Workshop on International Mountain CooperationBudoia, 6-7 June 2013

Park Management Planfor Central Karakorum National Park

Version 1.1

Overall Introduction

CKNP: management planning in the context of threats and challenges to

biodiversity

CKNP Important Features

CKNP represents a part of the Karakoram landscape that hasvaluable natural assets-glaciers, diverse ecosystems, species,genes etc

CKNP is not only a Biodiversity hotspot but is an importantsource of fresh water, tourism and recreation; a living lab forscientific and social research; and a big reservoir of indigenousknowledge

Threats and Challenges

Threats

1. Gradual loss of Biodiversity, that has the potential to affectthe quality of people’s life, within and around CKNP, and ofpeople living downstream

2. Negative influences of climate change that is weakeningthe bonds of life in silent mode

3. Reduction in capacities of local society to cope withdifficult situations because of the erosion of indigenousknowledge and its timely application to conflicting situations

The Biggest Challenge

lack of management capacities and skillsthat overcomes the current imbalancebetween production and consumption, andmaintains a safe use level throughout

Management Goalthere are 3 goals before us:

1. Reduce gap between the production capacities of CKNP’snatural resources and the galloping growing rate ofconsumptions by users

2. Develop a model that demonstrates the integration ofBiodiversity in the production systems

3. Being a sacred landscape, adopt measures that shallensure the conservation of entire stretches of karakoram inPakistan and, even, across the borders

Main Management Guidelines

Management PlanBackground

Planning Process Description

STEP ONE – Planning

STEP TWO – Research and first version

STEP THREE –Implementation and consultation

STEP FOUR – Monitoring and revising

First step: December 20th, 2009

First step: June 2012Output: October 2012-GB autorities feb 2013

1 year almost for the process and submit toauthorities for approval

First amendment of MP after 3 years

Management PlanDevelopment

CONSERVATION APPROACH vs PARTECIPATORY APPROACH

Which considers the need topreserve the pristine wilderness bymanaging the Protected Areas as“islands”, while not allowing anyextraction of resources.

Park fulfils not only a function ofconservation but also considers theneeds of local communities, and thisespecially for the remote mountainareas where they live in a criticalsituation.

Goal is …. …to use a partecipatory approach to delineate a management plan as simple as possible sothat it could be immediately practicable in all the different context of the CKNP situations.

1. starting in the delineation of the Park boundaries and zoning system consideringthe sustainable use in the Park of the natural renewable resources by the localcommunities

1) outside the Park border: villages, roads (only closed service roads are comprises in the Parkarea), mining areas, main agricultural areas near the villages

2) management indications :

three main fields of activities :Conserving species and ecosystem: large mammals were used as indicators.

Sustainable use of the natural renewable resources: focused on three aspects: (i) forestry, (ii) livestock/pastures, and (iii) wildlife as trophy hunting programs

Tourism fees and related waste management: this both to manage in a sustainable way a well developed activity especially in the Baltoro area.

2. development of a Park zoning system where the existing community use rights areallowed and developed in a sustainable way, to assure nature conservation and thepossibility of their use on long term for the local communities.

Conservation approach:Buffer Zone is outside the Protected Areas: By assuring protection to these areas; By enlarging rules and boundaries also tothis zone

Partecipatory approach:Buffer Zone is an area in which to mix theconservation of the natural ecosystems withthe development of local communities in asustainable way.

Buffer Zone for the CKNP (Ebregt and De Greve, 2000) : A Buffer Zone in which thelocal people live in traditional way using natural resources for subsistence purposesand without degrading the Buffer Zone .

1. obtaining of reliable basic data for the delineation of the Park and related zoningsystem Digital Elevation Model (a high resolution model will be ready for the end of 2012) Land Cover Map Glacier Cadastre Catchments Division Areas Geological Map Landslide Susceptibility MapWildlife Distribution (ungulates and carnivores, was chosen as “umbrella species”)

Management PlanPark Zoning System

CKNP Boundaries (10,432 Km2)

Proposed structure of CKNPCore Zone:IUCN Category IIto protect natural biodiversity along with itsunderlying ecological structure and supportingenvironmental processes, and to promoteeducation and recreation .In general the Core Area limits follow theconturline of 3,800 4,500 m

Buffer Zone: presents only where it isnecessary to Area limits follow the conturline of3,200 m to exclude the higher villagesIUCN Category VIto conserve ecosystems and habitats, togetherwith associated cultural values and traditionalnatural resource management systems

CKNP Zoning System

Core Zone – 7,656 Km2 (73.5%)STRICTLY CONSERVATION AREAS (SCA)These zones are established to assure the highest level of conservation for the ecosystems and/orthreatened species of flora and fauna, so no activities are allowed inside.

