Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
the south and the Shandur Pass (3720 masl) in the north; Shishikoh (1,400 - 4,000 masl) is a side valley in
both are usually closed by heavy snowfall for at least lower Chitral with a population of 12,400 (DCR
five (winter) months of the year. 1998). It covers 56,586 ha, of which grazing land
is 64%, forest is 26%, and cultivated land is 2%.
The remaining 8% is glaciers and permanently snow-
Study sites
covered mountains (IUCN 2005a). These physiographic
The study was conducted in two (of 24) Union Council
features create varied seasonal temperatures, colder at
areas in Chitral – Shishikoh and Mulkhow. Mulkhow
higher altitudes. The general climate is dry, temperate.
(average elevation 1,600 masl) is in the north of
Occasional summer rains may cause flash floods, which
the district about 85 km from the district centre. It is
is exacerbated by rapid and continuous deforestation
surrounded by mountains, including the permanently
(IUCN 2005b).
snow clad Terichmir peak (7,700 masl). The undulating
terrain and steep slopes have lower, double cropping,
Flash floods have been increasing in frequency, and
and higher single cropping, zones. The 14,000
have led to shrinking and erosion of the inhabited and
inhabitants belong to about 1,600 households.
cultivated land for decades. This has forced many
people to migrate or build their houses higher up
Subsistence agriculture is the main source of livelihood.
the slopes. With tenure problems and average land
The average landholding of just less than a hectare
holdings on the sloping land as little as 0.45 ha per
allows for production of cereals and livestock. The
household (IUCN 2005b), the farmers are not investing
people of Mulkhow are a single, ancient ethnic group,
to make it more productive. Consequently, the main
the Khow. Historically, the area has been water
sources of livelihood are forestry and livestock raising,
deficient. Variations in the frequency and duration of
complemented by daily, seasonal, and annual migration
rains are the main reasons for prolonged droughts
for labour.
affecting the socioeconomic conditions of the dwellers.
Figure 3: Landcover map of Chitral (Source: Forest grazing lands and watersheds (2004) Chitral: IUCN, CN-CCS Support Unit)
DarwazaPass
N
KanKhunPass
Boroghol Pass
3893
49
N
85
W E
3801
Karambar pass
OchhiliPass
U
N
N %UN
%U
% %U 4358
$T %U %U S
5553
%U
%U
Borogh
%U
ul
Sh%Uow%Uarsor
N
%U %U
5560
%U
Ve
%U
N
N N
ndi
%U
n%U
%U %U %U
khot
A
Lash
%U
t
C
%U
H I
A N T
Shah
A R G L A C I E R
T
S
N
Jinali
%U
%U
Pass 4360Shust
%U 6264
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
Garmush
%U
N
I
%U
%U DarkotPass
$T
%U
%U 4590
N 5239 %U
%U %U Dobargar
A
PalutGhari $T
%U
%U
5884
%U Thui Pass
%UR%Uech %U
Darband
%U
N
H
%U %U%U
%U %UPowur %U
%U
$T
4575
Kotgaz Pass %U
%U
%U%U
%U
5468
N
A R
G %U%U
G
O
L
$T
%U %U%U%U %U
%U
Z E
W
5132
Bang %U
%U %U
%U
%U
F SadIshtragh
%U KhotAn
%UKh%Uot
Pass 5167
N
%U
%U%U
%
%U
%UU
U
%U%U
%
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U %U %U T
%U
%U
A
N
%U %U%U
N
%U
%U
Chap Pass
%U
Lunku
%U
%U Shagram
I
%U
%U
Brep
Khatinza
5246
$T
%U %U
Zundra%Ungram
Pass 4880
%URayeen %U
N
Istoro Nal
%U%U
%U G
%U%U %U %U
$T
$T
$T
%U %U
7389 Shagrom
5671 ZagarPass
%U%U %U %U N
L
DrDasras
%U
%U
nun
%U
%U %U
6431
%U
%U %U
%U %U
%U
%U
%U %U
Sonoghur Ma
%U%U
$T
stuj
I
%U
%U
%U
Owir TirichMir
4468 %U
B
%U
uni
%U
%U
%U %U
N
Chumar Khan
G
Mach Pass
$T %U
7690
Kosht
%U %U
Koragh
Pass LEGEND
5042
N
%U
%U
4358
Gohk
%U
ir
Arkari
%U
N
%U %U District Boundary
%U
Agram %U
GhotbarPass
%U
%U %U
%U
%U %U Reshun HarchinN River
%U %U
5289
%U
DorahPass
Shali
4570
N
%U
%U
%U%U %U Susum
Stream
%U %U
Shah Salim
Mizhigram
%U ShandurPass
%U
%U
%U
%U %U
Beshgram
N
%U %U
%U
%U
%U %U %U
%U%U %U
Baranis
Road
Gobor 4993
%U 3732
%U
%U
%U
%U
%U
$T
%UMom%U i
%U %U Laspur Metalled
Murdan
%U
%U
%U %UMogh
%U S%Uhoghor
Parabek %U
Un-metalled
N
%U Gar%UamChashm%U a %U
%U
%U
%U
%U%U%U%U %U %U
ZidikPass
%U Tush
%U
i
%U Path
%U %U %U %U CK %U
5162
P
ar
k
o
oghozi
%U
Golen
%U
%U %U
%U
%U
ÊÚ
l
N Tushi
m
C
o
%U
ÊÚ m Golen
m
o
m ÊÚ
ProtectedAreas
%U G R n
u
ÊÚ
%U l
%U
%U
%U R
n
u
G y t i
Kachhikhani T
Beghust
a
G y t i
r t i h C %U
N
$T Peak
CHITR
%U
AL
Pass
A
%U Settlements
%U
%U %U W
%U
N
Rumbur S
%U
Madaglasht N
N
N
Pass
A
%U
%U
Broz
%U %U
Thalo Pass
MankliaPass
%U Landcover
Area(Hectares)
T
UstuiPass
N
Ayun
%U
%U 4227
4826
4683
%U%U %U
o
%U Agriculture
45017
%U
S
a
rh
atC
m
Bu%Umboret %U
G
ÊÚ
m %U
Tar
u %U
$T
%U Forest
70045
I
%U %U
Birir
R %U
Asikoh Pass
Shawal Pass
N
%U
Kesu
G
i
n
y t P
u
re 4379 Shrubs andBushes 18969
N
N
t
N
R
ÊÚG l o G
N
N
N
ParpitPass
Tingal Pass
I
R
Rangelandwith 919636
%U
A
D
SherashingPass Drosh sparse Vegetation
%U
H
4673 %U%UKa
ÊÚ
lkatak
R
E
Rocks 60959
%U
G
%U GlacierAnd Snow 363674
%U
%U Mirkhani
F %U
%U U
P
P
RiverBeds 6090
Ashret
A
%U
%U
Dome
%U
lNisar
Lake
225
Ziarat
U%U %U Main Habitation 2033
%U
%U
%U %U N
%U Lawari Pass DevelopedByChitral Conservation
Arand
%U
u
%U
%U
%U
3230
%U %U%U
%U Strategy(SupportUnit)
Scale:1: 1200 000 10 010
%U
%U
%U
%U
Through Satellite Images of 2001
%U Kilometres
$T
16