The Restoration Initiative - Reversing deforestation and degradation in high conservation value Chilgoza Pine Forests in Pakistan

The Restoration Initiative (TRI) project in Pakistan focuses on the improved and sustainable management of Chilgoza forests, thus leading to the generation of multiple products, services and functions. These include improved local livelihoods through Chilgoza pine nut value addition, value chain development and climate change mitigation.

The project’s objective, under the global TRI programme, is to contribute to the restoration, protection and sustainable management of Chilgoza pine forests to provide global environment benefits and enhanced resilient socio-economic development.

The project is structured into four interlinked components:

1. policy development and integration;
2. implementation of restoration programmes and complementary initiatives;
3. capacity building and finance mobilization; and
4. knowledge sharing and partnerships.

Four key dry temperate Chilgoza forest sites in the Hindukush–Karakoram–Himalaya region of North Pakistan:

1. Sherani District of Balochistan
2. South Waziristan Agency of the former FATA
3. Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
4. Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan

As of June 2024, the project reached 30 388 direct beneficiaries.

The TRI project aimed for the key impact:

• 34 400 ha of Chilgoza forest ecosystems under Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) plans involving communities and private enterprises
• 2 782 420 tCO2eq GHG direct emission reduction by 2038
• At least 4 400 ha of restored forest area
  
• USD 40 million economic benefits to local communities

Key action areas:

Forest restoration and protection:

• 14 community forest committees established.
• Over 1 million forest trees and 222,000 fruit trees planted on 1 489 ha.
• 60 assisted natural regeneration (ANR) sites established, covering 3 789 ha with 11 million natural seedlings.
• Forest management plans developed for over 61 000 ha.
•  5 279 ha of land under restoration
• 66 756 ha of land under improved management

Capacity building and planning:

• ROAM assessments conducted in all four districts to identify restoration sites.
• Over 6 000 people trained (including more than 2 000 women) through more than 35 events.
• GIS and PES training delivered to more than 110 stakeholders, including forestry staff and communities.
• 28 knowledge products to support FLR

Livelihood and value chain development:

• 8 - 10 chilgoza processing units functional
• Over 1 100 MT of pine nuts processed and roasted, doubling farmer incomes.
• 600 cone harvesting toolkits distributed, reducing damage by 25 %.
• 275 small grants provided for fodder demo plots and medicinal plant harvesting.
• 12 bio briquette and 4 pellet machines handed to provincial forest departments.

Policy and institutional support:

• National forest and landscape restoration action plan initiated.
• Development of a Geographic Indication specification for chilgoza pine nuts.
• Construction of four community training centers.
  
• 3 policies adopted to support restoration.

National coordinator

• Faizul Bari

FLRM focal point

• Christophe Besacier

This project is part of the GEF 6 funding cycle.