To support government action and legislation through community based protection of forest by organizing formal groups of volunteer guards and forming forest protection council of 10 villages situated in Skaser forest range. Executed by Falahi Tanzeem Dhadhar.

Primary Objective:
To support government action and legislation through community-based protection of forest by organizing formal groups of volunteer guards and forming forest protection council of 10 villages situated in Sakesar forest range.

Context of the Activity:

The proposed activity falls under biodiversity conservation category of GEF mandate. It is also very relevant to the new GEF Pakistan strategic framework of eco-regional approach. Soon Valley is heart of the Salt Range ecosystem. The proposed project villages are very important ecological part of Soon Valley. Also these forests inhabit vital wildlife like Punjab Urial and black partridges. This forest range is watershed area for Ochhali and Khabeki wetlands. The proposed activity will also serve the cause of GEF approved wetland project to be executed by WWFP. GEF wetlands project (PDF-B phase) approved in June 2000 with government and WWF as implementing partners. Planning stage lasting 15 months. Ultimately 5 wetland sites to be selected in country of global significance. Ochhali proposed in list of wetlands under consideration. Selection of sites to be made in 4 months time (Oct 2000). If Ochhali selected then Soon Valley initiatives will have very complementary role to play in overall GEF project as folows:

Both projects contribute to stabilization of critical catchment areas. These wetlands are sensitive to the centripetal nature of sedimentation from the forests. Both projects will impact on the issue of deforestation and prevention of soil erosion, which affect these lakes, using separate but complementary strategies.

Description of the Proposed Activity

Routine efforts by forest department to check deforestatioin activities by wood mafia have failed. There is a need to integrate efforts of stakeholder communities with government action to get better results. Forest protection council of 10 villages will be formed. These 10 villages share stakes in forest range that extends from Sakesar to Jhungewala. It is perhaps one of the most significant forest ranges
in the Soon Sakesar as part of it has been accorded spcial protection from the Sakesar Air Force base.
The Sakesar forest range under Air Force protection is a significant local hot spot for flora and fauna as well as a source of recharge for the Ochhali wetland. However, as the range extends beyond the Air Force area into community shamlat and government owned forest range the depletion in the forest is marked. Revival of this entire forest range is therefore, crucial to the lake and forest ecosystem.

A motivated village forest protection activist of every village in the Sakesar forest range will be member of the council. The council member will in turn form a group of 9 volunteer forest guards in coordination with project coordinator and village CBO. The District Action Committee will approve formation of these groups and award them informal status. The individuals volunteering as forest guards will be motivated to protect forest cover of the village. After identification and motivation the council members and volunteer guards will be imparted necessary training through WWF-P, NRSP and Forest Department to capacitate them to undertake their activities. They will be provided badges, caps and binocculars to perform their duties effectively. Since the local communities need wood for fuel, picking of dry wood and Sanatha will not be checked as this is not accorded illegal status. Extracting wood other then Sanantha and dry wood from forest will be deemed offence against forest produce, as is amply enumerated in Forest Act, 1927. The volunteer guards will report the issue to his village council member. The forest council will persuade the offender to stop his illegal action, otherwise the matter will
be reported to DAC for legal action against him. Persuasion and social sanctions will be considered first, as primary tools to stop the pilferer. Legal report/action will only be initiated as a last resort. Awareness will be created among communities that village forest councils are their own institutions to protect forests. These councils will use the tools of social persuasions instead of policing forest. Efforts will be made to depend on persuasions more instead initiating punitive actions.

To recognize services of volunteer council and village groups bi-annual ceremonies will be organized to extend ceremonial awards to the volunteers. Bi-annual refresher motivational trainings will be conducted for capacity building of the volunteers.

A visit of forest protection council to Zhob forest will be arranged in collaboration with WWF-P where similar process of social sanctions through the communities is in place. During the time of seed broadcasting i.e. August, village volunteer groups and communities will collect Sanatha seeds in bags to be broadcast in forest/watershed area.

The forest dwellers are the prime beneficiaries of the forest produce. But some of them are also involved in deforestation. These dwellers and their livestock live on forest-based water ponds and fodder. To persuade them and win their conservation support to protect forest, matching grant to upgrade existing water ponds will be provided. But these forest dwellers will have to sign an agreement with village council and the project coordinator that they will assist in forest protection and
checking of illegal hunting.

