PAKISTAN

Region:	South Asia
Country:	Pakistan
Title:	Community-Based Natural Resource Management in Northern Pakistan
Authors:	Javed Ahmed and Shafqat Hussain
Other Info:	(i) Original language: English; (ii) Partners: United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Abstract: This case study discusses a GEF-UNDP funded, IUCN managed, four year pilot project aimed at: (i) Demonstrating how local institutions can manage wild species and habitats sustainably; and, (ii) Assessment of the effectiveness of conserving biodiversity in addition to rural community development. The project activities were built around the social infrastructure of Village Organizations (VOs) and Womens Organizations (WOs) developed by AKRSP in Northern Pakistan, and is being implemented with the support of AKRSP staff. Technical expertise is provided by IUCN. The process involved formation of VO clusters at watershed level, helping them to develop and implement village development and resource conservation plans based on a set of agreed norms related to resource use and conservation. The case study details the process adopted by the project team for planning and implementation, capacity-building training conducted at both community and regional-national levels, the efforts made at empowering rural communities through creation of District Conservation Committees and Village Conservation Funds, and the demonstration effects of the pilot project in the region. According to the authors, the approach used (Conservation through Community Development, CCD) differs from conventional approaches by putting local people in the 'driving seat' and transferring to them the control for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, after having built their capacity. They suggest this model as a successful one for conservation of biodiversity, both outside and inside protected areas. As a result of this pilot project, biodiversity conservation has been adopted by AKRSP as part of its development agenda. A seven year project proposal has been submitted to GEF for funding. The full-scale project is likely to start in early 1999.