25
July 2006
Payment for Environmental
Services Scheme: Case for Nathiagali
NATHIAGALI: A workshop
‘Towards A Payment for Environmental
Services Scheme: Case for Nathiagali’
was held on 22nd July,2006 in Mukshpuri
Hotel, Dunga Gali by WWF-Pakistan.
WWF-Pakistan has recently completed
a feasibility study to assess whether
a mechanism by the name of ‘Payments
for Environmental Services’
(PES) can be set up in Nathiagali
that would help manage its unique
environment by rewarding those who
are involved in managing the natural
resources of the area. The objective
of the workshop was to share the
findings of this feasibility study
with all the relevant stakeholders
and for them to provide their valuable
insight towards operationalising
such a scheme and identifying their
roles and responsibilities within
the execution and management of
the scheme.
Problems of solid
waste management, deforestation,
water scarcity etc. have been escalating
in Nathiagali over the years because
of increasing tourism, over population
and unsustainable practices of the
local communities which have lead
WWF-Pakistan to choose it as a study
site for a PES scheme to conserve
the area.
The Workshop had
approximately 30 participants including
government officials from NWFP Wildlife
Department, NWFP Forest Department,
EDO Abbottabad, Tehsil Municipal
Administration Abbottabad, Nathiagali
Union Council Nazim and Union Council
members, representatives of different
NGO’s Executive Director,
Sungi Development Foundation. and
Chief Executive Green Circle Organization.
Other active participants included
Nathiagali residents Ret. General
Saeed Qadir, Chairman Nathiagali
Residents Association and Mr. Farooq
Rehmatullah (ex-Chairman Shell).
Presentations on the concept of
Payments for Environmental Services,
ecological and economic findings
of the study, and the Operational
Plan of the scheme were made by
the WWF-P staff.
It was mutually
agreed by all the participants that
such a scheme will be feasible for
Nathiagali and that it will help
raise money for the management and
conservation of the area. At the
end of the Workshop, it was decided
that a Board will be set-up for
the scheme made up of representatives
of the different government line
departments, NGO’s, local
community and residents which will
take the scheme forward to its completion
with WWF-P providing the coordination
support.
For further
information:
Amjad Aslam
WWF – Pakistan,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429
Fax: 042 5862358
e-mail: aaslam@wwf.org.pk
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