TOURISM FOCUSED ZONE (TFZ)This area coincides with a buffer zone of about 200 meters on both sites of the trail that move throughBaltoro, Gondogoro and Hushey corridor; this represent the main and famous route used by trekkerand mountaineering where campsites and services for the visitors are available

LOW FREQUENCY TOURISM AREA (LFTA)Routes of Biafo Hispar, Spantik (Basha), K6, K7 (Hushey) and Trango, attracting a fair number ofvisitors. Main trails are tracked and presence of main signage and simple space with water forcamping, but not equipped with services

OCCASIONAL TOURISM AREA (OTA)Comprises: Latok Ogre and other peaks Biafo, Other peaks Baltoro, Shigar – Thalley treks andpeaks, Bagrot-Haramosh treks and peaks, Pisan Minapin, Rakaposhi – Diran. The main trails aretracked but there are not services, with the presence of a simple space with water for camping.

Buffer Zone – 2,757 Km2 (26.5%)

COMMUNITY CONTROLLED HUNTING AREAS (CCHA)Areas characterized by a good presence of trophy animals (ungulates) most of them, like Markor, arethreatened or endangered, following the IUCN Red List, and under protections of national andinternational agreements.

CONSERVATION AREA (CA)Areas focused on the conservation of the endangered species of large mammals (eg musk deer,markhor, brown bear, snow leopard…..), and/or for the particular vegetation, and/or ecosystems thatare present in this part of the Buffer Zone.

Management PlanVisitor and Waste Management

Proposed Systems of Fees for CKNP

CKNP TreksNAME OF TREK Open

Restricted Zone Fees

A TOURISM FOCUSED ZONE (TFZ)

1

ASKOLI-GHANDOGORO LA –HUSHEY:Askoli- Concorida-Ghandogoro la-HusheyGHANDOGORO PEAK:Ali Camp-Ghandogoro peak (open summit) Restricted Zone

Permit feeEntry fee Waste mg fee full

2

ASKOLI-K2 B.C- ASKOLIAskoli- Concorida-K2 B.C and backPASTORE PEAK:K2 B.C- Pastore peak (open summit) Restricted Zone

Permit feeEntry fee Waste mg fee full

3ASKOLI-TRANGO B.C.Askoli-Trango and back Restricted Zone

Permit feeEntry fee Waste mg fee half

4

SNOW LAKEAskoli-Namla-Snow lake and backBAINTHA BRAK:Snow lake-Baintha brak B.CCORNICHE PEAK:Snow lake-Coniche peak (open summit) Open Zone

Entry fee Waste mg fee full

CKNP Treks

5

BIAFO-HISPER : Askoli , Biafo Glacier , Snow Lake, Hisper Pass, Hisper Glacier , Hisper village Or vice versa. Open Zone

Entry fee Waste mg fee full

6

SNOW LAKEHispe-Snow Lake and backHISPER PEAKHisper la-Hiper peak (open summit) Open Zone

Entry fee Waste mg fee full

B LOW FREQUENCY TOURISM ZONE (LFTZ)

7CHOGO BROQ VIEW POINT:Askoli-Chogo broq and back Open Zone Entry fee

8SKHORA LAAskoli-Skora la-Skora Shigar Open Zone Entry fee

9LATOK B.CAskoli, Choktal Glacier, Latok B.C and back Restricted Zone

Permit feeEntry feeWaste mg fee half

10

HARAMOSH LA:Arandu-chogo lungma Glacier -Haramosh La,Kutwal lake Haramosh Or vice versa. Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

11KUTWAL LAKE:Sassi Haramosh-Barche-Kutwal Lake and back Open Zone Entry fee

CKNP Treks

12SPANTIK B.C.Arando-Chogo lungma Glacies-Laila B.C-Spantik B.C and back Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

