TDF Nature Series aims to conserve Pakistan’s spectacular natural heritage

The Dawood Foundation (TDF) announced the launch of the TDF Nature Series, a set of documentaries aimed to raise public awareness about Pakistan’s degrading natural habitat and the urgent steps needed to sustain it for generations to come. The first two films are about two spectacular National Parks, Margalla Hills and Chitral Gol, and the conservation issues related to them. Using multiple elements including BTL and digital, TDF aims to spread the nature conservation message to millions of people in Pakistan and across the world.

These scenic films have been produced by Walkabout Films and are also part of the Give Back Project.

As per UNDP data¹, Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Due to environmental degradation, it increasingly suffers from natural disasters, floods and other catastrophic consequences that lead to loss of incomes, homes and livelihoods. Pakistan has been beset with natural disasters in recent years, which are caused by global climactic changes as well as poor environmental conservation at home, as exemplified by one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. Estimates about Pakistan’s forest cover vary between 2 and 5% against a recommended rate of 20%.  These films aim to help mitigate these issues.

Hussain Dawood, Chairman, The Dawood Foundation, formally launched the TDF Nature Series campaign. Also present at the event were the Foundation’s trustees, Kulsum Dawood, Shahzada Dawood and Samad Dawood.

While talking about the films, 

Sabrina Dawood, CEO, The Dawood Foundation, said, 

“The Nature Series aims to advocate and educate the people about the natural resources, sanctuaries and heritage that exist in our country and challenges faced by both humans and wildlife. There is an urgent need to address the environmental issues and the consequences of the degradation of environment.”

Nisar Malik, CEO, Walkabout Films, said, 

“Wildlife is an indicator of the health of our planet. Without a healthy planet there can be no future for humans. It is to the infinite credit of The Dawood Foundation that they have the farsightedness and maturity to recognize this. It is through their generosity and support that The Give Back Project can continue to generate the awareness and education needed to help conserve Pakistan’s remarkable natural places.”

The films will be shown by TDF to people across Pakistan through a 100 day tour of 117 villages and cities on a mobile cinema. Documentary screenings will be supplemented by educational sessions that will help local communities understand and resolve their environmental problems. The country-wide screening tour, which looks to engage local communities, is to be supported by screening sessions at various educational institutes affiliated with Give Back Project, a joint venture between TDF and Walkabout.  The films, which have been translated into Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi and other local languages, will also be available free online. 

Documentary Summeries Blow:

• TDF Nature Series’ documentary: Margalla Hills Summary
• TDF Nature Series’ documentary: Chitral Goth Summary

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TDF Nature Series’ documentary: Chitral Goth Summary

Heading North from the plains of Pakistan, and into the foothills of Hindu Kush mountains, lies one of the country’s most spectacular regions, the Chitral District. Its heaven-touching peaks, colorful and passionate people, unique traditions, and a deep-rooted culture make it a place worth visiting at least once in life. But the real and hidden beauty of the district is the ‘Chirtal Gol National Park’, which is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, treacherously steep cliffs and the extraordinary markhors. 

Home to our country’s national tree, Deodar, national bird, Chakor (rock partridge) and national plant, Jasmine, the park experiences hot, harsh and dry summers, while winters are long and cold. Its heavy inhabitants like lammergeyer vultures and eagles, secretive, wildcats like lynxes, wolves and markhors have to cover huge distances to hunt for prey.

Markhors are one of the largest wild goats in the world. Males can weigh over 100kg and their impressive corkscrew-like horns are over a metre long. Females are much smaller with a relatively delicate built and can climb right into the trees for their staple diet of acorns and leaves. Males dislodge the tree leaves with their horns and eat the ones that fall on the ground.

In the first two weeks of December, the male markhors seek out each other to battle for a chance of mating with the nearest females. During winters, when metres of snow blanket Chitral Gol, markhors remain at lower elevations relying on the oak trees for food. But they regularly leave the park and go into the adjoining valleys when food gets scarce due to rampant wood cutting and over-grazing by the domestic livestock.

Over-grazing around the National Park caused two major problems. Firstly, the snow leopards started killing the domestic animals instead of the wild goats. To address the issue, ‘The Snow Leopard Foundation’ helped in funding new enclosures for livestock. Tall, steady, stonewalls keep the predators from getting in and a netted roof allows good ventilation for the animals. As a result, the predators kill very few animals now.

Secondly, many domestic animals were dying either due to diseases or malnourishment. To solve this problem, the Foundation is teaching herders how to vaccinate and treat their animals for different diseases.

The protection and well being of Chitral Gol National Park is very much tied to that of the people who live around its borders. The officials of the Wildlife Department and the community watchers patrol the park continuously, ensuring that nobody cuts the wood or takes away the medicinal plants or harms the wildlife such as the markhors, however the best guards are the local communities themselves.

Nonetheless, an incessant way to preserve this breathtaking national treasure is to raise awareness amongst the younger generation about the benefits and importance of the conservation of the National Park. It’s essential that local communities engage their hearts and minds with this challenge because everyday protection of the park’s vast, rugged terrain can be a daunting job. 

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TDF Nature Series’ documentary: Margalla Hills Summary

Islamabad has one thing that only a few capitals can boast about.  Right at its doorstep lies one of the most beautiful and and intriguing site of natural beauty – the Margalla Hills. Back in 1980, nearly 16000hc of forest became protected as the ‘Margalla Hills National Park’. The park’s high peaks capture precious rainfall and the dense undergrowth provides a sanctuary for a dazzling variety of wild life. An extension of the Margalla Hills is the Rawal Lake that provides the capital with fresh water and has become an important wildlife refuge.

The Margalla Hills is a home to numerous species of birds and animals like wild boars, fruit bats, porcupine, pangolin, civets, hares, foxes, leopard cats and barking deer. They shelter many stunning yet rare wild life species like Khalij pheasants and the beautiful blue-winged pitta but rhesus macaques tend to steal the show.

The National Park receives a fair amount of monsoon rains that moisten the otherwise arid region, springing a vast array of flora and fauna to life. There are over 30 species of reptile, 250 species of bird and 55 different species of butterfly. This mix of species, seeking shelter from winter cold and summer heat, make the National Park a hotspot of biodiversity. During autumn, more than 100 bird species arrive from Northern latitudes to join the 82 species of resident bird in the park.

Not only is the park a safe haven for birds and animals; people too turn to Margalla Hills for a breath of fresh air. The hills are at a 10 minutes drive from Central Islamabad, drawing city dwellers to its cooler air and peaceful atmosphere. The park has well-marked hiking tracks for visitors, birdwatchers and nature lovers but sadly, areas accessible to people are under increased pressure. 

Unfortunately, so many people visit the park that at times it gets difficult to find peace and tranquility. Rubbish left unpicked is a rampant problem. The busy, zigzag roads across the park, city developments, quarrying and an increasing number of restaurants pose big challenges, reducing the park’s value as a wildlife corridor.

The park is also hampered by deforestation and soil erosion, as it is an abode of over 100,000 local people, who have put a squeeze on the park’s resources. They cut dry wood for fire, as everyday modern facilities are hard to reach deep in the woods where their scattered villages are situated.

The only possible way for the wildlife and humans to exist together is to strike a balance between preserving the natural resources of the park and the construction of facilities.

Involving the residential communities and educating their future generations about the importance of nature, ecosystems and biodiversity can play an important role in conserving the

National Park. It is our collective responsibility to take care of our country’s natural resources so we can save our planet from the adverse affects of fast-approaching climate change.

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