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A report on Sheen Watan - Plantation Campaign 2012-16 - Season 1

Recent natural disasters and the wave of terrorism effected Pakistan’s economic, social and environmental conditions in a severe manner. During the period of 2008-09 when the Law & Order conditions were at its minimum level due to insurgencies in Swat, Dir, Malakand and Buner which resulted in deforestation at huge level in these areas. This had a prominent impact on the environment and sever changes were observed which included the disastrous flood of 2009, which resulting in losses of citizens, infrastructure, forests and livestock. The environmental changes were observed in all the districts of KPK. A strong need for effective and sustainable plantation campaign was identified. A five year self-sustained plantation program was designed which included two plantation campaigns every year starting from 2012-16. REDA took the initiative to mobilize the volunteers of schools, colleges, universities, members of civil society and industrialists to participate in plantation campaigns. In first phase of the program REDA along with these partners and support of Ministry for Environment, Ministry of Education and Forest Department, Govt. of Khyber Pakhtunkwa successfully planted 8200 saplings in district Peshawar and Khyber Agency, FATA.
Unfortunately no importance has been given to this important issue in the past and is a matter of grave concern. To take initiative for protecting environment highly proactive plantation campaign is needed; in which communities, students, businessmen and locals will be mobilized and encouraged to actively participate. This will be a self-sustained activity for the period of five years managed by “Green Alliance” a consortium of civil society organizations, academic institutions, media, local community, Forest Department etc. Lead Organizations include: REDA, ADFIRE, CAUSE, GEPS (Green Environmental Protection Society). These NGOs have professional staff capable enough to develop strategy of plantation, implement it and also to ensure sustainability so as to achieve the target goal.  

Situation Analysis
According to 1998 census, Peshawar is the highest populated district and capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is also an industrial hub of the province. The industries and millions of vehicles used by the locals’ is the main cause of increase in toxic gases that have a negative impact on the environment.  The number of trees and plants in Peshawar has considerably decreased due to building of new roads, installations, bridges, fly overs, immigration of high population of Afghan refugees for the last 20 years and recent idps from Swat, malakand , mohmand agency Bajour agency  who had to cut trees for fuels and domestic requirement.

Target Areas
Sheen Watan is a country wide plantation program. Peshawar District and Khyber Agency were selected as pilot areas.
Hayatabad, Badabera, Cantt. and Chamkani were selected in District Peshawar.
Jamrud and Mulagori were identified in Khyber Agency where the required resources for the successful campaign were easily available. The interest of local students and volunteers in the cause was of the highest level.

Partners and Team
Volunteerism is the core concept of the plantation activity and thus links and understandings were developed with the members of civil society, students of schools, colleges and universities along with residents of these areas. Currently our partners include:
Corporate Businesses: TheExpertsCloud, MovingMinds
 NGOs:  The Edifiers, REDA, CAUSE
Student societies: GEPS
Institutes & Universities: IM-Sciences, Islamia College University, Agriculture University (Peshawar)
Ministries: Ministry for Environment, Ministry for Education
Departments:    Forest Dept.
Volunteers from schools, colleges and universities in the areas actively participated in the first phase of the campaign.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between REDA, CAUSE, The Edifiers, Islamia College University and IM-Sciences. Ministry for Environment, Ministry for Education and Forest Department have shown interest in signing MoU for the cause.

Action Plan
The campaign was divided into two main categories:

Awareness Campaigns
Volunteers arranged plantation awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, universities and with local residents in the selected areas. Different aspects of plantation including its need, impact on environment, benefits and safe keeping were discussed in these meetings. Responsibilities were allocated among members for the smooth running and successful completion of the program.
In these campaigns beneficiaries were identified and enlisted with the required demand. Resource assessments for beneficiaries were also performed against each demand. List of Beneficiaries is presented in appendix 1.1.
Ministry for Environment and Forest Department were contacted and a request for the required saplings was forwarded. Forest Department responded by provided 8000 saplings. The supply was insufficient to fulfill the demand. This initiated the future plan of nurseries which is discussed later in the report. List of provided saplings is available at the end of this document as appendix 1.2.

Plantation Campaigns
Saplings were supplied to the targeted schools, colleges, universities, PDA and residents in the area. Students were mobilized and encouraged to actively participate in the campaign. Volunteers planted these saplings in schools, colleges, universities, public and residential areas. In some areas of Mulagori students were given saplings to plant at their homes.
Sheen Watan campaign was celebrated in 23 schools, 2 colleges, 2 universities of Hayatabad, Cantt., Peshawar City, Chamkani, Jamrud and Mulagori. List of the schools, colleges and universities along with the saplings details is presented in exhibit 1.1. List of other beneficiaries can be seen in exhibit 1.2.
Minister for Environment Mr. Wajid Ali Khan was invited as chief guest to the plantation campaign at Govt. High School No. 1 where he addressed the students on environmental issues and appreciated volunteer efforts in Sheen Watan Campaign. He assured his support and cooperation for the cause and advised Forest Department in this regard. Honorable minister then planted a tree in the school premises.

