Rural livelihoods in a highland-lowland context and the role of forest resources (NWFP, Pakistan)

The present paper assesses the access to livelihood assets in rural areas of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Considering the highland-lowland context, it subsequently analyses the market and non-market importance of forest resources for rural households. The analysis is based on data from three selected study locations in the province, collected through a field survey carried out from April to August 2004. Results show that access to various assets widely differs between the high- and lowland context. Forest resources, i.e. fuelwood, are of utmost importance for subsistence-oriented strategies especially in the highland areas, where affordable alternatives are missing. The role of forests in income-oriented strategies, however, is negligible both in the high- and lowland context

Migration and animal husbandry: Competing or complementary livelihood strategies. Evidence from Kyrgyzstan

Animal husbandry and labour migration are important livelihood strategies for a large proportion of the rural population in developing countries. Up to now, the two strategies have usually been studied by looking at either one or the other; their interlinkages have rarely been examined. Based on a case study in rural Kyrgyzstan, the aim of this paper is to explore the links between animal husbandry and labour migration. Results show that for most rural households, livestock is crucial yet not sufficient to make a living. Therefore, many people diversify their income sources by migrating to work elsewhere. This generates cash for daily expenses and the acquisition of new livestock, but also leads to an absence of workforce in households. Yet since remittances usually exceed the expenses for hiring additional workforce, most people consider migration profitable. From a socio-economic point of view, migration and animal husbandry can thus be considered important complementary livelihood strategies for the rural Kyrgyz population, at least for the time being. In the long term, however, the failure of young migrants to return to rural places and their settlement in urban areas might also cause remittance dependency and lead to an increasing lack of qualified labour. From an environmental point of view, the investment of remittances into animal husbandry poses challenges to sustainable pasture management. Increasing livestock numbers in rural areas raise pressure on pasture resources. Since most people consider animal husbandry their main future prospect while continuing to use pastures in a fairly unsustainable way, this may further exacerbate the over-utilization of pastures in future

Interdisziplinarität auf den Weiden Zentralasiens

Ein im Juni 2011 in Kirgistan organisiertes internationales Symposium zeigte auf, wie vielschichtig und komplex die Weidewirtschaft sein kann. Der Wissensaustausch zwischen Forschenden, Regierungsvertretern und der Gesellschaft regte dazu an, über die eigenen Fachgrenzen hinaus zu denken

Armutsreduktion ist nicht gleich Entwicklung

Die Millenniums-Entwicklungsziele haben zwar vieles bewirkt, langfristige globale Entwicklungsperspektiven bieten sie aber nich

«Wir gehen nicht zurück»: Bischkeks Vororte als Spiegel gesellschaftlicher Umbrüche in Kirgistan

Beim Umsturz in Kirgistan haben junge Leute aus den Vor- orten der Hauptstadt eine wichtige Rolle gespielt. Viele sind auf der Suche nach Arbeit hierhingezogen. Die neue Regierung steht vor der Herausforderung, ihnen eine Perspektive zu geben

In Pakistans Wäldern gelten viele Gesetze: wenig erfolgreiche Projekte gegen die Abholzung

Aussenpolitisch präsentiert sich Pakistan gerne als starker Staat. Nach innen tut sich die Regierung in Islamabad jedoch schwer mit der Durchsetzung der staatlichen Autorität. Ein anschauliches Beispiel bietet das staatliche Forstwesen. In der North West Frontier Province erwiesen sich Projekte zum Schutze des Waldes und zu einer Reform des Forstwesens wegen der schwachen Präsenz des Staates als wenig erfolgreich