government to lift the ban on transportation of wood to other parts of the country. This act greatly benefitted the timber mafia and increased deforestation in many areas of Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan. This dreadful act finally stopped when the current government came into force, but by then government had to face a loss of more than six billion rupees to the national exchequer.
The problems of mountain communities are innumerable and demand immediate attention. They are far away from the national grid and the reluctance of the government is not just increasing their problems but also the perception that no one cares for them.
There a dire need to set upa watch and ward system to check deforestation. Communities can be empowered if women are empowered to protect natural resources. They should be sensitized not to cut small plants especial pine trees (pole) as this isdetrimental for the ecosystem. If community women are trained to make their own living, it can help to ease the burden on natural resources. These women can further sensitize the children to play an important role in conservation, as they are the guardians of the precious natural resource.
To deal with water shortages, rainwater harvesting should be adopted which was an indigenous idea practiced during the British era but is ignored now.
Most importantly, the government should build trust and confidence among communities by stating that they won’t declare community forests as national parks, and encouraging locals to plant trees in their area.
It’s the foremost responsibility of the government to play an important role to check deforestation which is increasing soil erosion and sedimentation. Strengthening the watch and ward system can bring positive results and afforestation can help to revive the water channels and restorebiodiversity in the area.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its 2009 report has already said that Pakistan’s annual deforestation rate is 2.1 per cent per annum (the highest in Asia),which needs serious attention. The plight of mountain communities is a clarion call that we have to address their environmental concerns immediately. These people stand at the front of natural calamities and climate change, floods, hail storms and sudden rainfalls threaten their very existence. Off course due to lack of scientific education and research they don’t know how to deal with these issues.
Time is running out and concrete steps on immediate grounds are required in order to deal with extreme weathering events, otherwise these communities will lose a lot more than they have already lost.