The 3rd National Children Mountain Conservation Meet organized by Adventure Foundation Pakistan (AFP) was held from 3rd to 12th July 2004 in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. 110 children between the age group of 12 to 14 selected from all over Pakistan along with a team of 40 experts and resource persons participated in 10 days camp which was held in the scenic Valley of Leepa and Sudhangali in AJK to undertake various activities aimed at study and improvement of mountain environment.
This year programme was especially significant because federal government has announced 2004 as the "Year of Child Welfare and Rights". Therefore, special efforts were made to promote the agenda of child rights through this programme. Resource persons hold discussions to create awareness among the children on child development issues such as education, health, pollution free environment and child rights etc.
This project was launched on the occasion of International Year of Mountains-2002 with a view to create awareness among young people about the mountain ecosystems and involve them in meaningful activities using mountains' environment as an open classroom. Under this programme each year 100 to 120 children are selected from all parts of Pakistan to attend a 10 days camp in mountain environment. 50 percent vacancies are reserved for children coming from low-income families and remote areas.
This programme involves young children in an action-oriented form of learning about the natural environment and its related problems. Eventually it makes them conscious enough to do something practical for the conservation and preservation of our natural environment. The children who attend this Meet are given the title of "Eco Guards" which gives them confidence to play an active role in their day to day life to create awareness about protection of natural environment and its important role in our daily life.
So far three children meets under this project have been held in different mountain areas of northern Pakistan. 340 young participants and 70 volunteer staff members from all over the country including children from far-flung areas of Hunza, Gojal, Astore, Chitral in up north and Lasbela in extreme south have participated in this programme. It is now an annual event of AFP and every year 100 to 120 children benefit from this meaningful programme.
In order to provide children with a platform to express their views about the environmental concerns a Children Mountain Forum is held at the end of the programme. This year Children Mountain Forum was held in Islamabad on 12 July 2004. Brig Jan Nadir Khan (R) Founder President of Adventure Foundation Pakistan was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
The chief guest in his address said that conservation of environment and natural resources is responsibility of all of us and we all must be concerned about it. Earlier General Secretary of Adventure Foundation, Col G.H Qamar in his welcome address threw light on aims & objectives of the National Children Mountain Conservation Project. He said that holding of this programme every year would provide the nation a strong force for conservation of our environment in the form of young eco guards, the title given to each young participant of the Meet.
The Chief Organizer in his address highlighted the significance of the programme. He told that this Meet is not only producing excellent results in the domain of environment but is also promoting national unity and integration as the participant children belong to all concern of Pakistan. He informed that the participant children have learnt a lot about the mountain ecology by having a first hand exposure under the guidance of experienced resource persons from Pakistan Natural History Museum, WWF-Pakistan, AJK Tourism and Forest Departments and Adventure Foundation Pakistan. He also informed that throughout their stay in the mountain areas of AJK the young participants have managed zero waste camps by processing all the waste material by adopting environment friendly practices. They also planted saplings of pine trees with the help of AJK Forest Department near Daokhan and Sudhangali.
In the Children Mountain Forum selected participant children presented papers on the theme " Peace in Mountains: Assurance of Sustainable Development". These papers were based on their study, survey and observations made during their eight days stay in the Leepa Valley of Azad Kashmir which has been badly affected for many years due to firing between the Pakistani and Indian Army along the line of control in the Valley of Kashmir. The children in their papers stressed the need for immediate action to maintain peace on long-term basis to ensure the conservation of environment and natural resources for the socio-economic development of the people living in Kashmir. They said 'Let's unite for a single goal and that is conservation of our environment for better today and better tomorrow.
A panel discussion held at the end of the forum. Prof. Z.B Mirza, President of Centre of Environment Research and Conservation, Dr. Rubina, Director of National Herbarium, Mr. Mehmood Nasir, DIG Forests, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Babar Khan, Education Officer WWF-Pak participated as panelist to answered various questions raised by the young participants. The top most concern of young participants was about the uncontrolled deforestation and increase in the pollution in and around the human settlements in mountain areas. They also raised voice against the plastic shopping bags and demanded that government should impose a complete ban on the production and use of plastic shopping bags as they are causing main damage to the urban and natural environment in mountain areas. At the end of forum the chief guest gave away certificates to the participating children and staff members.
Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan, WWF-Pakistan, LEAD Pakistan, Pakistan Natural History Museum, Babar Ali Foundation, AJK Tourism Department, AJK Forest Department, SOS Children Village Dhodial, Adventure Training Centre of AFP, PIEDAR, Nestle Milkpak and OMV Pakistan were included among the main supporters and sponsors of this programme.
