Sustainable income of indigenous community of Torghar, Pakistan: a viable tool for poverty reduction Tahir Rasheed Sustainable income of indigenous community of Torghar, Pakistan: a viable tool for poverty reduction Tahir 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 & Myths Myths:  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 T rophy hunting is not a goal, but a means to fund the conservation program.

Population dynamics of the species YearMarkhorUrial 1985<100> /

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