More than 43,000 trees have been planted by mountain communities in Pakistan's Siran Valley with World Vision's help in an effort to prevent soil erosion and landslides, which contributed to the massive destruction and death toll during the 2005 earthquake.

'I still remember the moment, when on October 8, a massive earthquake shook everything. Many people died in this catastrophe; I lost my dear cousin, Arshad, who was travelling in a carrier van and a huge land slide swept away their vehicle into a deep ravine, killing all 13 people on board,' said Tauqeer, 13, who lives in the mountainous village of Jabbar in the Siran valley, North West Frontier Province.

'Today I am standing on the same ledge where this landslide took my cousins' life. But I stand here with a hope and inspiration to deal with the real cause of this disaster, which is embedded in more and more tree plantations', the young boy added.

Tauqeer and some 16 peers aged eight to 14, participated in this tree plantation campaign, funded by World Vision Australia. Enthusiasm and determination were etched onto their smiling faces as they walked towards the plantation site where a total of 82 community members planted 2,000 rapid growing trees, such as Poplar, and Ailanthus, Bakain and leguminous species.

The 'Strengthening Community Resilience in Siran Valley' project, valued at US$400,000 involves a series of plantation campaigns and educating communities on how to mitigate against natural disasters like the 2005 quake.

'We are especially focusing on a participatory approach to ensure involvement and ownership of the communities. Our goal is to build a green, safe and well protected environment for the children of today, to secure a promising future,' said Mr. Anwar, Project Coordinator in World Vision's Siran Valley Area Integrated Programme.

'These landslides are always a potential threat to the ecosystem and every living thing is affected by this disaster. On one hand, the loss of trees and surface bed vegetation is destroyed and on the other hand, they increase the chances of floods in different parts of the country. The terrain in these areas is very difficult and the cavity that is created by landslides causes many problems, especially to humans', said Mr Mushtaq Zafar, a Forest & Environmental Conservationist and Consultant to the National Engineering Council, Pakistan (NESPAK).

'We can help prevent land slides using two methods. On steep slopes, it is advised to develop vegetation beds, which is achieved by placing soaked jute rugs on the ground and allowing weeds and natural forest grass to germinate. Thus a properly developed surface increases the stability of the ground. For less steep and regular slanting slopes, it is advised to plant trees, which is a permanent solution to soil erosion and onset of landslides', added Mr. Zafar.

'Trees not only give protection in terms of landslides and flooding, but they also clean our environment and add to the beauty of these mountains. I have planted 15 trees in this campaign and pray that they all grow to become beautiful trees. When the wind passes by them, their leaves will dance and will remind me of my cousin's smiling face', said young Tauqeer.

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