Encroachments posing a threat to the
Chitral Gol National Park -letter
 

 Like other part of Pakistan Chitral is also facing the negative consequences of climate change. Unexpected weather changes from the past few years have greatly affected the country’s economic, social and environmental conditions. Forest and wildlife depletion is a major cause of environmental degradation. Harsh Climatic condition with huge population pressure and widespread poverty are main frontier of deforestation and wildlife depletion in chitral. Parks and protected Areas systems is an important tool for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, the NWFP Wildlife Act for Protection, Conservation and management, 1975 has provision for four type of protected areas ,i.e.  National park, Wildlife sanctuaries, game reserves and private game reserves.

The first two categories strictly protect wildlife and its habitat while the later ones allow for regulated use of wildlife with no emphasis on habitat protection.  Protected Areas in chitral includes one National Park, one wildlife sanctuary and four game reserves and five community game reserves with a collection of 2220Km covering only 15% of the district.  Chitral Gol national park (CGNP) is famous for its Markhor goats, other ungulates, such as Siberian ibex and Ladakh urial (Shapu), occur in very small numbers, as do black bear. The status of snow leopard changed from tenuous security in 1970 to seriously threatened by 1974.

The species does not appear to be resident, visiting the park occasionally. Wolves are seen less frequently following restrictions on grazing by livestock. The park is facing a lot of problems, like grazing, fuel wood collection and encroachment by the local communities.  Fuel wood collection and grazing are nearly controlled in the park by the park administration through local community’s involvement in park planning and management program. Now a day the park is facing the problem of encroachment, some people living in the vicinity of park has made encroachment in the park area. It is apparent from the maps and records of the Government that the area where the peoples encroached is the part of Chitral Gol National park.

The park administration has taken courageous steps to prevent the encroachment in the park area. Now some people from Chew Dok are protesting that the Park administration is evacuation of their houses. The statements given by the reps of the protesters are very unjust and base less. I my self visited the area and observed the whole situation. I found in the area that the people had encroached the government property and were constructing houses in a very hazardous area, where the slope percentage is more then 80% and could result in a  colossal disaster in future and also agitate the habitat of wildlife. 

 It is also the responsibility of the District Government Chitral and other line Departments to hold up the park administration to take effectual measures to control such kind of action in future. Through this letter I request all the local communities of the park to protect the park for the conservation of unique biological diversity. After I  came across this situation, the line of Mohandas K. Gandhi came to my mind ”There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed”. Environmental degradation is a serious threat to the survival of life on the earth. However with the collective effects, we can make our world friendly for life. For this purpose The Government of Pakistan has declared the year 2009 as “National Year of Environment” with objectives to raise awareness on environmental issues.

Ajaz Ahmed

Chitral

10 March 09.

Chew Dok residents protest forced eviction

CHITRAL, 07 March 09: Residents of Chew Dok village of Chitral town protested evacuation of their houses by the Chitral Gol National Park Project administration. Led by Qazi Nasim and Haji Jalil, they addressed a press conference at the Chitral Press Club. They threatened they would migrate en-block to another country if they were pressed against the wall.--(BH Azad)

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