By Faiza Tehseen

ISLAMABAD, July 21: Ecotourism has the potential to to become a financial bonanza for Pakistan – a country blessed with a unique flora and fauna. However, lack of marketing in this vital sector deprives the country of its due share in the global ecotourism market that is expected to do a business of around US$19.55 billion in the current year.

Talking to WealthPK, Conservator Hazara Wildlife Circle Mohammad Hussain said national parks, heritage places, natural reserves of land, and beautiful landscapes are a great asset to Pakistan’s economic cycle. He said a great number of people earned their livelihood from the tourist flow in such areas. From mangroves to alpine groves, Pakistan is blessed with a unique flora and fauna.

Hussain said different types of temperature zones exist in Pakistan i.e., hot, warm, mild, cool, cold, and undifferentiated highlands with extreme weather conditions. From mangroves to pine zones, almost every type of biodiversity is in Pakistan. Saif-ul-Malook National Park is in the alpine zone. Folklores of Prince Saif-ul-Malook and the fairy Badee ul Jamal add to the romance and mystery of this place, he added.

Located in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, Saif-ul-Malook offers a unique opportunity to experience nature in its true form. Hussain said Saif-ul-Malook National Park spanned over more than 12,000 hectares and is rich in natural wonders like the rare herbs and unique wildlife. He said Saif-ul-Malook was the habitat of unique mammalian fauna e.g., snow leopard, brown bear, marmot, weasel, lynx, Himalayan Ibex, musk deer, and grey wolf.

The area’s bird fauna consists of Himalayan snow cock, snow partridges, Himalayan Griffin vulture, golden eagle, and Peregrine falcon. Wetland habitats in this park are also of ecological importance for the resident fauna and a majority of waterfowls e.g., Ruddy, Shelduck, Pintail, Mallard, and Pochard.  

Hussain also talked about the rare and expensive medicinal herbs i.e., Plantago Ovata, winter cherry, Podophyllum Hexandrum, large leaf, squill, Alkanet root, Ephedra sinica, White clover, Dandelion, Artemisia, Chamomile, Jhau, pines and shrubs, perennials and herbs of Western Himalayan sub-alpine pastures, and meadows. He said that all herbs, shrubs, and plantations are broadly used in preparation of medicines and different cuisines.

He said that Saif-ul-Malook is a worth-seeing place adding that building a passage to the Aansoo Lake is also a part of the plan. This lake is called Aansoo Lake in the local language as it resembles a human tear.

Unfortunately, no other department has been involved with the wildlife management to conserve or promote tourism activities concerning the park.

‘’A lot of native people are attached to the tourism segment to earn their livelihood. They rear ponies/mules and rent them out to tourists as a means of transport to high altitudes. Some people rent their jeeps to help tourists approach the destinations in the highlands. A few people also offer staying facilities for tourists. The wildlife department also undertakes campaigns to keep the place clean,’’ said Hussain.

He said during the season, tourist inflow mostly exceeds the target causing a multitude of problems and disputes. Official departments, especially those related to the tourism sector, must plan to accommodate the tourist influx.

Pakistan has to develop its tourism and hospitality sector in order to get a proper and controlled inflow of tourists in these areas. This will help provide quality services saving the natural environment and ecosystem from destruction.  Guides in the national park must also be well-trained to guide tourists about how to protect the natural places.

Credits: INP-WealthPk