The Climate

Press For Peace s` Series of Monthly E-Magazine Volume: 3 October 200 9

Editor –in-Chief: Zafar Iqbal zafar@pressforpeace.org.uk

Editor: Ejaz Ur-Rehman ejaz@pressforpaece.org.uk www.pressforpeace.org.uk

 PRESS FOR PEACE (PFP)

Environment Section

www.pressforpeace.org.uk
Bank Road, Muzaffarabad,
Jammu and Kashmir
Ph: 0092 -5822-445457
Fax: 0092 5822 -45437
Cell: 0092 3015710575
Email:info@pressforpeace.org.uk

2 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

3 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009
 Kashmiris Pay Tribute to Martyrs of Earthquake, Protest against G overnment

PFP and Action Aid starts Campaign for rights of Earthquake Affectees

Press For Peace (PFP) and Action Aid , Pakistan launched advocacy campaign to advocate for the rights of victims of Kashmir Earthquake. The
campaign was launched on 01 October and would continue till three months in all affected areas of Azad Kashmir. . Different activities have been
chalked out to highlight the problems related to rehabilitation.

Addressing the press conference, Raja Wasim and Abdul Khaliq, the officials of PFP and Action Aid described the objectives of the “awareness
campaign on reconstruction”. They highlighted that education was the most affected sector; however, only 220 buildings of schools from total
2835 demolished structures have been built yet.

4 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

5 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009
Muzaffarabad: Children protest for none completion of their school buildings

A large number of school children, traders, lawyers, political activists and representatives of civil society o rganizations attended Azm-E- Tameer-E-
Nau (Pledge for Reconstruc tion Walk) on 7 th October, 2009. Hundreds of school children took part in Azm -E- Tameer-E-Nau (Pledge for
Reconstruction Walk) to pay tribute to their fellow children killed in the tremor. The Walk started from Club Hall and culmi nated in Old Secretariat
and turned a large rally. The participants of Walk displayed placards and banners inscribed with slogans like “Build Our Scho ols”, “Trial the Killers”,
“Do Action but No Claims” and “Stop Corruption, Start Reconstruction”.

The young children whom school buildings were destroyed in the earthquake, killing more than 25 thousands students, led the walk and attracted
the attention of thousands of people who followed them during the event.

The precession was also addressed by a large number of young studen t speakers said that in spite of claims of government officials, majority of
schools are waiting their buildings and students have to study in bad weathers without proper shelter.

Paying tribute to their colleagues, young speakers said that these innocent souls lost their lives just because of poor construction of public schools
and colleges. “Corrupt politicians and builders should be trialled in order to save the new generation of the nation”, they demanded.

They also criticized the performance of EERA and SEERA, two authorise responsible for rehabilitation process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and
NWFP. The Rally was addressed by Raja Wasim, Ammir Uddin Mughal, Safeer Raza and others.

6 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

7 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009
Bagh: Walk and Rally

A large number of school children and representatives of NGOs joined the Walk in Bagh which was started from Press Club Haideri Chowk and
turned into a pub lic Rally. Yousaf Kashmir, Imran Gillani, Afraz Garde zi, Tahir Abbasi, Shoukat Tamoor, Asif Naeem and others spoke on the
occasion and highlighted the sufferings of earthquake victims, specifically school children and students. Ansar Yaqooq, Programme Manager DRU
urged people to follow the guidelines for safe and secure construction to avoid any possible mishap in future. The gathering presented a resolution
in which the local problems of Bagh city were highlighted. It was demanded that government should ensure transparency and acc ountability in
funds allocated for reconstruction.

8 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

Rawalakot: Complete Strike observed against government failures in reconstruction

A large procession was held jointly under the banner of Press For Peace (PFP ), Action Aid and Poonch Development Forum (PDF) in Rawalakot on
the eve of October 08, 2009. . The rally started from Main Bazaar and turned into a large gathering in the District court complex. A large number of
traders, political workers, students and lawyers and members of NGOs attended the event.

The participants chanted slogans against the anti - public policies of government and demanded the trial of those re sponsible for delaying in the
reconstruction work.

The rally was addressed by Sardar Qadeer, Chairman PDF, Sardar Basheer, Khawaja Khalil, Sardar Liaqaat and office bearers of local political
parties and NGOs.

Addressing the procession the speakers crit icized the government for alleged corruption in the reconstruction work. They urged government to
start the rehabilitation work on City Development Plans which aim the provision of all basic facilities to public.

9 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

10 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009
11 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009
Ecotourism a Sustainable Development Option in Azad Kashmir

By Ejaz Ur-Rehman Email: ejaz@pressforpeace.org.uk

Ecotourism has become an important economic activity in natural areas around the world. Tourism is becoming increasingly popular, as both
domestic and international visitors flock to the most attractive places. Tourism is one of the largest and steadily growing economic sectors world -
wide, as well as being a sector in which developing nations have a considerable stake. For this reason alone, tourism is a re levant factor in terms of
development policies. Especial ly in nature conservation, the "ecotourism" option is increasingly advocated in order to contribute to conservation
project funding and offer economic incentives for the preservation of ecosystems and their biodiversity. Ecotourism provides opportunities f or
visitors to experience powerful manifestations of nature and culture and to learn about the importance of biodiversity conser vation and local
cultures. At the same time, ecotourism generates income for conservation programs and economic benefits for com munities living in rural and
remote areas.