13RAKHAN GAALI:Bagrot-Rakhan Gaali-Jutial Haramosh Or vice versa. Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

14

RAKAPOSHI B.C.Juglot-Rakaposhi BC and backMinapin-Rakaposhi B.C and backGhulmat Rakaposhi B.C and back Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

15DIRAN B.C:Minapin-Minapin Glacier-Diran BC and back Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

16GOLDEN PEAK BC.Hopper-Barpu Glacier-Golden Peak BC and back Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

17RASH LAKE:Hopper-Barpu glacier-Rush lake-Hisper valley Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

18

HOPPER-SUMAYAR: Hopper-Hoppper Glacier-Bwaltar peak BC-Chmar bakor-Sumayar Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

19ASTAK LA:Astak-Astak La-Tormik and vice versa Open Zone Entry fee

20GONLO LA:Tormik-Gonlo La-Chutrun Basha Or vice versa Open Zone Entry fee

CKNP Treks

21THALLEY LA:Shigar-Thalley La- Khasumik Thalley Or vice versa Open Zone Entry fee

22

SHINGKHANG LA:Khasumik Thalley- Shingkhang La-Bardumal-Askoli Or vice versa Restricted Zone

Permit feeEntry feeWaste mg fee half

23THALLEY-KANDAYHarangus Thalley-Harangus La-Iqbal Top-Kanday Or vice versa Open Zone Entry fee

24MACHULO LAKharkoo-Machulo la-Machlo Or vice versa Open Zone Entry fee

25IQBAL TOP:Kanday-Iqbal top and back Open Zone Entry fee

26HUMBROK K2 VIEW POINT:Hushey-Humbroq and back Open Zone Entry fee

27DOUBLE PEAK:Hushey-Aling Glacier-Double peak B.C and back Open Zone Entry fee

28MASHABRUM BCHushey-Dumsum-Mashabrum B.C and back Open Zone Entry fee

29K6 & K7 BCHushey-Saicho- Chataksa glacier-K6 & K7 B.C and back Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

CKNP Treks

30

LAILA PEAK VIEW POINT:Hushey-Saicho-Dalsangpa-Laila peak BC-Khuyuspang and back Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee half

C OCCASIONAL TOURISM ZONE: (OTZ)

31LUKPO LA:Latok B.C- Sim La-Sim glacier-Braldo glacier-Shimshal Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

32KHURDOPIN LA:Snow lake-Khurdopin La-Khurdopin glacier- Shimshal Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

33

GANTO LA:Astak- Goropha La-Goropha glacier -Ganto La-Arando La-Chogo lungma glacier-Arando Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

34

YAZGIL LA:Hisper-Hisper glacier-Jutmaru glacier-Yazgil La-Yazgil glacier Shimshal Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

35

KERO LUNGMA LA:Arando-Kero Lungma La-Kero Lungma glacier-Haigatum glacier-Hisper Open Zone

Entry feeWaste mg fee full

Park Management

Strictly Conservation AreasTourism Flow & Waste Management

Entrance ►in general the entrance in the Strictly Conservation Area is not allowed, but a specific authorizations could be released by CKNP Directorate on the basis of the local situation. ►the entrance for research purposes has to be authorized by the CKNP Directorate

Fees and duties ►there are not fees for authorized people of local communities and from Gilgit- Baltistan► Pakistani authorized visitors have to pay the Entrance fee with a cheap fare. The possibility to exclude these payments or to charge they also with the Waste management fee and Garbage deposit is under CKNP Directorate responsibility. ► authorized foreign visitors have to pay the Entrance fee. The possibility to exclude these payments or to charge they also with the Waste management fee and Garbage deposit is under CKNP Directorate responsibility. ► authorized researches follow the same rules of authorized visitors

Transfer and stay inside the area

The entrance and stay in the Strictly Conservation Area are subject to the indications reported in the previous sections (Entrance and Fee). All the authorized people and researches has to follow these indications, if not expressly authorized by CKNP Directorate: ►to proceed by feet (no motorized way) and along marked trails►no climb the peaks inside this area►no pack animals (horses, mules and donkeys) could be used for transportation purposes►use of kerosene and butane gas for cooking in the designated areas is considered, not lighting up fires to cook or to burn waste► avoiding the use of nylon bags and bottles or glasses bottles and boxes►waste as to collect and transported to nearest campsite or out to the CKNP

Sustainable Use of Natural Renewable Resources

Hunting not allowed

Game bird hunting not allowedFishing not allowed

Presence of livestock not allowed

Presence of pack animals(horses, mules and donkeys)

not allowed

Presence of dogs and pets not allowed

Grazing not allowedWood and shrub collection not allowed

Timber collection not allowed

Collection and extraction of medicinal plants and not timber forest products

not allowed

Research activities it is not allowed to conduct research activities in all the Park area without a preliminary written permission of the Park Directorate.

