Organization: Chitral Rural Support Program, CRSP Topic: Awareness Seminars on Eco-tourism and Pony Trekking
Organizational Background (Introduction CRSP)
Chitral Rural Support Program (CRSP) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) working in District Chitral in the field of rural development in the sector of promoting quality education, health facilities, tourism, and women empowerment and Disaster sector in the most remote areas of Chitral. The organization is registered with the Provincial Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Society’s Act, 1860. The organization is run by a group of young volunteers belonging to different areas of Chitral.
The organization has initiated awareness programs, regarding health issues, promoting quality education through career counselling and guidance to the vulnerable students of Chitral and awareness about ecotourism in the whole KP Province. The organization has distributed reading books and other materials to needy students to carry out their education. In a short span of time the organization has created ownership among the local community and is willing to work to strengthen the communities, especially in backward areas of Chitral in the delivery of basic social services involving youths and marginalized groups of the society. CRSP organized Pony Trek events and Polo match to help make local communities economically independent.
Eco-Tourism
Sustainable tourism meets the needs of the present-day tourists and host communities while protecting, enhancing and enriching natural biodiversity and ecology. Ecotourism is responsible travel to the natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province with huge tourism potential, where a high influx of tourists, both international and domestic is witnessed. These tourists visit different destinations across the province causing harm to the natural environment, ecology and biodiversity. The following lines posted on UNDP’s website compel the nature lovers to think about the reason
Pony Track
The historical pony track from Ovir to Mulkhow is the most beautiful track in upper Chitral. It was the pony track at the time of Chitral State. But the natural beauty of this track attracts the pony riders (Horse riders). The green meadows and cold water of the glaciers and springs add more to the beauty of this track.
Besides this pony, riders can enjoy the natural beauty of various valleys during pony riding, but due to natural disasters, some parts of this pony’s tracks are damaged and need repair. This pony track is the most suitable and peaceful pony track for pony riders. And for camping during pony tracking and various beautiful and suitable sites are available on this pony track. The pony trek which exists between Ovir to Mulkhow valleys comprising 5 camps in upper Chitral is very beautiful and attractive.
Passing through the high mountains this pony trek offers various scenic views, for that reason it attracts a lot of interest from pony trekkers. This trek goes through between Ovir, Lon, Gohkir, Kosht, Mixgol and Qaqlasht valleys where approximately more than 50 thousand people are living, and the trekker enjoys the place and which is also beneficial for the local communities. These sessions will provide awareness to the local community and horse owners, to generate reasonable income from their available resources to meet their daily life requirements.
Need for awareness /Objectives
While travelling these beautiful places we find so much evidence to raise awareness on Ecotourism, to save the naturally enriched life of people there and the natural environment, ecology and biodiversity.
The objectives and promoting natural trails of these awareness programs are to contribute to conservation efforts and minimize the negative impacts of tourism. Employing local people and contributing financially to the local community. The principles of ecotourism are to educate visitors about the local environment and culture especially to cooperate with local people to manage natural areas. Provide a positive experience for both visitors and hosts with sustainable tourism branding. It will be a community-led program that will also benefit visiting the famous destinations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Be intrusive to the local people and environment in involving tourists in large numbers.
Basically, due to a lack of initiatives for managing such awareness sessions, we have endangered the survival of the rainforest plant and animal species. As many times parties are creating a disturbance in urban areas resulting in tourists offending local people. Raising awareness can lead us to educate the tourists as well. Provide all the services and facilities that tourists might want. Develop a sense of trust and friendship between the tourists and the local people. Strengthen the local communities and have a welcome meeting with tourism representatives.
Provision and improvement of basic facilities will help teach people about the natural environment of the World Heritage sites. Eat and drink the local items because external food causes waste and pollution. Many campaigns seized from these awareness seminars may provide money for conservation and sustainable development projects. Students of different universities will get an insight into ecotourism and will promote it to the communities as well. Major stakeholders will bring interest to invest money on different tourism projects for the economic and social development of these communities.
