Biodiversity and Socioeconomic Assessments in Hunza and Nagar Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan ( HRE II)

The project’s objectives include increasing forest cover area; providing alternative sustainable means of livelihood to farming families; reducing burden on natural forests and reducing environmental degradation; and promoting sustainable use of natural resources and diversified income sources, particularly for women. The project is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW and implemented in the targeted communities of Hunza and Nagar Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Water & Power Department (WPD) of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan is implementing the Hydropower component of the HRE-II project, and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme is responsible for the biodiversity component of the project as implementing partner of WPD. The major focus of the project include improved energy efficiency in the target communities, constructing, rehabilitating and developing arable lands, land use rights for developed irrigable land are allotted to user groups, notably women groups, based on a transparent and fair process, tree plantations are successfully set up as per participatory land use plans and technical specifications (choice of tree and plant species, mix of species, planting distance, soil preparation, fencing etc), and value chains for the sustainable utilisation of natural resources are improved.