Norwegian hunts Markhor in Chitral for US$ 81200

CHITRAL, 02 Jan 09: Although game hunting specially that of the rare animals like Markhor is not allowed but recently government had allowed a controlled hunting of Markhor in special reserve areas.

A Norwegian rare game Hunter Mr. Oyvind Christensen hunted a Kashmiri Markhor of 47 inches trophy at the Tooshi game reserve.

Mr. Christensen paid US$ 81200 as permit fee for this hunt. Talking to local newsmen Mr. Christensen said that Chitral is a very peaceful place & the people of Chitral are very friendly, civilized and cooperative people.

Deputy Forest officer Wild Life Mr. Imtiaz Hussain said that Chitral has more than 2000 Markhor population and other wild life like Ibex, snow leopard and rare birds. He said Chitral issues 3 to 4 hunting permits per season. 20% of total amount is taken by wild life department, 40% is given to local community and 40% to conservation committee
Talking to this scribe Shahzada Gul general secretary of
Al-Burhan village conservation committee said that Chitral was having over 2000 Markhors but wild life was issuing only 3 permits. He demanded from high ups of wild life to increase number of permits from 3 to 6 permits per year to compensate the local community and volunteers of village conservation committee

Tooshi Game Reserve, along the paved road to Garam Chashma in Chitral’s Lutkho district, covers 1000 hectares and is proposed to be reclassified as a wildlife sanctuary, as it has a large (about 160) and readily viewable markhor population. The markhor are best seen along the road at dusk. The jeep ride is just 20 minutes from Chitral town.

For details of organising such adventures and safaris in these areas please contact us
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President for international moot on mountaineering

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 2009 (APP): HE President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the government to consider hosting an international conference on mountaineering in Pakistan to refocus the attention of the world community on the range and scale of mountaineering Pakistan offered.

He was meeting with mountaineers Hassan Sadpara and Ghulam Mohammad who plan to climb Mount Everest this year, at the Presidency today.

Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for KANA (Kashmir And Northern Areas), Chief Executive Northern Areas, Mr. Shaheen baig, Mr. Nazir Sabir renownd climber & President of the Alpine Club and officials of relevant ministries were also present in the meeting.

The President said that mountaineering in Pakistan needed to be patronized and developed to attract climbers from all over the world in large number on the one hand and
encourage the youth to take to mountaineering as a sport to engage themselves in healthy activities, on the other.

The President wished Hassan Sadpara and his mountaineering associate success in the expedition to climb Mount Everest. He said that the government would extend all possible help to them in their expedition and to hoist Pakistani flag on the world’s highest peak.

The President also advised the government to consider setting up special training institutes for the training of climbers. He said that if proper institutional framework was provided the country’s youth will be attracted to mountaineering to expend their energy for themselves and for bringing up the name and glory to the country.

The President of the Alpine club presented a report on proposals to promote mountaineering which the President said would be examined by the government.

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Deforestration in Kalash

The Kalash p

Deforestration Pakistan has been a problem since the English times and its ever growing although the government of Pakistan and NGOs like AKRSP have done some efforts of reforestration but there is still need of greater efforts to increase tree specially in the mountain areas where landslides have become very common.

Following is a letter published in Chitral News about deforestration of Kalash Villages in the hindukush.

eople live in three isolated mountain valleys of Bumboret, Rumbur and Biri in the District Chitral, NWFP of Pakistan. These valleys are opening towards the Kunar River, some 20 km south (downstream) of Chitral, The Bumboret and Rumbur valleys join at 35°44′20″N 71°43′40″E (1640 m), joining the Kunar at the village of Ayun (35°42′52″N 71°46′40″E, 1400 m) and they each rise to passes connecting to Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province at about 4500 m.

