Assessing Status and Socio-Economic Impact of Private Forest Nurseries Under Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme in GilgitBaltistan

Abstract

A forest nursery is a managed area designated to produce tree seedlings grown under favourable conditions until they are ready for planting. However, the nursery aims to produce sufficient planting stock to fulfil the needs of seedling users, including government agencies and non-governmental organisations. Forest nurseries play an important role in large-scale afforestation or reforestation projects and local livelihood improvement. This study aims to assess the distribution and socio-economiccontributions of private forest nurseries and to identify the major challenges they face in Gilgit Baltistan. A total of 212 nurseries were examined in this study across all 10 districts of Gilgit Baltistan. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted, and 212 nursery owners were interviewed to assess the current status and impact of private forest nurseries. Results showed that most of the nurseries are in District Gilgit, with a dominance of Popular species and reliance on canal-fed irrigation. Most nurseries are economically viable and have played a pivotal role in livelihood improvement, while major challenges include water scarcity, species diversification, and dependence on Government procurement. The study concludes that private forest nurseries play a crucial role in forest landscape restoration and rural livelihoods, but overcoming the challenges is essential to ensure long-term sustainability and climate resilience