Biodiversity conservation in Mankial Valley by local communities
The Mankial valley is highly mountainous and the elevation rises from 5,600 to 17,000 ft at Koh-e-Shaheen, the boundary between Kohistan and Swat districts. Apart from great variation in altitude, the valley has a considerable variation in temperature and precipitation. As a result it supports a variety of vegetation from moist temperate forests to sub-alpine scrub and alpine meadow types. The forest comprise of various species of trees like blue pine, deodar, fir, spruce, bird cherry, walnut, acer and birch etc.
The valley is a home to a great diversity of wildlife. It supports some of the endangered mammals including Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) Common leopard (Panthera pardus), Markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis), Black bear (Selenarctos tibetanus), Musk deer (Moshchus moschiferus) and Wolf (Canis lupus). All these species are included in either in Appendix-I or Appendix-II of Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Pika (Ochotona roylei), Golden marmot (Marmota caudata aurea) and Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) are also found in the valley. The valley also supports a rich variety of bird fauna. Himalayan monal pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus), Himalayan snow cock (Tetraogallus himalayansis), Snow partridge (Lerwa lerwa) and Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) are some of the key species. Except for Koklass pheasant, all the other three species are endangered. The checklist of wild species animals and birds has not been prepared as yet.
This Project will provide a basis for the conservation of globally important components of biodiversity in valley.
The valley is a home to a great diversity of wildlife. It supports some of the endangered mammals including Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) Common leopard (Panthera pardus), Markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis), Black bear (Selenarctos tibetanus), Musk deer (Moshchus moschiferus) and Wolf (Canis lupus). All these species are included in either in Appendix-I or Appendix-II of Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Pika (Ochotona roylei), Golden marmot (Marmota caudata aurea) and Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) are also found in the valley. The valley also supports a rich variety of bird fauna. Himalayan monal pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus), Himalayan snow cock (Tetraogallus himalayansis), Snow partridge (Lerwa lerwa) and Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) are some of the key species. Except for Koklass pheasant, all the other three species are endangered. The checklist of wild species animals and birds has not been prepared as yet.
This Project will provide a basis for the conservation of globally important components of biodiversity in valley.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Mankial Community Organization
Country:
Pakistan
Area Of Work:
Biodiversity
Grant Amount:
US$ 49,440.00
Co-Financing Cash:
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 9,888.00
Project Number:
PAK/01/23
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Notable Community Participation
For the sustainability of the project, the local communities of Mankial, Badai and Serai villages will be involved in the planning, decision making and implementation of the Project. This will make the project more viable and beneficial ultimately. The project envisages to organize, motivate and mobilize the local communities for developing authority at the grass root level for the protection and conservation of wildlife resources.
The protection and conservation of wildlife in the area will be carried out through community watchers. The project seeks to hire 04 community wildlife watchers on fixed pay of Rs. 1500/- per month. With the technical assistance of the Wildlife Department, the representatives of the valley will be empowered with the powers of Wildlife Officers to check poaching, habitat destruction etc. The Project proposes to establish a check post at the entrance of the Mankial valley at the left bank of river Swat to check poaching and illicit trade in wildlife. The wildlife watchers will regularly report to Village Conservation Committee. NWFP Wildlife Department will provide legal and technical support.
Capacity - Building Component
Owing to extremely low literacy rate and lack of awareness, the Wildlife Department will oversee and supervise the implementation of the Project through Wildlife Officer in Swat. Range Officer Wildlife will be engaged for the successful implementation of the Project. He and his field staff will assist the communities in the sustainable conservation of biodiversity and socio-economic uplift of the valley.
The Wildlife Department will assist the local communities in training the local community watchers for species identifications, monitoring, surveying, recording of the data, eco-tourism, medicinal plants etc. This will help in building capacity of local communities to protect and manage their wildlife resources while drawing monetary benefits.
Partnership |
| NWFP Wildlife Department |
SGP Country office contact
Mr. Chatro Khatri
Phone:
+92-22-2108073
Fax:
+92-22-2108074
Email:
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