The Birir valley opens towards the Kunar at the
village of Gabhirat (35°40′8″N 71°45′15″E, 1360 m). A pass connects the Birir and Bumboret valleys at about 3000 m. The Kalash villages in all three valleys are located at a height of approximately 1900 to 2200 m. For a country’s environmental and economic
being it is essential that 25% of its territory is covered with forest. According to Chitral Conservation Strategy, the District Chitral has only 4.5% of its land under forest. Kalash valley has been the best forest resource in the District and provides a lot of timber; fire wood and other non-timber forest produces to the other part of the district. On the other hand, the high mountains in which the major part of the resource is situated are catchments of the river chitral. Similarly local communities depend on the resource for their timber and fuel wood needs, fodder for cattle, and a general source of livelihood. The importance of the resource for the wild life habitat, environmental conservation, and bio diversity cannot be over stated. On these accounts sustainable management of the forest resource in the valley is extremely important and at the same time highly complicated.

Deforestation, overgrazing and cultivation on the steep slopes have accelerated erosion and run off and flash flood. Flooding takes a heavy toll of agriculture lands and villages. They poor people depend on livestock and marginal agriculture for subsistence. As the population increase, so do livestock numbers. Land holding is too small to sustain such a livelihood. Local community overgrazes forest, hillside and alpine pasture, and cultivates the vulnerable watershed form cultivation

The entire Valley is a very sensitive watershed and susceptible to erosion due to its rough topography and steep slope. Deforestation is high. The ecological damage inflict due to deforestation is most disastrous. Loss of forest quality translates into loss of biodiversity. The degradation of forest results in the loss of important carbon “SINKs” and erosion is given boost. Erosion has led to not only decline in fertility and desertification in some areas of the valley but the run off deposition in irrigation channels of the valley, that feed the agriculture crops put pressure on the waterways. One of the unique features of deforestation in kalasha valley is the decline of Juniper forest from the valley, which is considered to be very important holly tree by the Kalash community.

Mitigation
• To combat deforestation in the valley, the most obvious step to take is to t plant more trees.
• Alternative source of fuel and fuel-efficient technology should be introduced in the valley.
• Reforestation and afforestation drives must be multiplied and effort should be made to check illegal logging.
• Non-timber forest produce should be promoted as alternative to forest logging in the valley, so as to provide alternative source of income.
• The entire kalash valley should be declared as Kalash National park in order to protect the unique culture and rich biodiversity of the valley.

Ajaz Ahmed,
Chitral.

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PTDC Motels in Northern Areas Open for 2009 Season

ISLAMABAD: PTDC motels in the Northern areas have been re-opened from 22nd. The seasonal motels in Ayubia, Astak, Satpara Lake, Rama Lake, Skardu, Khaplu and Saidu Sharif Swat, have started taking guests and reservations for the year 2009. The tourist staying in PTDC Motels will be provided special discounted facilities
to enjoy the spring season. With the prime objective of promotion of tourism in remote and under-developed areas, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) launched its Subsidiary for Motels called PTDC Motels in 1976. From a modest beginning limit of 10 motels, PTDC Motels have now expanded its boarding, lodging and restaurant facilities to 43 remote tourist
destinations spread across the country.

With over 600 rooms, it has now become the largest chain of motels & restaurants in Pakistan. In line with Government’s tourism development strategy, PTDC motels were constructed to meet two primary objectives; to open up new areas for tourism and set the pace for the private sector to follow, secondly, to initiate socio-economic development of the area. PTDC has been fortunate to meet with the objectives and presents an accessible and affordable facility at the most picturesque sites nature has to offer.

They are set up in areas where private sector is shy to invest or where infrastructure facilities are not yet developed. Playing a role of pioneer and trend setter, PTDC Motels have always opened up new and remote places for tourism thus bringing infrastructure (road, water, electricity, telephone etc) facilities and employment opportunities at the door-step of the local communities. PTDC Motels lead the road to prosperity and development.

Motels at Aliabad Hunza, Bamburet (Chitral), Khaplu, Gupis closed during the winter-season will be reopened from 15th April and Motels at Phandar, Rama Lake, Sust, Naran, and Mastuj will be reopened from 15th May this year.

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