Mountain Ecosystems in
Northern Pakistan

In the wake of environmental challenges, emanating from global warming, Gilgit Baltistan is undergoing severe weather events and number of calamities as a result.  The challenges mount with influx of tourists that is dealt in an unmanaged way. The tourism is purely seasonal starting from May with a sharp decline in September. Furthermore, some specific valleys bear the entire burden of visitors that include Gilgit, Skardu and Hunza during these five months.  Such valleys are threatened if the tourism is not managed in accordance with the essence ecotourism.

The concept of ecovillage is an integrated approach towards social, economic and environmental sustainability.  It seeks to involve all segments of life of a particular area in the economic activities also linking them with the community-based ecotourism. Under this broader this concept the men and women are imparted skills keeping in view natural resources such as agricultural and dairy farming, poultry, mining, hospitality etc.

The ecovillage an emerging term in the world implemented both in the rural and urban settings. In Pakistan this term is new.

There are no findings of any ecovillage in Pakistan searched through internet. Hussainabad can thus be designated as the first ecovillage of Pakistan.

Gilgit Baltistan has a huge potential to implement the concept of ecovillage in many areas that can lead to provide economic opportunities to local men and women and also ensuring to protect the local environment. The concept of ecovillage will lead to pool in number efforts in a particularly urban or rural area engaging public and private sector institutions to work simultaneously on several sectors such as entrepreneurial development for men and women, smart agricultural practices including adoption of or, conservation of nature, promotion of community-based tourism etc.