1.

0 Utilization of the produce

Forests gives a broad range of benefits at local and national levels. Timber production is usually
the core objective and revenue received for governments and companies is the main driving force
in forest harvesting. Revenue received from timber harvesting will mostly be the main funding
source for long-term sustainable forest management.

Communities residing in or near forest areas are dependent upon non-wood forest products for
their livelihood and by selling products in the local market. These products include medicinal
and food plants, gums, resins, nuts, honey, herbs, fodder, fragrances for perfumes, pods, seeds,
oils, cones, litter, plants and animals products with medicinal value, and wildlife. These forests
are the main source of energy for the community through burning of wood for cooking, heating
and lighting and also play an important role for protection of watersheds.

2.0 Description of the study area

Murree hills forest area 80000 hectares approx.

Variation in altitude 750 to 2250 meters
Types of forest 1. Moist temperate forest at top
2. Sub-tropical Chir pine forest at the
middle
3. Sub-tropical broad-leaved forest at
below/foot hills
Study Area Compartment no 58 and compartment no 59
block Ghora Gali
Sub division/range Ghora Gali Murree forest
Average rainfall 750mm to 1250mm
Height from the sea level 3000ft to 5500ft
Water source 1. Winter snow melt
2. Rainfall from monsoon and
conventional rains
3. Spring water for domestic use
 Slope 60 % is steep slope while remaining 40 % is
moderately slope
Soil type Deep and clayey
Human population According to 1998 census the population is
176426 (working plan)
Main species 1. Pinus roxburghii (dominant)
2. Quercus incana
3. Pinus wallichiana (randomly
distributed)
4. Aesculus indica (randomly
distributed)
5. Cedrus deodar (in transition areas in
strips)
Undergrowth of:
1. Khokhal
2. Wild rose
3. simblu
Common grasses 1. Cynodon dactylan
2. Agropyron canaliculatum
3. Avena sativa

2.1 Location of the study site

Most of the population resides in the villages scattered all over the hills. The inhabitants of area
include Abbasi, Satti, Gujjar and some other castes as well. A survey was conducted within the
outskirts of the compartment no 58 and 59. People living in the forest have semi pukka ghar
which are approximately 1km away from the compartments.

2.2 Methodology

As part of our working plan schedule, we conducted a survey which involved structured
questionnaires to analyze the socioeconomic conditions. The survey was limited to the
surrounding communities of compartment no 58 and 59. Data was collected using the
quantitative method of questionnaire by our group members.

The involvement of both male and female respondents in data analysis is significant to provide
information of differences in livelihoods, perspectives and resource utilization.

2.3 Limitation of the study

The challenges faced by the socio-economic survey research group were the undefined tracks
towards the settlements due to which the members of the group had to hike to reach there and
due to relatively limited time to complete the working plan, the sample size was small. Only 30
questionnaire were filled.

Some residents were reluctant share their source or amount of income with us. Timing of the
survey also effect the amount of information available to the group as during the day time the
persons who are running the family were not at home. That’s why most of the information was
gathered from the persons present at the spot.

3.0 Results and Discussions

3.1 Needs

By conducting a survey, it was concluded that people needs are not met. According to villagers
the forest department is not cooperating with them. They are not providing them enough
facilities and rights by which they can easily fulfil their needs. Alternatively inhabitants have to
use timber in their daily routine. A single Chir tree is given in the funeral when someone dies,
the forest department person marks the tree to be felled.

People own less no of goats, hens and cows. Source of fodder for the livestock is sometimes
forest but that is insufficient so they have to purchase it from the market as well. The grazing
animals don’t get enough forage because of the less rights and low palatability factor of grasses
due to which these animals are weak and provide less milk.

Whole family is the responsibility of a single person’s income. Some people have few lands
mainly uncultivated, canals and some have cultivated lands on which they grow wheat and maize
that hardly meets the requirement of their food.

3.2 Source of income

Most of the people earned their living by serving in the Armed Forces, Civil Services, private
organizations and by other jobs like poultry farming, hoteling etc. because they cannot cope up
with their needs while having small lands and ill planned agricultural practices.

Main income of inhabitants depends upon collection and sale of timber, fuel wood, charcoal,
resin and other forest produce having high organic content which can be used to burn for the
purpose of cooking and heating. Male members daily go to the nearby towns for jobs which
includes food processing, vending, hairdressing, tailoring, restaurants, medicine stores, shops,
selling things on roads and handicrafts shops.

Most females are seen in the forest area doing livestock raring and poultry farming. Other
activities carried out by women are selling provisions, collect firewood, some other non-timber
forest products and medicinal plants.

Preferences for earnings varied with individuals and communities. Some respondents did not
indicate their preferences. Most of the respondents were aware of the potential impacts of the
trees and that trees can be viable source of income.

3.3 Level of income

Estimated income within the communities varied from one individual to another. Some
respondents did not indicate their income levels but it was certain that they do engage in income
generation activities on a small scale. It was not easy to estimate their income levels from the
previous working plan because records were not kept due to lack of record keeping skills and
lack of awareness.

