By Malik Bilal
PESHAWAR: In the rugged mountains and forested landscapes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Merged Districts lies an underutilized yet strategic natural resource: Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). These include chilghoza pine nuts, medicinal herbs, wild olives, honey and other products that have long supported local livelihoods. Despite their ecological and economic value, NTFPs have remained marginalized in national policy and disconnected from formal market systems.
As Pakistan grapples with climate change and pursues inclusive economic development, NTFPs are emerging as a viable means of promoting environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods, particularly in remote, forest-dependent communities. The Merged Districts, formerly the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and adjacent mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have often been associated with conflict, insecurity and developmental deficits. However, these areas also possess rich biodiversity and deep-rooted traditional knowledge systems, which offer significant potential for community-based natural resource management.
Historically, the harvesting and trade of NTFPs have been carried out through informal channels with little institutional oversight. This informality has left communities vulnerable, especially women and children who form a substantial portion of the workforce engaged in the collection of forest products. These groups often face exploitation, limited access to market opportunities, and a lack of technical support. As a result, their contributions remain economically undervalued despite being essential to household incomes and local economies.
The 2018 constitutional merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a landmark decision aimed at integrating these historically marginalized regions into the national framework. While the merger promised administrative reforms and developmental support, progress has been uneven. Delays in infrastructure development, service delivery, and the clarification of land and forest rights have constrained the merger’s potential impact. Financial commitments such as the Rs100 billion annual allocations from the federal government have yet to be fully honored.
Nonetheless, several promising initiatives have taken root. The KP Forest Department, through its Directorate of NTFPs, has collaborated with development partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to implement pilot projects in Swat, Dir, Chitral and parts of Waziristan. These efforts have focused on promoting sustainable harvesting techniques and introducing value-added processing for pine nuts, wild olives and medicinal plants.
One of the most noteworthy efforts is the Recharge Pakistan project led by WWF, which aligns environmental conservation with the promotion of NTFPs. This initiative exemplifies a model of climate adaptation that integrates nature-based solutions with sustainable livelihood development, demonstrating that forest resources can be managed in ways that benefit both the environment and the economy.
Through the mobilization of community-based enterprises and forest user groups, stakeholders are being trained and equipped to enhance their harvesting methods, improve storage and packaging and access wider markets. These capacity-building efforts aim to transform the region’s development narrative from one of resource extraction to ecological stewardship and from subsistence livelihoods to sustainable economic growth.
However, significant challenges remain. A coherent and inclusive policy framework is urgently required. Such a framework must acknowledge the socio-economic and ecological importance of NTFPs by formalizing community forest rights, investing in rural infrastructure and supporting small-scale forest enterprises. Equally important is the development of value chains that link local producers with national and international markets through certification, traceability and digital platforms.
Another critical gap lies in the lack of comprehensive data. There has been no systematic mapping of NTFP resources in the neither Merged Districts, nor adequate research into sustainable harvest levels or the impacts of climate change. Without data-driven planning, policy interventions are unlikely to be effective or sustainable.
The preservation of indigenous knowledge must also be prioritized. Across Waziristan and other parts of the region, elders possess a wealth of knowledge about the medicinal properties of local plants and sustainable harvesting techniques. This traditional wisdom is at risk of disappearing as younger generations migrate to urban areas in search of employment. Documenting and recognizing these knowledge systems is just as vital as investing in physical infrastructure.
NTFPs offer a rare opportunity to promote livelihoods without deforestation. They support the participation of women and marginalized groups in the economy, strengthen community resilience and contribute to biodiversity conservation. These attributes align with Pakistan’s national climate commitments, including the 2022 Climate Change Policy and the Updated Nationally Determined Contributions.
The role of development partners and international donors is crucial in advancing this transition. By providing targeted financial and technical support for inclusive policy reforms, capacity-building and the establishment of climate-smart enterprises, they can help create enabling environments for sustainable forest economies. Strengthening public-private partnerships can also foster innovation, facilitate market access and promote adherence to quality and certification standards.
Close collaboration between provincial authorities, civil society, and local communities is essential to ensure that development interventions are grounded in local contexts and are both scalable and sustainable. Realizing the full potential of the Merged Districts requires a strategic shift from short-term, extractive approaches to long-term, community-driven forest management.
The sustainable development of NTFPs not only safeguards Pakistan’s natural and cultural heritage but also offers a pathway to inclusive, climate-resilient economic growth. With coordinated efforts and sustained engagement, these regions can serve as models of green development, where ecological integrity and economic prosperity go hand in hand.
About the Author: Malik Bilal is a seasoned development professional with expertise in emergency response, recovery and governance in conflict-affected areas of Pakistan. He has worked with UN agencies and international organizations to strengthen community resilience, support institutional reforms and lead strategic program implementation. Malikbilal1983@gmail.com
