Sustainable income of indigenous community of Torghar, Pakistan: a viable

tool for poverty reductionTahir Rasheed

Outline of the Presentation

National significance of the ICCAs

Introduction: Torghar and its significance

Achievements to date

Challenges ahead

Our thrust /future plans

High altitude

Low altitude

K2

Coast

Major Active Indigenous Management Systems

Saq: CCAs

Pargure: CCAs in Pushtoon areas

Rakh: Traditional CCAs in Sindh, Punjab and Baloch Areas

Pehteik: stop illegal cutting of wood and its regeneration

Hajati: use of NTFPs from uplands

Major Active Indigenous Management Systems

Gram: complete the communal works of the village together

Mirzahoi: Maintenance of water resources, management of thousands years old Kareez system.

Major Active Indigenous Management Systems &

MythsMyths:

Shawans: Fairies as custodians

Pollution of range areas: is fatal

Sing special songs to please the fairies and gods of the pastures

Management History of the Torghar

An area 120 km north-west of Balochistan

1984: The idea of conservation in Torghar area

conceived

1985: Torghar Conservation Program (TCP) initiated

1994: Society for Torghar Environmental

Protection (STEP) established and registered

Pakistan Map showing Torghar & Afghan Urial & Suleman Markhor Habitats

120 km to the north west of Balochistan, Pakistan

Land of Jalazai Pushtoons

Habitat of endemic and critically threatened species Critically threatened eco-system

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TORGHAR

Offer spectacular scenery, opportunities for viewing wildlife in their natural habitat and adventurous mountain sports (trophy hunting, hiking, gliding…)

Soil of an indigenous culture and language Important strategic area due to its international borders

SIGNIFICANCE OF TORGHAR

1986 Hunting Began

The first foreign hunters harvested 1 markhor and 4 urial for a fee of US$6,500 per urial and US$20,000 for the markhor, making the programme self-sufficient.

Funded by trophy hunting fees

Trophy hunting is not a goal , but a means to fund the conservation program.

Population dynamics of the species

Year Markhor Urial

1985 <100 >200

2008/2005 3158 3145

Benefits to Indigenous Community

Since 1986 the trophy harvest has brought in a total income of US$1,716,800

US$287,200 paid to the government of Balochistan.

Utilization of funds: WATER SUPPLY

Community has developed water tanks, wells, channels, and storage dams.

IMPROVED LIVESTOCK

Has trained veterinary as well agriculture technicians.

Maintain fewer but healthier livestock.

IMPROVED AGRICULTURE

Assisted with development of agricultural fields and provided fruit and firewood sapling trees for orchards.

IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS

• Health Care• Provision of alternative sources of income• Education• Capacity building (vocational training)• Development of linkages with organizations

Lessons Learnt

Biodiversity conservation in Torghar has more to do with managing the needs of people than the application of modern wildlife science.

Schaller (1977) estimated a range-wide population of 2000 for Suleiman Markhor. The population in Torghar is now the largest in the world.

The Sustainable Use paradigm has proven a successful mean to conserve wildlife

The Torghar Program has successfully tied the local people’s economic well being to the abundance of Markhor and Urial.

Major Issues

Lack of awareness and trust among policy makers

Weak Laws

Erosion of Indigenous Practices

Documentation of indigenous knowledge

Tenure issues

Policy Recommendations

• Strengthen the cultural identity of indigenous/local communities, in particularly regarding natural resource management and conservation

• Document and re-affirm the cultural dimension of conservation

• Involve indigenous/local communities in conservation policy and planning

• Clarify and protect the intellectual property rights of indigenous people / communities

• Legal Cover to ICCAs

Thanks