3.4 Demographic characteristics

Data collected from 30 respondents by questionnaire were coded according to study variables.
The respondents are distributed on certain variables by keeping in mind to comprehensively
compute the dependency ratio of people on the forest. The distribution of the respondents is also
based on the differentiation of both males and females which will take into consideration the
needs and challenges. Analysis was carried out in the form of percentage count. Interpretation of
data was based on evidence provided through data generated from the survey.

Table 1
Distribution of respondents by gender

Caste Males Females Total

Abbasi 6 11 17
Gujjar 4 4 8
Satti 2 3 5
Total 12 18 30
Percentage 40% 60% --

The distribution of the sample (inhabitants of the area) reflects local inhabitants by gender.
Female respondents (60%) outnumbered the male respondents (40%). This shows that the male
members and the children go to nearby towns or main cities during the day where there are better
opportunities for education and jobs. Male members are engaged in livelihood activities and join
their families by evenings.

Table 2

Distribution of respondents by marital status

Caste Married Single

Males Females Males Females
Abbasi 5 3 1 8
Gujjar 4 3 1
Satti 2 1 - 2
Total 11 7 1 11
Percentage 91.6% 38.9% 8.3% 61.1%

Mostly inhabitants are married (60%) and we found no divorced case in our respondents. This is
related to the age distribution of the residents. Most of them have their families living with them.
Marital status determines the social status of the members of the communities and their needs.
Because of being married and having families here, they need to expand their living places with
the requirements. And meanwhile they will also need fuelwood for their daily usage.
Table 3

Distribution of respondents by educational status

Caste Matric Inter Graduate/diploma Illiterate

Males Females Males Females holder Males Females
Males Females

Abbasi - 6 1 2 4 - 1 3
Gujjar - 2 - - 4 - - 2
Satti - - - 1 1 - 1 2
Total - 8 1 3 9 - 2 7
Percentage - 44.4% 8.3% 16.7% 75% - 16.7% 38.9%

Inhabitants have primary and secondary education. Majority of them are graduates and diploma
holders (75%). There are relatively few inhabitants that do not have basics of education. Because
of the formal education level they are capable of understanding the ecological value of forest,
which is helpful for information dissemination, awareness creation for training and extension
services. They can also contribute towards joint forest management. Good literacy rate shows
that they can be trained to help the forest grow and support their families in the meantime.

Table 4

Distribution of respondents by age

Caste 20 years 21-30 31-40 years 41-50 years 51-60

M F years M F M F years
M F M F
Abbasi 1 6 - 1 1 1 3 3 1 -
Gujjar - 1 - 2 2 1 2 - - -
Satti - 1 - 2 - - 1 - 1 -
Total 1 8 - 5 3 2 6 3 2
 Percentag 8.3 44.4 - 27.8 25 11.1 50 16.7 16.7
e % % % % % % % %

The large proportion of male respondents are between 41-50 years. A large number of young
people in consistent with the previous findings showed that the youth are more focused towards
educational and job opportunities. The small proportion of inhabitants above 50 years of age
showed that elderly people would no longer be active either farming or hunting and therefore
remain in their houses being semi-retired and they will totally rely on the person supporting
family.

3.5 Needs assessment

After seeing all the survey data we can access the very basic needs of the inhabitants. Timber is
one of them because it is connected with the burning. They have no other source to cook their
meal and make them warm in winters. It makes timber in their very basic need. Secondly, timber
is also used to build houses there.

Other needs include education, health, water, food accessibility and transportation.

Schools and colleges are not easily accessible for everyone. Students have to travel long
distances everyday that’s why they might need more transportation cost to reach their school and
colleges. They also have to go to different places to bring water because of not having a proper
water supply system. That also requires lots of time and effort and as they do not have proper
resources, their lands are uncultivated. This is why they cannot fulfil their food requirements by
their own. They have to spend money and go to nearby markets to get it. Due to poor healthcare
facilities to the residents they suffer in emergency cases and in general as well. There is no
proper sanitation system which causes serious consequences on the health of the residents. There
are no waste disposal facilities given by the government and the surroundings are littered with
domestic waste.

All these needs have direct or indirect impact on the forests.

4.0 Rights and concessions

All the protected forest and reserved forests are laden with the following rights set be
Government of Punjab.

 Timber for building purposes

 Wood material for agricultural implements, fuelwood and for graves.
 Cutting of specified trees for fodder
 Grass trimming
 Grazing
Government of Punjab have given the rights that the specified reserved forests shall be open to
free grazing of kine, mules, horses and donkeys except such forests which are considered
prohibited and are close for the reason of regeneration.

Once in a while trees are provided by the forest department to the local people residing in the
area.

 Building houses
 Wood for agricultural implements and graves
 Lopping
 Grazing
During inventory we found that many local people were allowed to graze their cattle in the
compartment, and also found some nomadic people were camping within the vicinity of the
compartment, thus this shows that the local community has some limited rights that they can
practice in forest.

5.0 Market and marketable products

The major marketable products are timber, fuelwood, charcoal and resin. But certain provisions
like decline in growing stock and ban on green felling, restriction on resin extraction, provide
firewood to the local people in the nearby villages have changed the trends of marketable
products.

