Environmental research

Project objectives: This project is based on climate change adaptation intended to rehabilitate the 1,000 acres (100 acres through plantation and 900 through broadcasting) land out of 4,967 acres of the devastated Panhwer forest located along with right bank of Indus, providing the plentiful water and tree plantation. The project is expected to contribute significantly towards controlling CO2 emissions. The specific objectives of the project are: Objective 1: Introduce forest revival efforts in Panhwar Forest by involving communities in reforestation on sustainable basis Objective 2: Promote quality eco tourism in the forest lands by introducing Forest Restaurant for improving livelihoods and promoting conservation Activities to be carried out under project: Mobilize and sensitize the local community on hazards resulting from deforestation Realize the communities of the efficacy of joint forums and organized platforms Organize four events of awareness and forest management workshops for the local communities and forest personnel Facilitate the communities to form 5 each male and female organization in the adjoining villages of the forest as community based organizations Organize dialogues with local Government and the concerned functionaries to ban the cutting of trees from the forest Conduct baseline survey on livelihoods and forest cover Involve the communities to plant different trees collectively organizing days to plan the trees in forest Distribution of 5,000 forest extension and development material in Sindhi Language Forestation through planting and sowing of tree and shrub species, distribution of saplings for planting on farm lands, and village development schemes free of cost To establish a nursery for the provision of the plants for the forest Leveling 100 acres of land to prepare for tree plantation Plantation of tree saplings on 100 acres Broadcasting of seeds on 900 acres Restore water from Canal (Shakh) to the forest by improving water access through watercourse To start the work for lining of Channels , Mains, Khaals, and water course Involve the forest department through close coordination to develop and rehabilitate the forest area One District level seminar on Climate Change Adaptation Media campaign to raise general awareness Organize 06 exposure visits for the national media, journalists and villagers/COs Facilitate community organizations to function as a development network for forestry conservation and promotion Facilitate the network to nurture as a cooperative Introduce enterprise development activities and trainings for the cooperative members on enterprise and skill development Introduce construction of Forest Restaurant as a collective enterprise for the cooperative Imbibe notion of continuing conservation and reviving forest through tree plantation in Panhwar Forest by allocating 50% of income from the restaurant in nursery raising and plantation Introduce enterprise of nursery raising as income generation as well as forest revival enterprise for the cooperative Facilitate the cooperative to prepare strategic plan for forest revival and function as forest conservation committee Seek commitments from the cooperative to plant trees on 100 acres of land each year Build capacity of cooperative in resource mobilization and facilitate it to seek funds from Forest Department and other agencies for plantation Continue patronizing the cooperative to seek long term goal of plantation Mentoring and monitoring of the project Project stakeholders and beneficiaries: Forest department UNDP/GEF Local Communities living beside forest area EPA District Government Media Anticipated output of project: Rehabilitate 1,000 acres of barren forest (100 acres through plantation and 900 acres through broadcasting) 5,000 men and women of the area mobilize Bee income generation Ban over cutting of trees from forest. Accessibility of irrigation water for forest.

Pakistan