Strictly Conservation Areas

Buffer Zone – 2,757 Km2 (26.5%)Tourism Flow & Waste Management

Entrance no specific authorization released by CKNP Directorate is required for the people of local communities and Gilgit-Baltistan, or for the visitors that stay only in the Buffer Zone

Fees and duties To enter and stay only in the Buffer Zone and related sub-areas (Community Controlled Hunting Areas and Conservation Areas) it is sufficient to register at the Park entry point and pay the Entry Fee (8 USD for visitor from other countries and 20 PKR for Pakistan people ). People of local communities and Gilgit-Baltistan are free of charge, but the Gilgit-Baltistan people have to register themselves at the Park entry point.When they move to another Park zone, they have to pay the relative fees, as reported before.

Transfer and stay inside the area

► by feet (no motorized way) and along trails marked in the main points► pack animals (horses, mules and donkeys) could be used for transportation purposes ► camping is considered only in the designated spaces ► use of kerosene and butane gas for cooking in the designated areas is considered, not lighting up fires to cook or to burn waste► avoiding the use of nylon bags and bottles or glasses bottles and boxes► waste has to be collected and transported to nearest campsite or out to the CKNP.

Sustainable Use of Natural Renewable Resources Hunting is considered only for trophy hunting programs in the authorized areas (Community

Controlled Hunting Ares) Game bird hunting not allowedFishing not allowed

Presence of livestock is allowed the grazing of livestock of local communities following a sustainable approach

Presence of pack animals(horses, mules and donkeys)

allowed

Presence of dogs and pets only sheep dogs allowes

Grazing is allowed the grazing of livestock of local communities following a sustainable approachWood and shrub collection is allowed the wood and shrub collection by locals following a sustainable approach

Timber collection is allowed the timber extraction by locals following a sustainable approach

Collection and extraction of medicinal plants and not timber forest products

is allowed the harvesting by locals following a sustainable approach under licence of responsible institution;farming activities of medicinal plants are promoted

Research activities it is not allowed to conduct research activities in all the Park area without a preliminary written permission of the Park Directorate.

Buffer Zone – 2,757 Km2 (26.5%)

SUMMARY OF THE MANAGEMENT INDICATIONS IN THE CKNP

Entrance(N

O FEES -local

comm

unitiesand G

B

people)

Entrance(FEES

-forPakistani and Foreigners)

Livestockgrazing

Anim

als

SheepD

ogs

Hunting

Bird

Hunting

Fishing

Firewood

Collection

Timber

Extraction

Med. PlantsC

ollection

Buffer zone no no no

Conservation Area no no no Community Controlled Hunting

Area no no

Core Zone no* no no no no no no no noTourism Focus Area no no no no no no no noLow Frequency Area no no no no no no no no no

Occasional Tourism Area no no no no no no no no noStrictly Conservation Area no* no* no no no no no no no no no

Management Indications

*only with entrance permission issued by CKNP Directorate

Park Implementation

CKNP Implementation Activities

MEETING WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES RAPRESENTATIVESPresentation of the main proposed rules and regulations along with collection of feedbacks (3 districtsin Skardu and the other 2 in Gilgit)

MEETING IN THE VALLEYS WITH THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATIONDiscussions to be held on: boundaries, zoning, sustainable activity in the buffer zone, localparticipatory approach, livestock (predation by carnivals and use of pasture - degradation situation - ),livestock disease and vaccination policy, wood collection use, trophy hunting.

INCENTIVES TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR:Insurance schemes for livestock predator in three valleys as case studiesImplementation of stoves at low energetic consumptions (100 stoves will be provided in differentvillages. The stoves are being produced in Skardu)New water channels for pasture irrigations (in collaboration with AKRSP)

We really hope for your continuous

support and cooperation!