Protected Areas Management Project

closed

The GEF Protected Areas Management Project aims at conserving globally important habitats, and species in three protected areas of Pakistan, within mountain, arid rangeland, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. The components include: 1) Protected area biodiversity management, through the following subcomponents: a) creation of a process framework for participation of custodial communities in park management, and conservation, through Village Conservation Committees; additionally, a technical assistance (TA) entity will provide planning, scientific, and social expertise. Community orientation, and mobilization will be provided, to map the community resource utilization, and develop resource management strategies, and mitigation measures; b) formulation of detailed park management, and strategy, integrated into community micro-planning, and micro-enterprise initiatives in accordance with environmental programs, and traditional ecological knowledge; c) improvement of park infrastructure; d) improvement of park operations; e) development of a baseline resource inventory, habitat improvement research, and wildlife enrichment; and, f) creation of public environmental awareness, and outreach programs. 2) Promotion of public/private cooperation for long-term biodiversity conservation, by providing TA, and supporting cost-sharing arrangements, and, income-generating activities. 3) Support an institutional capacity building training program, with topics ranging from legal, and policy reform, to tourism management, and plans. 4) Project coordination for the development of policy, and legislation relating to protected areas, ensuring standardized systems. Eco-tourism opportunities will be evaluated through the Tourism Development and Marketing Study.