Chitral Rural Support Program (CRSP) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) working in District Chitral in the field of rural development in the sector of promoting quality education, health facilities, tourism, and women empowerment and Disaster sector in the most remote areas of Chitral. The organization is registered with the Provincial Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Society’s Act, 1860. The organization is run by a group of young volunteers belonging to different areas of Chitral.
The organization has initiated awareness programs, regarding health issues, promoting quality education through career counselling and guidance to the vulnerable students of Chitral and awareness about ecotourism in the whole KP Province. The organization has distributed reading books and other materials to needy students to carry out their education. In a short span of time the organization has created ownership among the local community and is willing to work to strengthen the communities, especially in backward areas of Chitral in the delivery of basic social services involving youths and marginalized groups of the society. CRSP organized Pony Trek events and Polo match to help make local communities economically independent.
Eco-Tourism
Sustainable tourism meets the needs of the present-day tourists and host communities while protecting, enhancing and enriching natural biodiversity and ecology. Ecotourism is responsible travel to the natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province with huge tourism potential, where a high influx of tourists, both international and domestic is witnessed. These tourists visit different destinations across the province causing harm to the natural environment, ecology and biodiversity. The following lines posted on UNDP’s website compel the nature lovers to think about the reason
Pony Track
The historical pony track from Ovir to Mulkhow is the most beautiful track in upper Chitral. It was the pony track at the time of Chitral State. But the natural beauty of this track attracts the pony riders (Horse riders). The green meadows and cold water of the glaciers and springs add more to the beauty of this track. Besides this pony, riders can enjoy the natural beauty of various valleys during pony riding, but due to natural disasters, some parts of this pony’s tracks are damaged and need repair. This pony track is the most suitable and peaceful pony track for pony riders.
And for camping during pony tracking and various beautiful and suitable sites are available on this pony track. The pony trek which exists between Ovir to Mulkhow valleys comprising 5 camps in upper Chitral is very beautiful and attractive. Passing through the high mountains this pony trek offers various scenic views, for that reason it attracts a lot of interest from pony trekkers. This trek goes through between Ovir, Lon, Gohkir, Kosht, Mixgol and Qaqlasht valleys where approximately more than 50 thousand people are living, and the trekker enjoys the place and which is also beneficial for the local communities. These sessions will provide awareness to the local community and horse owners, to generate reasonable income from their available resources to meet their daily life requirements.
Need for awareness /Objectives
While travelling these beautiful places we find so much evidence to raise awareness on Ecotourism, to save the naturally enriched life of people there and the natural environment, ecology and biodiversity.
The objectives and promoting natural trails of these awareness programs are to contribute to conservation efforts and minimize the negative impacts of tourism. Employing local people and contributing financially to the local community. The principles of ecotourism are to educate visitors about the local environment and culture especially to cooperate with local people to manage natural areas. Provide a positive experience for both visitors and hosts with sustainable tourism branding. It will be a community-led program that will also benefit visiting the famous destinations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Be intrusive to the local people and environment in involving tourists in large numbers.
Basically, due to a lack of initiatives for managing such awareness sessions, we have endangered the survival of the rainforest plant and animal species. As many times parties are creating a disturbance in urban areas resulting in tourists offending local people. Raising awareness can lead us to educate the tourists as well. Provide all the services and facilities that tourists might want. Develop a sense of trust and friendship between the tourists and the local people. Strengthen the local communities and have a welcome meeting with tourism representatives.
Provision and improvement of basic facilities will help teach people about the natural environment of the World Heritage sites. Eat and drink the local items because external food causes waste and pollution. Many campaigns seized from these awareness seminars may provide money for conservation and sustainable development projects. Students of different universities will get an insight into ecotourism and will promote it to the communities as well. Major stakeholders will bring interest to invest money in different tourism projects for the economic and social development of these communities.
