CHITRAL: MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali has demanded of the government to save Chitral Gol National Park (CGNP) from decay as the population of Kashmir Markhor has dropped to only 800 from 2,800 during the last three years.

Flanked by chairman of National Park Association Salimuddin and other representatives, he said the wildlife department was to be blamed for the disaster.

He said CGNP had become the richest habitat of markhor while the local communities had fully played their role to conserve the endangered species since 1984.

Mr Chitrali said in early 1990s when the park was upgraded with the financial assistance of the World Bank, the local communities had been recognised as stakeholders and were given roles and responsibilities in overseeing the park.

Mr Chitrali said as per the management plan of the park, the local community watchers were also posted there along with the wildlife department staff.

“This arrangement started collapsing in 2016 when the government started delaying the payment of salaries to the local watchers despite the fact that besides the World Bank donations an endowment fund maintained by the federal ministry of climate change had also been created for the purpose.

“In the absence of community watchers, the wildlife department miserably failed to stop poaching of markhor and illegal cutting of trees in the park. Due to the illegal practice, snow leopard has also left the park,” he said.

The lawmaker insisted that the officers of wildlife department right from chief conservator to the divisional forest officer were responsible for the sorry state of affairs in the park, and demanded stern action against them.

He also demanded of the federal government to release the endowment fund, which is illegally being withheld by the ministry of climate change.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021