(Source:ecotourismbengal.files.wordpress.com)

12 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir

13 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

The attributes of ecotourism make it a valuable tool for conservation. Its implementation can:

ü Give economic value to ecosystem services that protected areas provide

ü Generate direct income for the conservation of protected areas
ü Generate direct and indirect income for local stakeholders, creating incentives for conservation in local communities
ü Build constituencies for conservation, locally, nationally and internationally
ü Promote sustainable use of natural resources; and reduce threats to biodiversity.

Of course, not all tourism to natural areas is ecotourism. Nature tourism, as opposed to ecotourism, may lack mechanisms for mitigating impacts
on the environment and fail to demonstrate respect for local culture. Consequently, we are witnessing an onslaught of visitat ion to natural areas
that, in many cases, is undermining the values that make these areas attractive.

Azad Kashmir:

Areas of Azad Kashmir, because of their ecological value, especially those found in temperate zone of District Muzaffarabad, Neelum ,Bagh and
Rawalakot and contain many of the national greatest ecotourism attractions. These attractions consist of rare or endemic species of flora or fauna,
abundant wildlife, high indices of species diversity,spectacular geomorphological formations, ,unique historic and contempor ary cultural
manifestations in a natural context. Azad Kashmir Government confronted with a wide range of different forms of tourism development and, at the
same time promote themselves as “ecotourism-destinations”.

14 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

Wonderful Tao Butt ,Azad Jammu & Kashmir

15 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

Ecotourism can be initiate only when it is the most effective strategy to achieve tangible, lasting results. The distinct bu t intimately interrelated
aspects of ecotourism, conservation management and business development, must be fully understood by ecot ourism planners and protected area
managers before moving ahead with plans to implement ecotourism activities.Conservationists have typically approached ecotour ism with a limited
understanding of business issues and an incomplete understanding of the manag ement mechanisms that are available and necessary to ensure the
sustainability of tourism in Ecological valuable areas in Azad Kashmir.
Similarly, nature tourism operators and organisers have often carried out their initiatives with an incomplete underst anding of conservation issues
and consequently have operated in an unsustainable fashion like recent Polo Matches in Neelum Valley and Bhutto Mela in Sudhan Galli ,Bagh Azad
Kashmir.

16 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

In order for ecotourism to be successful, conservationists need a greater understanding of business considerations; likewise, developers need a
greater awareness of the management mechanisms that are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the activity. Combining bot h conservation and
business perspectives is essential for a successful ecotourism program.
In Azad Kashmir natural areas are state, private or community owned or administered, or any combination thereof. Funds to man age these areas
are usually scarce. As a result, these areas often lack the capacity to ensur e that tourism generates the full range of benefits it should. In spite of
recent tourism activities in Azad Kashmir hence, in many areas opportunities for income generation for site conservation and local communities are
under exploited and tourism may i n fact pose a threat to conservation.For ecotourism to fulfill its potential and generate sustainable benefits,
natural areas must implement a planning framework to guide and manage the activity.

Ecotourism Management Plan

Zoning for Visitor Use
Like all well -managed organizations, ecotourism enterprises require sound business
planning to succeed, but the planning process differs from those of other industries
Visitor Site Planning and Design
because social and environmental factors must also be considered. Taking tourism as a

Sustainable Infrastructure Design
Revenue Generating Mechanisms
Visitor Monitoring and Management
Naturalist Guides –the Heart of Ecotourism
sustainable development option, it must be planned and managed so that its socio -
economic benefits are spread as widely as possible throughout the society of the
destination. Community -based tourism projects are important means for spreading
benefits to local residents. The sustainable development approach is particularly
important in tou rism because this sector depends mostly on tourism attractions and
activities that are related to the natural environment and historic and cultural heritage.
(The Writer is an Ecologist and Director Press for Peace ) UK)

17 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009

 Urdu Poem

Tribute to The Martyrs of Earthquake - 8th October 2005

By Dr. Nighat YOUNAS (Researcher Press For Peace)

"Sounty hn k qayamat ho ge mar janay k bad,
hum ne Zinda ankhon sy Qayamat k manzar dakhy hn,
rehty thy hm kalam falak sy jin paharo k ser.
Ounhi chotyoun k garor hm ne khaks ter dakhy hein,
byan hon tou kaisy wo bhayanak pal hm sy,
hm ne tokron mn batay bal o bashr dakhy hein,
kitny jigar goshon ko cheena hy ak lamhay ne dakh ksi maan ka hal,
hm ne wahan mamta k chalni jigar dakhy hn,
kis hoslay sy saha is ne karb,e,judai,
zamen ne khud sy juda hoty shajar dakhy hn,
khuda kbi dikhlaiy na ksi dushaman ko ye waqt ,
khak mn milty howay gharon k ghar dakhy hein”

18 The Climate Vol.2 October 2009