March, 22 2005	Tuesday	11 Safar 1426

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SWABI, March 21: The Shewa Educated Social Workers’ Association (Seswa) has entered into Rs7.5 million joint venture with European Union and United Nations development Programme (EU-UNDP) for protection and promotion of tropical forests at Nogram and Thegarey villages in Buner district. The project will be completed in three years. This was decided when a three-member team, comprising EU-UNDP Regional Coordinator for promotion of tropical forest (PTF) Mark Sandiford, UNDP PTF Country Coordinator Saleemullah and Malik Jafar, visited the district here on Sunday. They also visited the project area and met communities.

Seswa would carry-out activities of social mobilization, capacity building of communities, plant-nursery raising, plantation over 1075 acres of land and wildlife preservation in the same area, promotion of horticulture, farm forestry, poultry farming, bee keeping, street/drain pavement, road construction and water supply.

Mr Sandiford said: “You are members of a family working for the same purpose in nine countries, including Pakistan. The work in these countries gives us an opportunity to learn from each other. My presence here is to learn from you and communicate to other partners.

He said: “The EU-UNDP mandate is to support your project and not to disturb your customs and traditions.” He stressed on community participation, unity and dedication. Mr Saleemullah highlighted the project’s objectives. “We have 17 other partners in Pakistan, but we opted to visit the Seswa project.”

Briefing the EU-UNDP team, Seswa coordinator Farhad Zaman said that training has been given to staff and nurseries of indigenous plants have been set up to ensure stock availability for plantation.

He said: “During the project period 472,000 million indigenous plants will be planted on 1,050 acres communal hillsides. One 100,000 saplings have been planted during the current season while 60,000 plants have been planted in the monsoon season.”

He said: “Around 10,000 plants have been provided to farmers and in horticulture practices 1,000 fruit plants have been distributed in the community. The farmers were also educated about the importance of the forests and they are earning but unplanned work could cause depletion. Under this project, on the one hand barren hills will be covered through plantation and on the other income-generating activities like horticulture, apiculture, olive plantation, poultry farming and skill development will be promoted.”

The Seswa, he said, introduced the local protection system ‘Nagah’ (banning the cutting of trees). Mr Zaman said that a project steering committee, comprising EU-UNDP coordinator, Buner district forest officer, wildlife rang officer, Seswa chairman and representatives of the communities, has been formed to monitor the project, evaluate the progress in quarterly meeting and give suggestions.