This document summarizes a community-based conservation project in the Takatu Hills region of Balochistan, Pakistan that aimed to protect biodiversity including the straight-horned markhor, Afghan urial, and their habitat. The project's objectives were to raise awareness about biodiversity importance, prepare conservation plans, increase target species populations, improve habitat, support sustainable resource use, and participatory monitoring. The project worked with local communities and authorities over three years from 2001-2003, generating benefits like protected species, conserved habitat, economic contributions, and awareness, though had some bottlenecks around partial funding. Lessons learned include communities prioritizing conservation despite conflicts, and a need for the project design to better address community issues and the

1. Community Based Conservation of
Straight-horned Markhor, Afghan
Urial, and Associated Biodiversity in
Takatu Hills, Quetta - Pishin Districts
Yahya Musakhel
WWF-Pakistan
2003

2. Project Objectives
•Creating awareness about the importance of
Biodiversity
•Preparation of conservation & development plan
•Increasing population of target species
•Habitat improvement
•Sustainable use of natural resources in the project
area
•Participatory assessment & monitoring of
Biodiversity conservation activities

3. Background
•
•
•
•
Key species
Habitat
Issues
CBO intervention

4. Approach / Methodology
• Community consultation
• Approach to concerned authorities
– Balochistan Forest Department
– WWF - Pakistan, Regional Office Quetta
– Local Administration

5. Project time frame
• Starting date
• End date
• Duration
• January 2001
• September 2003
• 3 years
Bottlenecks
• Partial funding
• No GEF Rep. in Qta
• Non availability of technical staff

6. Benefits generated
•
•
•
•
•
Key Species protected
Habitat rehabilitated & conserved
Awareness raised
Local economy contributed
Jobs created locally

7. Impact
• Recognition of Takatu Hills
• Stakeholders priority
• Growing number of flora & fauna despite
drought impact
• Community ownership

8. Partners in Project
• Balochistan Forest & Wildlife Department
• WWF - Pakistan, Regional Office Quetta

9. Lesson Learned
• Despite tribal conflicts people believed in
performance
• Project design does not fully address the
issues of the communities and area

10. Way Forward
• Extension of project to achieve the
envisaged objectives in full and befitted
manner including addition and deletion of
activities in the light of experience
• Close liaison with GEF

11. Habitat & Key Species

12. General Landscape in Spring

13. Base Camp

20. General Look (unprotected)

21. Visit of Minister for Forest and Wildlife along with Forest
Department Officers

22. Regional Head WWF-P Qta

23. WWF Survey Team

24. Thanks