Chitral suffering heavy deforestation -letter

Chitral has tremendous attraction among domestic and foreign tourists for its greenery, peaceful environment and unique Kalash culture. Large number of tourists visits this paradise on the earth every year especially in summer season and enjoy their vacations in the green valleys of Bumburate, Birir, Rumboor and Shandur as well and also contribute to local economy in terms of employment opportunities and foreign exchange. Alas this green valley has been severely damaged by the timber mafia within the last few years. In the garb of marking, green dewdar trees are mercilessly cut by timber contractors and local forest department officials become silent spectators of the whole situation. In the forest of Kalash valleys millions of green trees have been destroyed by timber contractors and supplied to down country which has converted a big part of the forest into barren eye sore.

Local community is very upset about the situation and responsible officials are totally indifferent to the situation and minting money from the lucrative timber business. If this trend continued in near future green valleys of Kalash will be converted into barren land and flood would play havoc in the whole district. Beside this in the forest of Shishikuh valleys, Ursoon and jinjirate kuh the same deforestation is in progress. People of the area ask this question from responsible authorities that members of timber mafia have earned billions of rupees from this business, but what will be the fate of 0.4 million people when flood will decide their destiny.

 Beside, the tourism industry in Kalash valleys will be affected too much after destruction of forest in these and other valleys. In this grim circumstance it is requested to make transparent enquiry into the matter of Kalash valleys forest destruction in order to find out the quantum of destruction and punish the real culprits. It is also requested to the people, organizations and other stakeholders who want to protect environment to raise their voice against ruthless cutting of forest in district Chitral. Supply of timber to down country may kindly be banned immediately, so that remaining forest can be protected from the clutches of timber mafia, and people of the area, tourism industry and beauty of Chitral can be protected from ultimate destruction. --Nasir Mehmood, Lavi Drosh.16 May 2011