Future Plan

District Nurseries
Keeping in view the demand for sapling from the target areas, a plan to develop nurseries is presented by REDA. Nurseries will be developed in all the districts of KP. These nurseries will also act as Point of Distribution for the district. This will enable the program to spread in a much swift manner. To develop these nurseries REDA will request for the expertise and assistance of forest department and ministry of environment and will benefit from their experience in the field.
REDA will take the initiative by starting one nursery with Euro Sausages and one with Islamia College University.
Estimated cost of a nursery is given in exhibit 1.3.
List of the sapling species planted in the campaign can be seen in exhibit 1.4.

Appendix
 Exhibit 1.1: List of saplings donors
S.No
Supplier
Contact Person
Address
Contact
Saplings provided
Date
1
Forest Dept
Tahir
Tarnab Farm
0345-9111372
2150
27/2
2
Forest Dept
Tahir
Tarnab Farm
0345-9111372
3100
29/2
3
Forest Dept
Tehseen ullah
Zyam, Charsadda
0346-9546202
2500
1/3
4
REDA
Amin Khan
Peshawar

270





TOTAL
8020


Exhibit 1.2: List of Beneficiaries.
S. No.
List of Beneficiaries
Contact
Person & Details
Saplings planted
Date
1
Govt. Girls High School,  Phase 1, Hayatabad
Zainab 
100
28/2/12
2
Govt. Girls Primary School, Phase 1, Hayatabad
Zainab 
100
28/2/12
3
Jica, Phase 1, Hayatabad
Zainab 
100
28/2/12
4
Govt. Girls Primary School No. 5 , Phase 2, Hayatabad
Zainab 
50
29/2/12
5
Govt. Girls Primary School No. 6, Phase 3, Hayatabad
  Zainab
100
29/2/12
6
Govt. Girls Primary School No. 3-4, Phase 3, Hayatabad
 Zainab
50
29/2/12
7
Furqan House, Phase 2, Hayatabad
Haider 
20
29/2/12
8
Rise School, Phase 2, Hayatabad
 Haider
20
29/2/12
9
Sahibzada house, Phase 2, Hayatabad
Haider 
15
29/2/12
10
Khan Saeed, Phase 2, Hayatabad
Haider 
10
29/2/12
11
Govt. College for Management Sciences, Jamrud, Khyber Agency
Tahir 
400
29/2/12
12
Govt. Degree College, Phase 6, Hayatabad
Waqar
100
29/2/12
13
Badabera, Peshawar
M. Aslam
0345-9023116
300
29/2/12
14
Govt. Girls Primary School, Hazrat Ali Kaly, Shahkas
Zahir
0302-5544128
50

15
Hira Public School, Jamrud
Zakarya
0301-8200310
50

16
Abaseen Public School, Shakas
Shakeel
0300-9264860
100

17
Govt. Primary School, Shakas
Ahmadyar 0301-2461580
100

18
Malak Saad Public School,
Mudassir 0332-9092189
100

19
Phase 1,2,3,4,6,7. Hayatabad
Noor 
120

20
Schools and BHU of Chamkani
Asif 
1050

21
Schools (Peshawar city and Cantt.)
Mian Shahzad 0333-9149975
400

22
Defence colony
Hannan
0321-9191288
50

23
Chamkani
Asif 
400

24
Badabera, Peshawar
Aslam 
200

25
Hayatabad
 Noor
300

26
Mulagori
Nisar
800

27
Hayatabad
Nauman Habib
400

28
Industrial Estate
Euro Sausages
15

29
Islamia College University
Waqar
600

30
IMSciences
Haider
200

31
PDA

400

32
Govt. High School No. 1
Mian Shahzad
200

33
Jamrud
Tahir
400

34
Chamkani
Asif
270
Fruit bearing plants
35
Hayatabad
Rashid
300


TOTAL:
7870

Exhibit 1.3: Estimated cost to setup a nursery.
Item Description
Estimated Cost
Polythene bags                
Rs. 10,000
Tools
Rs. 5,000
Seeds
Rs. 5,000
Sheds   
Rs. 5,000
Saplings (2000-2500 saplings)
Rs. 20,000
Transport
Rs.10,000
Pesticides
Rs.5,000
Soil        
Rs.5,000
Salary                                   
Rs. 2000 per month
Misc
Rs. 3,000
Administrative cost
Rs. 10,000
Total     
Rs. 80,000
Exhibit 1.4: List of Sapling species supplied
Saplings species
Popular
Sanata
Shesham
Guawa
Jaman
Citrus
Amaltas
Lemon
Chinar
Injeer
Palosa
Orange
Eucalyptus
Toot
Sanata
Pine

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