Switzerland is implementing a project to protect communities from landslides in north-western Pakistan whereby the local people reforest the steep slopes of the valley and build protective barriers. This project – in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP) – is Switzerland's response to a natural disaster that continues to impact the Chail valley population today. 

The great flood of 2010

Large swathes of Pakistan, including the Swat district, were severely affected by the great flood of 2010. Hardest hit were the mountain valleys, including the Chail valley, where people were living under very harsh conditions even before the flood. In the Chail valley, the large volume of water caused not only flooding but also debris flows and landslides. This destroyed houses, schools and valuable land, exacerbating the poverty and food insecurity of the local population. 

Under the guidance of the project team, local people built stone walls, protective ramparts and barriers in the mountain streambeds so as to stabilise the slopes and reduce natural hazards.

This helps protect farmland, irrigation canals, pastureland, roads leading to the market, bridges and watermills – all of which are vital to the people's livelihoods.  To date, 50,000 protective barriers using around 30,000m³ of material have been built.

With their wages, people can buy food at the local markets. In this way, Switzerland is helping the Pakistani government in disaster risk reduction as well as contributing (together with the WFP) to greater food security in the Chail valley. Around 4,500 households are benefiting from the project. 

Reforestation for more stable constructions

In addition to building protective barriers, bioengineering measures are also being implemented. Around 200,000 indigenous fruit and walnut trees as well as deep-rooted bushes for firewood have been grown in the last three years. These serve to reinforce the stone barriers and earth, preventing erosion and reducing the risk of landslides. Both measures – building barriers and growing new plants – proved to be effective during last year's monsoon season.

It is mainly the women who are responsible for the tree nurseries and selling plants. They are also given the option of growing seedlings in their own gardens for which they can receive specific training. The project also promotes awareness of natural hazards and raises other important topics such as health and hygiene as a parallel measure. 

Reducing day-to-day risks

In addition to constructing protective barriers, the project is also intended to transfer knowledge on risk reduction. To date, 1,500 men and 850 women have been trained in disaster risk management.

Such courses also have an impact on the daily lives of the local population. Goats, for example, used to be a major problem – eating the young seedlings before they could grow into trees and be used to stabilise the earth. Since the awareness-raising project, however, they are rarely to be seen freely walking around. 

With local specialists in future

The Pakistani government is an important partner for Switzerland. Thanks to the project's success, the authorities are showing even greater support. Now the goal is to implement the Chail valley model – combining paid work and disaster risk reduction – in other valleys in the Swat region, together with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.