Over 1,000 Chitral Women Trained in Climate-Resilient Livelihoods

KP Launches NTFP Project to Empower Women and Protect Chitral’s Ecosystem

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department’s Directorate of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) has launched a major initiative in Upper Chitral to strengthen women’s resilience to climate change. Under the programme, more than 1,000 women from different villages have been trained in sustainable harvesting, conservation practices, and value addition of NTFPs, while eco-friendly harvesting toolkits have also been distributed.

Women in Upper Chitral Receive Training and Toolkits for Sustainable Harvesting

Speaking at a certificate and toolkit distribution ceremony in Booni, Assistant Director NTFP Chitral Ajaz Ahmed said the project aims to create alternative livelihood opportunities for women while reducing pressure on forests, fragile mountain ecosystems, and glacier habitats. He highlighted that Chitral, home to over 450 glaciers, is among Pakistan’s most climate-sensitive regions, where medicinal plants and other NTFPs play a key role in carbon storage, ecological balance, and glacier protection.

Local collectors and beneficiaries welcomed the initiative, noting that NTFPs are a crucial source of income for mountain communities. They said sustainable harvesting methods can help prevent the depletion of valuable plant species while supporting livelihoods and climate adaptation efforts. Women participants, including Taj Bibi from Upper Chitral, expressed confidence that the training and toolkits would improve household incomes and benefit local communities.