Quetta – A letter of agreement (LoA) was signed between Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Balcohistan Forest and Wildlife Department by Ms. Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative a.i in Pakistan and Mr. Mohammad Siddique Mandokhel, Secretary Forest and Wildlife Department, held in Civil Secretariat Quetta on 22nd February 2021.
The LoA aims to support the restoration and sustainable management of Chilgoza pine forest under the Global Environment Facility funded (GEF) project “Reversing Deforestation and Degradation in High Conservation Value Chilgoza Pine Forests in Pakistan”.
Speaking on the occasion, FAO Representative a.i. in Pakistan, Ms. Rebekah Ball said that the project focuses on the improved and sustainable management of pine nut forests, as well as improving livelihoods through pine nut value additions, value chain development, and strengthening the peace process by generating job opportunities through multiple services and livelihood interventions.
Highlighting the significance of the project she said, “For the first time in Sherani district, the pine nut growers are able to earn higher prices in local markets as they have already provided with pine nut processing unit for cleaning, grading, roasting, packing and labelling of their produce. This initiative has allowed the local community to sell a finished product at a higher price and increased the shelf life of roasted pine nuts up to six months. She also mentioned that for the first time FAO will be supporting olive production in Balochistan and it is the need of the hour to look at what are the opportunities and challenges in olive production. She further added that FAO will be happy to assist Forest Department in restoration of pine nut forests and olive production in Balochistan and hoped that the economic benefits would increase the efforts and engagement of the communities in chilgoza forest conservation.
Mohammad Siddique Mandokhel, Secretary Forest and Wildlife Balochistan said the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and provincial Forest Departments aims to reverse deforestation and land degradation of chilgoza pine forests of Koh e Suleman, in Zhob district.
He further added that due to absence of technical guidance, increase in population coupled with lack of alternate livelihood opportunities, pine nut forests are under constant pressure for timber. He further called for collective efforts to develop the pine nut value chain. This agreement will help promote a common understanding of the project objectives and planned activities as well as the role and responsibilities of the partners, which requires collective efforts for improved forest governance and sustainable productivity, he said.