Chitralis now Forest wise, claims officer

CHITRAL, 11 April 08: The local community of the forest areas of district Chitral has been educated and made aware of the importance of non-timber forest produce as a result of which the people are now much insightful about the issue of NTFPs, The Forest Officer, NTFPs Chitral Ajaz Ahmed claimed in a press handout sent via email.  He said that the dry temperate forest of Chitral offered a great variety of non-timber forest products used and managed in complex socio-economic and ecological environments. In Chitral NTFPs are used for subsistence while others are the main or only source of income. Some NTFPs have significant cultural value; others have important medicinal value and contribute to the community’s health and well-being in this remote and isolated area. He said the local community will be involved for the conservation of these resources. He said that the pine nut (chilogoza) forest of the district is under great pressure, as the local people collect the nut very early and in some cases some people remove 100 % cones from the tree and as a result of this the natural regeneration of the species is badly affected. He said that a PC one is being prepared for the Conservation and management of the indigenous honey in the area.  --(CN report)