CONSERVATION AND RUBBISH

The rains and sun in Spring bring a profusion of flowers and lush grass to the valleys but with summer these dry up and soon the Tajiks are forced to bring their herds of sheep, goats and cattle up from the valleys to the summer mountain pastures. The alpine meadows of the Fann are extremely beautiful but at the same time very vulnerable. In a few isolated areas overgrazing destroys the vegetation almost completely. The once .magnificent and extensive Juniper forests are slowly being chopped down. The locals need them as a source of wood for their buildings and for heating and cooking. There are moves being made to restrict grazing and at a few locations mountaineers are forbidden to light fires. In the long term the measures being taken at present are not adequate. Hopefully much stricter controls will be established in the future.
In the past tourists have left mountains behind them - of rubbish. This problem is being gradually addressed and most groups appear to be much more aware of the need to bury or remove their rubbish. It is hoped that visiting mountaineers and tourists are very sensitive to these problems and set a good example as regards rubbish removal (or burying), not burning the juniper and practicing good toilet habits.