GENERAL Azad Kashmir lies between 73-75 E longitude and 33 - 36 N latitude and comprises of an area 13297 sq. Kms.

The topography is mainly mountainous with valleys and stretches of plains. The area is full of natural beauty with thick forest, fast flowing rivers and winding streams. The main rivers are Jhelum, Neelum and Poonch. The climate is subtropical high land type with an average annual rain fall of 1500 mm. The elevation ranges from 360 meters in the south to 6325 meters in the north. The snow line in winter is around 1200 meters above sea level while in summer it rises to 3300 meters. Administratively the state is divided into 10 districts i.e., Muzaffarabad, Leepa, Poonch, Bagh, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber,Hattian and.Haveli kahuta District. Haveli kahutta has two subdivisions, kahutta and khursheedabad. The total population of the state has been estimated to be more than 3.868 million (according to the annual report Kashmir at a glance 2008), published by planning and Dev. Dev. Deptt. State of AJ & K). Almost 100% of the population is Muslim 90% of the total population is rural and 10% is urban. The density of population is 228 persons per sq. kilometer as against 176 in Pakistan. The literacy rate has been estimated as 44%. people earn their live hood partially through agriculture and partially m from other means like government service, business and private labour etc. land holdings are small and traditional methods of cultivation are adopted. The total; area under cultivation is around 172821 hectares which is about 13.0% of the total territory. The average farm size is only 1.4 hectare, half of which is cultivated. A large population of farm land is uncultureable waste, including forest. The major crops are maize followed by wheat, rice and millet while the minor crops include grams, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables.

The area under fruit cultivation is about 12089 hectare. The most important fruits are apples, pears, apricots, walnuts and plums. The area controlled by forest department is about 566969 hectares, which is 42.6% of the total area as compared to 3% public forest land in Pakistan. Some of the important species of trees are Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana, Abies pindrow, Piecea smithiana, Pinus roxburghii with other broad leaved species like oaks, walnut etc.

The most pressing need for fuel wood urges the rural masses to remove vegetation for their need of fire wood purposes which has led them to leave sensitive catchment areas of jhelum river almost nude while cutting over green vegetative cover from hills.

In order to avoid the depletion of vegetation and check soil erosion many efforts in past were made and still are being carried out. Afforestation of denuded hills, soil conservation works and anti-erosion techniques are practiced where required.

Integrated land management project (ILMP) is one of the manifold efforts made to coup the problems of fire wood scarcity and other activities eventually enhancing the socio-economic conditions of local inhabitants.

CHAPTER-II INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT PROJECT AND AREA PROFILE

The integrated land management division poonch/ kahutta comprises of the two rnges i.e rawalakot and kahutta range. The climate of the area rnges from sub-tropical to moist temperate. The precipitation ranges from 1000 to 1500 mm received as snowfall, spring and monsoon rains. the altitude varies from 700 to 2317 m. the greater part of the project area is either devoid of or under poor vegetation cover and due to excessive grazing and other abuse the land has depleted so much that the bed rock is exposed. The acute shortage of firewood in the area has led to the disappearance of even shrub growth. The area is badly subjected to soil erosion hazards.

The procurement of firewood for cooking and heating is the most urgent problems of the local population. The situation has made them tree conscious but for the last few years efforts of e government in promoting tree cover have changed the attitude of the local people to some extent in this connection.

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT The project aims at the continuation of the following objectives.

(1). To increase the standard of living of the participating communities by increasing the production of their lands on sustainable basis through the adoption of scientific and proper land use.

(2). Conservation of soil productivity and protection of watershed resources for increasing its benefits both quantitatively and qualitatively.

(3). To create awareness among the participating communities for the need of production and planned utilization of natural resources.

(4).

Reducing siltation of Mangla Dam.

