Mountain Areas Conservancy Project (MACP)

The objective of the project is to support the conservation of biodiversity in Krakoram-Hindu Kush in the western Himalayan mountain in northern Pakistan. This is an area approximately 1.1 million ha in size in four montane ecological zones. One site on the confluence of the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges is famous for more than 250 varieties of medicinal plants and species, including the endangered Kot (costus roots). Another site in the alpine habitats is an important flyway for over 200 species of birds. Project activities would include the development of Village Conservation Plans; education and awareness campaigns, training in monitoring the impacts of wildlife resource use, village ecodevelopment, and establishment of a trust fund to cover the recurrent cost of implementing the village conservation plans.