2 . CURRENT SITUAT I O N
4. CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION
So far, the life has been very simple, people of NA appear to be contented with the agriculture profession. There is no education, no skill and no options to move away from home for employment. In such a helplessness situation, the economic crunch will adversely affect them . The 50% additional load of women who can only assist in farm operations will add to human miseries. So some efforts for human resource development through improved skills and techniques, and gender integration in economic activities is inevitable to keep the economic, health, and environment security in tact.
Some of the other consequences of in action may be:
4.1. Malfunctioning of Ecosystem
The unplanned and excessive interventions will disrupt the ecosystem, hence adversely affect the balancing of nature. The quality of air water and soil will be spoiled due to use of agro-chemicals without scientific and ecological justification.
This will reduce fish output endanger several floral and faunal species. There will be adverse affect in biodiversity, sustainability and the very integrity of ecology Biodiversity loss will limit the quality of life in the rural landscape, particularly the potential to feed, clothe and shelter the future generations. It is difficult to estimate the cost of losing undiscovered species that may be source of foods, medicines, fuels, of aesthetic value, and even source of imagination and inspiration for human beings. NAhas no inventory of any organism and no monitoring what is being lost and how to conserve it. Loss of a functional ecosystem may affect the process of pollination, cleaning of air, water and soil through recycling of organic matter, nutrients, etc.
In an agro-pastoral farming system, there is dependency on plant biodiversity (cro p s , grasses, trees) for food and fodder. There has to be a multi-dimensional appro a c h e s that ensure balancing of human needs and rights with the protection of species and ecosystems, for sustainability. An inaction may badly affect this re l a t i o n s h i p .
4.2. Reduced Food Security
For improvement in crop yields, we go for mono culture, so the current plant diversity will be narrowed down. This diversity is source of many food items which constitute a balanced diet for the human beings. In the event of an inaction to conserve thee diverse flora by in situ or ex-situ approaches the available intra and inter-specific variation may be lost
4.3. Accelerated Erosion
The agriculture in NA mainly depends on water coming from glaciers, snow melt and spring. Lesser the vegetable cover, quicker the surface erosion of mountains.
The eroded material silts the irrigation system which may reduce storage capacity for water. The lesser the irrigation, lesser the food production. Bigger the gap between demand and supply more the import of food items from down country. A lot of government money will go in food subsidies and concessions, which could be avoided by timely action
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The major stakeholders are rural communities, local institutions and CBOs, development organizations, public sector institutions including line departments and research institutions, and the global interest groups like FAO, IUCN and institutions, who have indirect interest in maintaining biodiversity of Karakoram-Hindu Kush-Himalaya. Their interests and stakes in food security agriculture and conservation of biodiversity, could be placed at different levels including local, provincial national and global
5.1. Local Level Stakeholders
Rural communities and their local institutions are the primary stakeholders as these people entirely rely on natural ecosystems for life and livelihood. They could be pastoralists, farmers, nomads, local shopkeepers, school teachers etc, whose life is dependent on local resources by one way or the other. They would like to see plants and animal diversity around, providing sustained food security.
T h e re are many CBOs and village organisations, which are involved in a g r i c u l t u re & food security through many diff e rent ways. These include CBOs, VOs, WOs, We l f a re/Zaito Committees and local jirgas in many valleys of NA.
These local institutions are often involved in local decision making for pro t e c t i o n and use of natural re s o u rces, hence they have direct stake in their re s p e c t i v e a reas. Some cluster organizations, like Khunjerab Village Organization and Shimshal Nature Trust, have been active in environmental conservation issues at much broader level. Such organizations can be the important players in p romoting biodiversity conservation, while ensuring food security thro u g h p romotion of agriculture .
5.2. Conservation and Developmental Organizations
Several development agencies are playing an active role in agriculture and food security and conservation. These include A K R S P, IUCN Pakistan, WWF, Pakistan, Himalayan Wildlife project and Belour Advisory and Social Development Organization (BASDO). These organizations are important stakeholders in development arena. BASDO is a local NGO involved in e n v i ronmental conservation activities. BASDO is implementing GET/UNDP funded small plant project for the conservation of endangered woolly flying s q u i r rel and its habitats.
5.3. Public Sector Institutions in NA
There are several public-sector institutions in NA, which directly or indirectly are responsible for regulating uses of resources. These institutions include:
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5. STAKEHOLDERS
5.3.1. NA Planning and Development Department
The Planning and Development of NAis responsible for preparation of annual and perspective plans for development in NA in collaboration with the line departments. All the projects are evaluated and approved by this department. They also recommend allocation and distribution of funds to various line departments for the developmental activities. The department is also responsible for monitoring implementation of the field projects and ensuring sustainability in the various initiatives
5.3.2. Forest Department of NA
The Forest Department is headed by a Conservator of Forests and is mandated to manage government forests, national parks and protected areas, wildlife and wetland resources of the region. They are also responsible for promoting forestry, soil conservation, watershed management, and community based conservation. A separate directorate has been created for the management of Khunjerab National Park, which is responsible for the management of this park. The Forest Department directly deals with many components of biodiversity, hence is key stakeholder for maintaining natural capital of NA.