The pilot phase of the project extends over five years (1982-1987). The first phase of the project spreads from 1987-1993. On termination of the period of first phase in June 1993 second phase of the project was initiated in July 1993. The second phase of the project stretches from 1993-1998. In June 1998 on the completion of second phase of the project third phase was started in July 1988 and will remain alive till June, 2011.

The ILMP division poonch/ Haveli kahutta is comparising of two ranges i.e Rawalkot range from khaigala to Hajira) and khutta range from palangi to kalamula. In new on going phase third phase.

PROJECT AREA DEVELOPED UNDER ILM POONCH/BAGH DISTRICTS

Phase Area developed Pilot phase (1981-87) Pilot phase (1987-93) Pilot phase (1993-98) Total 6852.61 ha 1619.43 ha 2145.74 ha 3087.44 ha

The area that is under development and expected to be developed during on going (third phase) phase of the project is 15091.90 ha.

STUDY AREA PROFILE

The area chosen for study regarding the socio economic impact of watershed management activities under ILM poonch/Haveli kahutta is in kahutta range. Kahutta range extends from palangi to kalmala.

Third phase (on going phase) of the project has been allotted with the area of bangoin in addition to previously allotted area for developmental activities. But our focus remains on the area excluding this newly added area since the project activities have not made any pronounced impact on socio economic conditions of the inhabitants of this area yet as third phase started in 1998. Important features of the study area Physical & climatic features: Location

Kahutta is the capital city of District Haveli kahutta Azad Kashmir. District haveli Kahutta is surrounded by District Bagh, District poonch, and state of Jammu occupied Kashmir.

Physical features The tract is mountainous and is an extension of Himalayan series on its south east extremity, it lies between the elevation ranging from 750 to 2000 m above sea level. Slopes are easy to steep. Alpine pastures are situated on mountain ridges above 3333 m above the tree limit. GEOLOGY

The area is underlined by a series of sand stones and shells, which have been lightly folded and controlled. The weathering is deep and the bed rock is covered by a thickness of unconsolidated debris of angular boulders of sand stones in a matrix of red clay.

The lower slopes are particularly dangerous since debris from slopes discharge straight into the flooded streams and transported to Mangla Dam. SOIL

Three soils series have been observed with in the project area. The new soil series have been described to cover the soils developed highly calcareous shales and stand stones in the area. The soils of the area are medium textured, sandy and silty loams. The colour is yellow brown and the structure loose to weakly colummar. These soils are usually fairly deep but tend to poor drained and are used for the rice cultivation at lower levels and while maize crop is fairly produced where soil are well drained.

COMMUNICATION

Haveli kahutta is linked with all major cities of Azad Kashmir through a network of roads. Besides it is linked with Rawalpindi through a well conditioned metelled road via rawalakot.

CLIMATE Climate mainly depends upon rainfall, temperature and elevation above sea level. Aspects have local effect and play and important role in the attitudinal distribution of the forest types. The climate during summer is mild but serve in winter. ALTITUDE Altitude of Haveli kahutta ranges from 750 to 200 meters above sea level. RAINFALL Haveli kahutta recieives rainfall both in summer and winter. In summer the rainfall occurs from June to October and in winter it occurs from December to April. The precipitation ranges from 1000-1500 mm received as snowfall, spring and monsoon rains.

TEMPERATURE

Highest temperature reaches upto 37C in June/ July and lowest temperature can be recorded upto 10C in January / February. Winter is extremely cold and chilling while summer is pleasant and cool.

VEGETATION

Most of the area lies in chir zone having broad leaved species of oleas and acacias with some mimosa Himalayan and mollotus philippinesis survive along the water courses, and there are blue spines along the crest of ridges. There is a good natural grass land. The principal scrub species and dedones viscos, adhatoda vesica, olea ferruigina, punica granatum, and pisticia integrima. The area selected for study also support pinus species like deodar, fir , spruce and shruddy vegetation like vibermum nervosom, berbaris lycium etc. but berbaris and quercus incana are found in chir zone.

SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

TRIBES

According to the revenue department body of tribes includes Gujars, Syed, , Malik, Sheikhs, Awans, Mughals and Rajas.

All tribes possess the land which ranges from 5 to 150 kanals household, there is not a single tribe which can be considered as dominating in land holdings size.

LANGUAGE.

Pahari is the local language spoken throughout the area. Urdu is also widely understood some tribes have their own particular languages which are spoken by members of that particular tribe only. Gojri is the mother tongue of gujars while kashmiri is spoken by the khawajas.

LIVING STANDARD

The population is mostly rural and depends upon agriculture, livestock and business as local sources of income which is supplemented by working abroad, government services and private services within the country.

Living standard is neither very low nor very high. It is of average level, although some house holds have high standards but they are very small in number.

AGRICULTURAL CROPS Maize is the dominant agricultural crop which is cultivated almost in all localities, wheat is also cultivated but yield from wheat is very low, wheat is mainly used as forage for livestock because of low grain production. Besides maize and wheat potatoes, onion, garlic, peas, red beans and tomatoes are cultivated on small scale just to meet the household need.

In valley area (where the water is available in the form of streams and springs) rice crop is also grown on small scale. Fruit trees are also grown on small scale, apple , apricot, walnut, pears, peach and plum are common fruits. Agricultural crops production is very less and is in sufficient to meet with local demands.

LIVESTOCK

The people depend mainly on agriculture and livestock production for getting their livelihood, since the people are poor and illiterate. They do not know the modern techniques of live stock production. They graze their animals freely and openly in forest land which are already short of vegetation, thus causing great damage to surface cover and creating serious problem of erosion in the watershed areas. The main types of livestock found with house holds are cattle, buffaloes, sheeps, goats, poultry, horses, mules, donkey etc. FOOD

The area is not much fertile, mot of the area is steep slopes where the cultivation is very difficult. However people grow maize, wheat and rice by modifying slopes through terrace work.

Vegetables are grown in small quantity. So most of the food products come from rawalpindi which is about 210 kilometers. Due to this reason the rates of food commodities remain high and poor people have to suffer always in this regard.

Social Institutions

Family

Family life is according to traditions and customs of Islamic society. All the marriages, deaths and inheritance are governed by Islamic laws. Monogamy is the dominant practice, polygamy is very rare. Joint family system is common, separate living starts when the youngest brother becomes married, and able to support himself. In general family planning is not fallowed but those living around the town do consider it to some extent. Women help their men in different agricultural practices. Within the family arranged marriages are common. General grave yards are common for whole or part of the village. RELIGION

All people living over the area are Muslims. They are devoted Muslims and follow the principals of Islam in every field of life.

Religious leaders are Imams who are highly respected. Most of the local problems and disputes are settled by consulting the Islamic laws and imams.

Matters of common interest are also discussed by these imams in mosque after Fridays prayer.

Mosques are also used for communication of messages from government to general public and vice versa.

Besides this the main function of these mosques is to spread the light of religious education to the general public along with regular religious education to permanent students. EDUCATION

Education amongst children is common. Every village has its own schools upto middle and secondary standard.

In every village we may find primary schools, for both girls and boys, middle schools for both sex of children and similarly high schools. In Kahutta city there are degree colleges for both boys and girls. besides three private intermediate colleges .

Classes in few subjects are post graduate levels are also conducted.. In khursheedabad there are government inter college for both girls and boys , educational institution higher secondary level are present in area of soli.

Despite of presence of educational facilities though at limited scale the level of literacy does not go much above middle and matric level the main reason for this trend is the fragile and miserable economic state of the inhabitants of the area.

MAJOR PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE OF THE AREA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. They need energy for cooking purposes and so they are almost dependent on: Electricity is not available in waste areas. They require grazing lands for their grazing animals. People are unemployed and poverty is another major problem Illiteracy rate is very high people do not know about importance of forests and watershed.