A forest protection council of 10 villages to be formed comprising of one member from every village.
Ten volunteer forest guards from each village will be identified, motivated, mobilized, trained and equipped for conducting vigil of forest.
Seeds of Sanatha will be collected in bags and will be broadcast during monsoon season.
Village council and volunteer guards will be imparted training to undertake surveillance activities.
Forest-based water ponds will be upgraded with matching grant to communities.
Six monthly symposium on the situation and award giving ceremony.

The project is located in Valley Soon Sakesar, Salt Range ecosystem. Ten villages i.e. Ochhali, Chitta, Ogali, Kotli, Anga, Mardwal, Dhadhar, Khabeki, Ahmadabad and Jhungewala of Sakesar forest range will be the main target areas.

Valley Soon Sakesar of district Khushab is situated in unieuq Salt Range ecosystem. The valley habitats Punjab Urial, black partridges and the Ochhali wetland complex accommodate migratory birds as far as from Siberia during winter, particularly, the diminishing wide-headed duck. As such the valley is ecologically a very important zone.

One natural resource conservation issue of the area is depleting underground water table. Soon Valley Development Program, an affiliate of Orangi Pilot Project, started working on creating awareness about depleting underground water table in 1997 and GEF-SGP project on conservation of underground water through watershed management was awarded to the NGO in Nov.1997, WWF-P project office is also engaged in wetland conservation activities in the Valley. For last two years, SVDP and WWF-P are working in close collaboration to organize communities for protecting natural resources. In February 2000 a symposium was organized by SVDP, Dhadhar Welfare Society and other CBOs regarding deforestation and depleting underground water table.

The participants from all villages of the valley gave suggestions and it was decided by consensus to form a forum for conservation of biodiversity. As such Soon Valley Biodiversity Conservation Forum came into being to integrate natural resource protection activities. SVDP and WWF-P are organizing CBOs in all villages of Soon Valley in coordination with Social Welfare Department. The recently posted Deputy Commissioner in district Khushab is environmentfriendly and sensitized officer and supporting all -out development and conservation activities of CBOs and NGOs. On the lobbying of SVDP & WWF-P, a District Action Committee for Natural Resource Protection and Sustainable Development has been formed. (Annexure-2). The Deputy Commissioner is chairman of the committee while Director SVDP is the convener. WWF-P, NRSP, Col.Sher Welfare Society and other NGO, community activists are members. The district administration, development departments and NGOs/CBOs are integrating their efforts through this forum to initiate sustainable development processes.

The village communities are now organizing through CBOs, formal groups and through the interventions and activities ofNRSP, SVDP &WWF-P.The awareness regarding natural resource protection issues is gaining momentum. Due to campaigning by NGOs, Section 144 against deforestation of Kahu and Phulai has already been imposed. Although imposition of section 144 is an administrative and legal tool, it has helped in checking deforestation.

Present Situation:
The forest cover- government forest, shamlat and private rakh- have depleted due to wood extraction activities of local wood mafia. Except a small part of Sakesar forest which is under P AF airbase, the Sakesar range is a degraded forest. Imposition of Section 144 on extraction of Kahu and Phulai has made a difference for the time being but legal sanctions alone cannot solve the issue of deforestation.
This project will put into place network of community action that will form an essential link to make government action and legislation effective. Also the Forest Act, 1927, does not sufficiently provide for regulating commercial activities, like wood depots in forests and adjoining areas. Through DAC, lobbying
will be done with Punjab government to update Forest Act, 1927 in accordance with new problems like wood depots.

The community-based protection of forest will be carried out by Falahi Tanzeem Dhadhar in collaboration with SVDP and WWF-P. A project coordinator will organize the activities to be supported by District Action Committee.

Role of Communities:
The communities in Valley Soon Sakesar are already organized and sensitive to the depleting natural resource base. The communities will be further mobilized and volunteer forest guards and villages council will themselves work to protect their forests. Through this participatory process village communities will feel themselves stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Role of partner organizations:
The partner organizations i.e. the NGOs and CBOs active in Valley Soon Sakesar will assist in coordinating community-based protection of forest. The District Action Committee will playa vital role in creating linkages and networking with line departments. The role ofDAC will be advisory, monitoring and supportive. WWFP, NRSP, SVDP will be imparting necessarytr aining and networking facilities to
village councils.