5.1 Alternate source of energy

Due to shortage of firewood in forest of Murree, Government is providing an alternate source of

it from the plains of Punjab. Practice of charcoal extraction from the felling of forest is abolished
now. Resin tapping was prohibited in 1988 due to mal attempts like over tapping of trees, deep
blazing, etc. Chir and Kail is transformed into scantlings, bellies and pharas. These are also used
in construction materials.

5.2 Method of exploitation

Method of exploitation comprises of felling, conversion and carriage by involving local labor
from northern areas. Pack animals and truck are used to transport them. People dwelling near
forest utilize lopped branches for the firewood as by rights or through sale by permits.

5.3 General

The forests are badly over burdened with these rights and needs of the populations are not full
filled.

6.0 Balance between production, social and environmental objectives

6.1 Ecological Value

Forests are important in protecting physical and biological environment. Forests are place of
habitation for many people and have increasing value of pleasure and travel, particularly “eco-
tourism”. Forests are necessary for the fauna and is habitat for a lot of endangered species.

6.2 Trees are beneficial

Forests supply a lot of wellbeing of society for example pure air , safeguard watersheds benefits
to human population such as they clean air, protect our watersheds, place of peace where we go
to get away from daily stressful environment and bond with the mysteries of the universe.

6.3 Community benefits

1. Contact with nature has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
2. Supports educational opportunities

3. Trees improve air quality ultimately improving our environment.

4. Trees help to promote physical activities.

It is an important factor in the forest management plan to acquire an equilibrium between the
continuing wood production, communal and environmental administration objectives.

7.0 Threats

1. Excessive grazing and browsing

Moderate amount of grazing does not harm the pine forest, rather it is beneficial for the
regeneration of both Chir and Kail in cool damp places which reduces heavy undergrowth which
if exceeds lead to serious forest fires. However, excessive grazing and browsing is quite injurious
because it reduces the soil cover leading to eroded soils, breaks the soils on steep slopes and
hardens it on easier slopes. In accordance with the above stated facts the condition is being
unfavorable for natural regeneration of the forests. Deforestation of a considerable portion of
Guzara lands in Ghora Gali has increased the pressure of grazing and browsing in protected and
reserved forests.

2. Social reliance system on natural forests

Communal conflicts, or potential disputes with forest management department of societal matter
with forests.

3. Increasing population
The growing human population puts loads on the forest because of their increasing dependence
on the forest. Human population impacts the forest ecology which in turns impact the ecosystem.

4. Illegal logging
In a forest laws are made for the regulation of timber products at all levels but people violate
these laws by cutting wood from protected areas. The communities living in the forest areas are
sometimes involved in timber mafia, however in some cases visitors come with negative
ambition of exploiting the timber.

5. Forest fires
Fires are significant but they can cause harm if wrongly arise. In Chir forests sometimes there are
prescribed fires to efficiently and inexpensively clear land but other than that if the ground
vegetation cover exceeds, the forest catches fires which leads to:

 Invasion by exotic species

  Threaten biological diversity
 Destroys livelihoods of the people
6. Fuelwood harvesting
People living in or near the forest area are usually the one who use wood as a fuel for cooking
and heating.

8.0 Conclusion

“After all, forestry is about people. It is about trees only in so far as trees can serve the needs of
the people” (westoby 1989).

Forest contributes to the greater needs of people. In a foreseeable future forest and people are
inherently related. World has become a global village. Importance of global forest cannot be
underestimated. Viable sustenance demands environmental protection.

The above diagram shows that the forest resource cycle can only be completed with the
involvement of people. This is only possible when we empower and aware the people of nearby
areas. Letting the inhabitants be the persons to save their homes can keep the cycle complete. By
integrating the rural population with the development of forests, the forests can be conserved,
regulated and protected at the same time.
The conclusions are based on the studies socioeconomic activities of the residents of the
settlement and the dependency of their livelihoods on the natural resources of the forest. Their
necessities would be affected if they are restricted from using the forest produce.

9.0 Recommendations

1. Increased rights and powers of local communities over forest resources and also
increased quantitative and qualitative access to resources such as non-timber forest
products e.g. honey, ecotourism, handicrafts, forest fruits, etc.
2. Ownership rights to the people living in or near forest areas.
3. Working together with the community to contain deforestation.
4. Developing protected forests.
5. Encouraging sustainable bioenergy.
6. Industries built on the basis of forest contents can enhance the quality of villager’s life.
7. Acquirement of firefighting materials
8. Forest patrol.
9.1 Obtaining high yield of forests

Manage the forest for the people, together with the people because the people and the local
communities have a close relationship with the forest and only they can be the effective leaders
in forest conservation and high yield.

Strong awareness campaign. We should aware every local and visitor with the importance
of these forests we are going to need for our livings. We need to aware everyone and ourselves
that our generations are going to need everything we are demolishing. And aware everyone with
the seriousness of this matter.
Welcoming local or international NGOS to help to save Mother Nature. Lots of nonprofit
organizations are working to save forests and nature related substances.