5.3.3. Agriculture Department
This department is responsible for maintaining crop, vegetable and fru i t biodiversity through germplasm and their use in NA. Their mandate is to provide extension services to farmers for the development of agriculture and horticulture including provision of seed and fruit plants to the farmers. The department maintains many fruit nurseries all across NA, hence is responsible for maintaining genetic diversity among crop and fruit varieties, promoting in situ and ex-situ conservation of local varieties of crops and fruit trees. The department also carries out fertilizer, pesticide and agronomic trials.
5.3.4. Livestock Department
Presently, a Deputy Director heads the Livestock Department and it works under the Agriculture Directorate and is responsible for maintaining livestock diversity, controlling diseases, and providing veterinary services to the farmers.
5.3.5. Fisheries Department
A Deputy Director heads this department and it also works under the Agriculture Directorate. Fisheries department is responsible for managing fisheries resources found in rivers, streams, and lakes of NA. It also has the mandate to promote aquaculture and regulate fishing in the region. The department maintains a number of fish farms, hatcheries, and provide fingerlings to the farmers. The department can play the key role in maintaining freshwater biodiversity in NA.
5.4. Federal Government Institutions
At the federal level several ministries have a stake in maintaining sustainable use of biodiversity in NA. The most relevant ministries include: Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development (MoELGRD), Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Areas Affairs (KANA) and Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock.
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5.4.1. Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development (MoELGRD)
MoELGRD implements all the biodiversity related international conventions and agreements, except the World Heritage Convention. It would like to:
m See mountain ecosystems intact and their flora and fauna conserved, thus minimizing down stream detrimental impacts.
m Ensure implementation of international biodiversity-related conventions to which Pakistan is a party, For example, CBD, CITES, Bonn Convention, Ramsar Convention, Convention on Combating Desertification, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
5.4.2. Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas
Its main stake is in maintaining natural capital of NA for development, well being and security of the people of NA including for poverty alleviation and improving living standard of the rural communities.
5.4.3. Ministry of Agriculture
Its stake is to implement agriculture policy of Pakistan and work for the food security of people of NA by conserving agriculture biodiversity of the area. A number of agriculture research institutes work under this Ministry for raising agriculture productivity through research e.g. NARC, KARINA. These institutes have been involved in ex-situ conservation of genetic material of many local varieties of crops, vegetables and fruit trees
5.5. Global Interest Groups and Institutions
Many international interest group and institutions would like to deliver goods and services in this unique landscape of the world. A number of international agencies and multilateral donors have been involved in agriculture and food security activities in the region. Some of these organizations are listed below:
m International Fund for Agriculture Development m GEF/UNDP funded conservation and other projects m European Union financed projects
m NORAD funded projects m DFID financed projects
m Aga khan Development Network.
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6.1. Irrigation for Cultivable Waste
An intensive infrastructure system of irrigation should be developed on priority basis to bring vast cultivable wastes of about 90000 hectares under plough for poverty alleviation. Improving the performance of irrigation system and optimising the utilization of available water resources offer the best growth opportunities for agriculture in the area. The options for this include:
m improvement in the rehabilitation of infrastructure through on-farm water management and new irrigation system development.
m manipulation of crops and crop mixes to favour crops where the returns per unit volume of water are the highest;
m improving the on-farm water management capability of farms and concerned institutions;
m adequate level of funding for repair, maintenance and operation of irrigation systems and fostering policy environment conducive to the sustainable growth of irrigated agriculture. Investment in main irrigation system rehabilitation (e.g. irrigation systems rehabilitation projects) yield relatively high returns ( economic rates of returns).
m Farmers’ training, technology demonstration and improved extension services for on-farms water management to increase water use efficiency and farm productivity.
6.1.1. Multiple Use of Irrigation Water
It is but logical to explore the opportunities for multiple use of water (e.g.
combination of crop culture-fishery, livestock-fish system, water used for power generation and its reuse for irrigation, multi-cropping system e.g. raising of systematic orchards, and inter-cropping of vegetables for seed production and apiculture introduction within the orchards for pollination and honey production.
6.1.2. Increasing Water Supplies
I n c reasing utilization of surface water supplies through construction of dams at a p p ropriate sites e.g. on banks of the rivers for storage of excess water for acute shortage period and construction of channels to barren lands. Water storage pro j e c t s should be floated for approval. Diamir/Bhasha Dam, small dams on the rivers fro m Yasin/Khaplu to Chilas will facilitate additional water re s o u rce availability.
6.2. Support Services
Strengthening other essential agricultural supports services such as marketing, inputs supply and distribution and credit facilities for stimulating agricultural g rowth. This would initially re q u i re clear-cut policies, guidelines and legal framework on the role of the private vis-à-vis the public sector, for achieving
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