mountain forest management _contoh di Bakistan

The Mountain Areas Conservancy Project (MACP), came into being as a direct result of biodiversity loss in Pakistan’s mountains. Using community based communication as an approach, MACP intends to protect biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use in the Karakoram, Hindukush and Himalayan mountain ranges. The project is funded by GEF/UNDP, and being executed by IUCN Pakistan. WWF – Pakistan is implementing the environmental education component of MACP.

MACP is operating in four conservancies: Tirich Mir and Qashqar in NWFP and Gojal and Nanga Parbat in the Northern Areas. Together these four conservancies cover 16, 365 square kilometers and are inhabited by a population of 231, 000 people, most of whom are dependant on the resources of the surrounding forests.

WWF – Pakistan’s Awareness and Communication Strategy encompasses a multi-dimensional approach towards environmental awareness and conservation education. A major component of this strategy is imparting environmental education to rural communities.

This past year was marked by the publishing of Conservation and Islam, a book on how the Holy Quran enjoins conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment, and did so fourteen hundred years before anyone else thought of it. The book is in Urdu, with an English translation on the way.

Under MACP, WWF publishes a host of awareness raising materials, such as posters, brochures and factsheets. Electronic media such as radio, videos and CDs are part of the community outreach programme of MACP, as well as capacity building workshops to help rural communities understand the need for biodiversity conservation, and learn how to make it happen.