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Physical/Financial Progress Report of Forestry Development Projects
MAJOR PRIORITIES OF FORESTRY SECTOR
- Mass Reforestation/Afforestation Programmes.
- Watershed Management.
- Demarcation of State Forests.
- Forest Protection.
- Forest Utilization/Income Generation.
- Regulation of Working of AKLASC.
- Forestry Extension and Community Participation.
- Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation.
- Satisfying Population demands of Wood, Grazing, Water and Non-wood Products.
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| Total Area of Azad Kashmir: |
3.285 Million Ac |
| Longitude: |
73o 24'' E to 74o 56'' E |
| Latitude: |
32o 45'' N to 35o 07'' N |
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STATUS OF FOREST AREA
| Land Use |
Area |
% of Total |
| Total Area of AJK: |
3.285 |
100.00 |
| Forest Area: |
1.400 |
42.62 |
| Commercial: |
0.360 |
10.96 |
| Potentially Commercial: |
0.575 |
17.48 |
| Un-commercial: |
0.465 |
14.18 |
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COMPLETED PROJECTS ON JUNE 30, 2006
| Projects |
Cost in Million Rs. |
| Watershed Rehabilitation &
Development Project
in District Bhimber |
39.729 |
| Watershed Rehabilitation &
Development Project in District Mirpur |
39.819 |
| Watershed Rehabilitation &
Development Project in District Kotli |
39.890 |
| Establishment of Energy Plantations
and Watershed Protection in
District Sudhnuti |
38.500 |
| Plantation and soil Conservation of
Ghazi-e-Millat Road and Adjoining Areas in
Poonch and Sudhnuti Districts |
8.000 |
| Propagation of Indigenous Tree
Species & Watershed Rehabilitation
in District Poonch |
39.500 |
| Watershed Rehabilitation through
Bio-Engineering Practices in District Bagh |
39.000 |
| Poverty Reduction in Critical Areas of
Neelum & Jhelum Valleys through
Afforestation and Land Rehabilitation |
39.992 |
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BUDGET (2006-07) (Rs. In million)
- Non-Development
238.800
- AJK PSDP 200.000
- Federal PSDP
126.754
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REVENUE
- 2004-05 361.956
- 2005-06 225.840
- 2006-07 (Proposed) 400.000
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ON-GOING PROJECTS
| (A) AJK-PSDP |
Cost in Million Rs. |
| Reforestation of Blanks in AK |
198.457 |
| Forest Nurseries in AK |
141.961 |
| Protection of Forests From
Fire in AK |
30.829 |
| Integrated Land Management Project
District Muzaffarabad (Phase -IV) |
120.055 |
| Integrated Land Management Project
District Bagh (Phase -IV) |
76.007 |
| Integrated Land Management Project
District Rawalakot (Phase -IV) |
91.815 |
| (B) Federal -PSDP |
Cost in Million Rs. |
| AJK-Poverty Reduction Project
through Participatory Watershed
Development |
474.900 |
| Environmental Rehabilitation
through Improvement / Promotion of
Indigenous Tree Species in South AJK |
39.000 |
| (C) Foreign Aided (WFP) |
Cost in Million Rs. |
| AJK-Poverty Reduction Project
through Participatory Watershed
Development |
474.900 |
Protracted Relief and Recovery.
Operations (Livelihood Project)
Food Value
Cash |
186.942
10.429 |
| Total |
197.371 |
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RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME |
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Cost in Million Rs. |
| Reconstruction & Rehabilitation
of Earthquake Affected Infrastructure
of Forest Department AJK |
396.984 |
| Rehabilitation of Earthquake
Affected Forest Area in AJK |
1034.135 |
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Forest Offices Before Earthquake |
Forest Offices After Earthquake |
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THREATS TO OUR FORESTS
- Population Pressure.
- Uncontrolled and Free Grazing.
- Forest Fires.
- Encroachment in the State Forests.
- Illegal Cutting/Timber Mafia.
- Inadequate Protection of Reforestation Areas.
- Increased Infrastructure Development Trend.
- Insect/Fungal Attack.
- Natural Calamities.
- After effects of Earthquake of Oct, 8, 2005
Landslides, Mass movement of Earth, Tree roots shaking.
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Mountain Ecosystem Destruction By Earthquake |
Forest Destruction By Earthquake
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DIFFICULTIES / CONSTRAINTS
- Meager financial resource allocation under Non Development Budget.
- Inadequate Transport Facilities.
- Shortage of Staff.
- Destruction of office & residential infrastructure during earthquake.
- Un-compatible timber sale rates.
- Less opportunities of promotion in the department.
- Heavy burden of rights and concessions on state forests.
- Improper implementation of "development and sale of private forest rules 2001".
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FUTURE VISION
- Protection of catchment area of Mangla Reservoir.
- Implementation of Recommendations of Forestry Sector Master Plan.
- Implementation of National Conservation Strategy.
- Implementation of recommendations of United Nation's Forum on Forests (UNFF).
- Formulation & Implementation of Forest Policy of AJK.
- Amendment in Jammu & Kashmir Forest Regulation,II of 1930.
- Preparation of Forest Management Plans.
- Preparation of Forestry Mega Projects to achieve Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) under the direction of Planning Commission of Pakistan.
- Re-construction of earthquake damaged forestry infrastructure under the guidance and financial assistance of ERRA/SERRA.
- Rehabilitation of earthquake affected forest Area in AJK with the financial assistance of ERRA/SERRA.
- Construction of Commercial Project at Mirpur.
- Stream lining of Timber trade in Muzaffarabad and in other parts of AJK.
- Improvement in working of AKLASC and extraction of timber.
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Coniferous Nursery |
Broad Leaved Nursery
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Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
has supplied
free nurseries to old women
and old citizens as a source of income so
they can easily earn their livings. |
Departmental Nursery
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MAJOR ISSUES ON WHICH DECISION BY THE HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER IS REQUIRED
- Re-organization of Forest Department.
- Provision of Police Force for Forest Protection.
- Purchase of Vehicles for staff.
- Forestry Foundation (approved by the cabinet) Legislation.
- Funds for Commercial Forestry Project at Mirpur -foundation stone laid by the then Prime Minister of Azad Govt. of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Enhancement of Un-compatible Timber Sale Rates.
- Temporary Suspension of "Development and Sale of Private Forest rules 2001", till the recommendations of the commission.
- Approval of the Policy for sale of Timber from depots at Muzaffarabad.
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PICTORIAL VIEW OF REFORESTATION EFFORTS OF FOREST DEPARTMENT
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RECOMMENDATIONS
- Notification for Formulation of Committee for Reorganization.
- Police Department may be directed to provide the required Police force and Finance Department should be directed to provide the budget for this force.
- Government should allow the Department to purchase two 4WD vehicles annually from the Realized Rrevenue.
- The Forestry Foundation bill should be placed on the agenda of the next session of the Assembly.
- About Rupees 10 Million is required for Initial Planning and Designing of the Commercial Project at Mirpur.
- Revision of prevailing rights and concessions in State Forests.
- Decision of the Government for enhancement of Timber sale rates as recommended by the Department.
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