Reports

GRIP a community-based model of climate change mitigation (October 2010)

On October 14, 2010, the Pakistan Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with One UN, provided $1.2 million to fund 24 environmental projects relating to solid waste management and sanitation, community- based natural resource management and grassroots climate change mitigation initiatives.

GRACE Association was one of the 24 awardees out of a nationwide submission total of 450 project proposals. GRACE Association Chief Executive, Mr. Khadim Hussain, received the project award from the Federal Minister for the Environment, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi. The Grass Roots Initiative Program (GRIP), a joint initiative of the Ministry of the Environment and the UN, aims to support sustainable development projects, connecting policies by government, aid agencies, NGOs, UN agencies and the private sector.

GRACE Association GRIP project aims to implement a community-based model of climate change mitigation through the sustainable use of natural resources at Skardu Baltistan. The project involves a solar pump to raise valuable reserves of subterranean water. This will enable horticulture, fruit and farming enterprises to flourish on what had been sandy and barren land. The project has additionally introduced a non-timber forest product (NTFP) cooking stove, employing local technology and resources. This involves the use of Kore stone which has the capacity to absorb large amounts of heat capable of being released over a period of many hours.

The added value comes by way of creating a tank which will collect water warmed without the need of fuel – an essential commodity for the people in Skardu during the severe winter weather.

The result will be a saving of local forestry, previously used for cooking and heating fuel in winter. Moreover, the project also raises awareness and develops local skills in the sustainable production, collection, processing and marketing of medicinal herbs which grow in profusion throughout the area.

Expected outputs: community mobilization; institutional strengthening of sustainable management of natural resources, and climate change mitigation (CCM).

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