Partnership Fund Projects

4. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION THROUGH WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IN SHIGAR VALLEY SKARDU

The project is being implemented in Kothung-Lamsa sub-valley of Shigar in Skardu district by the GB Forest Department in collaboration with WWF-P field office Skardu. The project aims at helping vulnerable communities adapt to adverse climate change impacts through watershed management and mountain livelihood improvement in the upper Indus River basin of Pakistan.

The project objectives are
(i) managing watersheds for increased productivity and minimum climate change risks;

(ii) conserving biodiversity for longer term socio-economic and ecological uplift and

(iii) developing mountains to market chain for sustainable use of Sea buckthorn by-products.

Key achievements:

Fragile water sheds are protected against flashfloods and soil erosion hazards; capacity of vulnerable communities is enhanced to deal with climate change hazardous; population distribution and dynamics of endemic and endangered species are determined; measures are taken to protect key bird and wildlife species and their habitat; ecotourism has been promoted to provide alternative income support and local women are trained in sea buckthorn nursery raising, care, harvesting, berries collection and post harvesting process and value addition process.