ICCA Biodiversity Restoration Initiative (BRI) for Indigenous Communities (Sawoji and Gujar Tribes)
ICCA Biodiversity Restoration Initiative (BRI) for Indigenous Communities (Sawoji and Gujar Tribes)
The Indigenous Community supported with Initiative under ICCA Fund:
Gujar is a deprived and lack of Social life communities living across the bank of Kunar Dare-Peaj river and living in the mountains of Kunar province grazing Flocks and they are all herders only with no other social life. Another Indigenous Tribe of Sawoji community Livelihoods relies on commercial fishing of wild trout in the rivers and it was depleting due to extremely more illegal fishing practices with due Covid-19 crisis and poverty of the indigenous communities. Conserving Trout Fish biodiversity was crucial with vital indigenous communities to sustain the Livelihood of indigenous communities with wild Trout and prevent its depletion. Sawoji Community is the Root of Rashkoot Tribe of Indians near to Kalash of Chitral and were living here before last centuries talking a strange Language calling Sawoji and Gujar is a tribe of Sendhi root of Pakistan living here since 1883 talking Gujari Language.
Trout Fish Biodiversity Restoration:
Trout is a rare precious finding species of Fish with no spines that is very precious and only found in South America, then released to other regions for Livelihood recreation. Trout does not propagate in ponds unless artificially in hatcheries. It propagates in rivers with big stones and wholes under stones. Its restoration is essential for Livelihoods of the indigenous communities living in watapoor district of Kunar Province to be restored and protected. So, the indigenous communities could stay continuing their legal fishing and sales in the local markets and getting the cash in return.
Regional and Afghanistan context of Trout fish biodiversity:
During King Mohammad Zahir shah it was propagated in Kahmarad district of Bamyan river and released by UNDP in Paghman district of Kabul in Ponds.
Pakistan has worked on its Propagation in Swat valley rivers adjacent to Kunar province of Afghanistan for (40) Years and released the spineless trout to Swat river after its propagation in specific ponds on the bank of swat river then dropped to the river as adult trout that has created livelihoods opportunities to the citizens of swat for its business and supply to the markets and hotels with precious costs. Besides, it is released in Qargha dam of Kabul alongside with other species of the Fish during kingdom of Mohammad Zahir Shah sayeb.
UNDP-SGP initiated the trout research in Kunar and Nuristan river through Pond rearing in the result it is adopted with Kunar Dare Peaj and Nuristan rivers only under the set temperature there from 1-30 C0 , the Tourism and biodiversity is mutually supportive and UNDP may go with Fish Ponds with a small Cafeterias and a small Parks for Tourists on the bank of Dare Peaj river and Nuristan province that will empower the economics of the indigenous communities and will recreate livelihood opportunities. OCHA a national NGO has found that a trout Fish can be grown till (1) Kg in 12 months with 300 AFNs cumulative costs and earning 1,000 AFNs per Kg in market and hotels the total weight limit gaining by Trout is up to 6 Kg. It is to be mentioned that (1) Kg cost of domestic Spineless trout is 100 $ in France. Besides it will be supportive to the biodiversity recovery and livelihood recreation of the indigenous communities living on the bank of Dare-Peaj river of kunar province of Afghanistan.
It has benefited the host community and strengthening the livelihood of Sawoji indigenous community in return. SGP partner OCHA a national NGO tested the trout with the indigenous Species (wild trout) of Dare-Peaj river, it is friendly with adult wild trout fish and invasive to the larva of Frog and fish.
It is to be mentioned here that the indigenous Species (Wild Trout) of Dare-Peaj river was declined due to many reasons from which the majority was a natural disaster of 2017 that has led to the genocide of Kunar river indigenous species , for now it is almost restored with UNDP-SGP efforts in partnership with OCHA national NGO but needs more attention to the human made disasters and harmful practices (Generator Electricity Shots, Using of Toxic Chemicals, Using of blasting materials and other practices that can lead to the genocide of the fish in river for killing it lamp-sum.
Finally, OCHA highlights the following some of the initiatives from the SGP project report reveal:
🏞️ The Initiative enhancing Biodiversity restoration of Trout Fish
🌡️ Combatting Climate change and preventing depletion of wild trout indigenous species of Kunar & Nuristan Provinces of Afghanistan with vital support of indigenous communities relying on wild trout fish for Livelihood.
💸 Providing Socio-economic benefits to the Indigenous communities (Particularly Sawoji) in return from Fishponds and conservation of wild trout fish.