Cheques handed to communities for snow leopard conservation
CHITRAL: The Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) arranged a ceremony to distribute cheques under Livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) at a local hotel.
DFO wildlife region was the chief guest while Director Agriculture Research, Non-timber Forest Products (NTFP), Livestock Department Chitral and representatives of NGOs and SLCOs attended the event.
The cheques were distributed among the communities namely Snow Leopard Conservation Organizations (SLCOs) Sor Laspur, Balim Laspur, Mori Payeen, Koghuzi, Kuju Payeen and Parsan, said a press release.
Regional Program Manager SLF Chitral Mr. Shafiq Ullah Khan spoke about SLF and its activities in Chitral and explained the livestock Insurance scheme’s salient features to build tolerance towards carnivores in communities.
He hoped that the distribution of cheques would fulfill a long outstanding demand of the SLCOs regarding implementation of the livestock Insurance scheme (LIS).
Director Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan Dr. Ali Nawaz expressed his gratitude and appreciation to community representatives for their enthusiastic support with SLF since the beginning of SLF.
He emphasized the importance of community organization, unity, motivation, sense of responsibility and collaborative efforts with NGOs and custodian department for successful wildlife conservation and its sustainable utilization. He shared SLF national and international level achievements and reputation with participants and bestowed its credit to SLCOs communities for their dedicated support.
Community representatives Mr. Khwaja Aman Ullah, Shuja Hussain and Mirza Hussain Shah expressed thier views and appreciated SLF intervention like Livestock Vaccination Program, Predator Proof Corrals, Livestock Insurance Scheme and Enterprises.
They requested to SLF and Wildlife Department to take immediate action before harm any humane in the valley.
Deputy Director SLF/National Project Manager PSLEP Mr. Jaffar Ud Din acknowledged the role of communities for their participation in conservation of snow leopard. He appreciated these SLCO for being the pioneers and standing with SLF throughout these years. In his address, the Chief Guest appreciated SLF for being active partners in the conservation efforts and SLCOs as the key stakeholders in the area.