PESHAWAR, Dec 5: The NWFP wildlife department has distributed Rs10.2 million among communities, rural developmental organisations and members of the village conservation committees (VCCs) for protecting endangered species in their respective areas.

Cheques were given to members of 63 communities here on Monday who came from Chitral, Swat, Buner, Kohistan, Mardan, Kohat and Swabi districts. The amount was generated from trophy hunting scheme involving Markhor, Ibex and other species.

The cheques distribution ceremony was held at the offices of the NWFP wildlife department and provincial Minister for Environment Shah Raz Khan was the chief guest.

Chitral MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar, Environment Secretary Noorul Haq, Wildlife Department Chief Conservator Dr Mumtaz Malik, WWF Pakistan Chief Technical Adviser Dr Ashiq Ali Khan, Forest Chief Conservator Dr Iqbal Sial and the visiting community members were among the guests on the occasion.

The environment minister said the NWFP government was committed to protecting and conserving wildlife and forests in the province. He urged the members of the VCCs to help the government and the officials of the department to protect and conserve wildlife.

Dr Mumtaz Malik said the credit for introducing conservancy, rural and village conservation committees for the protection of wildlife went to the provincial wildlife department. The village conservation committee and the village conservation fund were set up in 1990 with a view to involving local communities in wildlife protection and conservation, he added.

He said incentives were given to communities by giving them 80 per cent share of the income obtained from trophy hunting of large animals like Markhor and Ibex and 90 per cent share in hunting of birds.

The wildlife department, he said, had auctioned permits for hunting of Markhors under the trophy hunting scheme for the hunting season from Dec 1 to March 31. Out of four permits, three were auctioned for $57,000 each and one for $56,000, he said, adding that last time the department had auctioned the permit at $55,000. He lauded the role of VCCs for conservation and protection of wildlife.

The environment secretary said great responsibilities lay on the shoulders of the members of the VCCs and it was up to them to play their role in protecting wildlife and forest and discourage elements trying to illegally hunt wild species or cut trees.

The biggest cheque was given to representative of the Kohistan Conservancy.—APP