Planting Prosperity: Impact of Afforestation on Livelihoods Diversification in Tribal District Bajaur, Pakistan

Abstract

Afforestation is recognized as a critical strategy for integrated rural development, particularly in semi-arid and tribal regions where communities depend heavily on natural resources. This study investigates the impact of afforestation under the FATA Water Resources Development Project (FWRDP) on livelihood diversification in District Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and operational since 2015, FWRDP has brought 3,268 hectares under afforestation across 78 sites in Bajaur, including 18 sites in the two sampled tehsils. Primary data were collected from 50 beneficiary households in Khar and Utman Khel through multi-stage sampling and a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The Chi-square test was used to assess associations between dependency on forest income after FWRDP and forest-related livelihood sources. Dependency on forest income increased from 10 percent before FWRDP intervention to 78 percent after intervention, while 72 percent of respondents reported dependency on forest income after FWRDP. Training regarding afforestation was received by 42 percent of respondents, while 24 percent were members of community organizations formed through FWRDP. The majority of respondents (38 percent) reported annual forest income of Rs. 100,001–150,000. Significant associations (p<0.05) were found between forest-income dependency and timber sale, fuelwood, laboring, animal grazing and animal fodder, while associations with house construction material and honey bee keeping were non-significant. The study concludes that FWRDP afforestation has contributed substantially to livelihood diversification through forest resources and recommends continued and expanded interventions with enhanced community training and participation.

Afforestation; livelihood diversification; FWRDP; forest income; watershed management; community forestry; Bajaur; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.