There is growing local concern following repeated incidents of the alleged illegal harvesting and transportation of valuable herbs in the Yasin Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer District. In a recent operation around September 26, the Forest Department seized 139 sacks of herbs allegedly collected from the Nazbar Nallah area and initiated legal proceedings.
About a week prior, the Forest Department had conducted a similar operation in Darkot—an upper region of Yasin—seizing a large quantity of herbs, including Ephedra. Following these recent incidents, local circles have demanded a thorough investigation into the large-scale harvesting and potential illegal trade of these valuable medicinal plants.
Locals state that Nazbar, Darkot, and other upper areas of Yasin are vital habitats for valuable natural flora, pastures, and wildlife; there are fears that large-scale, unscientific harvesting could jeopardize natural regeneration and biodiversity.
It is worth noting that the Gilgit-Baltistan Forest Department had previously highlighted the need for a baseline inventory and carrying-capacity assessment of medicinal and aromatic plants in selected districts—including Ghizer—by 2025, aiming to regulate the commercial harvesting of these plants on a scientific and sustainable basis. The local community has urged the Gilgit-Baltistan government, the Forest Department, the GB-EPA, and the district administration to conduct a transparent investigation into the incidents at Nazbar and Darkot. They seek to determine for whom such a large quantity of medicinal herbs was collected, identify the buyers, and ascertain whether an organized commercial network is behind these activities.
Local circles have demanded that action not be limited merely to the individuals who harvested the herbs but extend to investigating potential buyers, contractors, and the entire supply chain. Furthermore, they insist that future commercial harvesting be contingent upon a species inventory, a carrying-capacity assessment, a mandatory environmental impact review, and the implementation of an effective permit and monitoring system.
According to local residents, while the local population should certainly derive economic benefits from natural resources, the trade in valuable medicinal herbs must operate under a sustainable framework that ensures local prosperity without harming the sensitive mountain ecosystem of Yasin.
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