Mountain agriculture is the linchpin of the economy in Pakistan's Hindu Kush Karakoram and Himalaya mountain regions. Currently, mountain agriculture is in a state of transition, experiencing rapid changes and innovation due to physical and anthropogenic drivers, resulting in far-reaching consequences on the livelihood sustainability and food security of the local people. This study explores the multifaceted drivers of agricultural transformation in the Eastern Hindu Kush region, specifically in Lotkuh Valley, Pakistan, focusing on the intricate relationship between resilience-building measures and the adoption of innovative agricultural practices. For this purpose, data were explored from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected using stratified sampling techniques during extensive field surveys conducted in the study area from 2017 to 2019. Remotely sensed data from 1990 to 2019 were obtained from the USGS site. Secondary data were acquired from the Gazetteer of Chitral 1928, Census Report 1961-2017, and Rural Settlement Report 1988. The collected data have been analyzed through descriptive analysis and advanced geospatial techniques. The findings reveal that vivid changes and transformations have occurred in mountain agriculture. These transformations include land use/cover changes, agricultural land holdings, cropping patterns, livestock populations, arboriculture, etc. From the findings of this study, it is inferred that innovation in mountain agriculture entails a variety of opportunities and has increased agricultural production, resulting in a positive impact on the economy, food security, and livelihood sustainability. This study provides nuanced knowledge and insights for policymakers, mountain agriculturists, and practitioners to effectively develop sophisticated strategies for achieving the ambitious goal of zero hunger and poverty eradication.

This study was conducted in Lulusar Dudipatsar National Park Kaghan Valley. The purpose of the study is to explore the livelihood assets of inhabitants of the study area. Therefore; livelihood assets of the study area were studied. The study area is dominated by three communities namely agro-pastoralists, pastoralists and nomads. All the three communities are depended on available assets and follow seasonal migration to utilize the seasonally available resources. They move up hill in summer and down to plain areas in winter. The livelihood of agro-pastoralists is depended on cash crop production, livestock and tourism related activities. The agriculture land is limited and crops are grown on terraces dug on hilly slopes. The livelihood of pastoralists and nomads is depended on herds (i.e. goats and sheep) and pastures availability. They keep large number of livestock. The study is based on primary data collection through questionnaires, interviews and groups discussion. Content analysis technique was applied for analyzing questionnaires and groups discussion. Conceptual analysis was applied for questionnaires to establish frequencies of the concepts while relational analysis was applied for groups discussion to establish relationship among different concepts. The study contributes to theoretical understandings of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), highlighting how access to the five capitals—natural, human, physical, social, and financial—shapes the choice of livelihood strategies in mountainous terrain. Chi-square analysis, narrative accounts, and spatial mapping tools were used to identify these variations.

Water scarcity has emerged as a major environmental challenge in rain shadow regions of mountainous areas worldwide. The Hindu Kush–Karakorum–Himalaya, although recognized as one of the world’s major “water towers”, is experiencing increasing water scarcity due to climate change and rapid population growth, threatening ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods. The Chitral River basin in northwestern Pakistan is a snow-dominated watershed where meltwater and seasonal precipitation generate substantial runoff during spring, followed by prolonged periods of acute water scarcity. Water harvesting represents a potential strategy for sustainable water resource management in this region. This study employed a hybrid approach combining Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), with geospatial techniques to identify potentially suitable locations for rainwater and snowmelt harvesting (RSH). The results indicate that Chitral can be divided into four RSH suitability classes: very highly suitable (19.1%), highly suitable (43.8%), moderately suitable (22.1%), and less/non-suitable (15.0%). Evaluation of the suitability map using existing water-harvesting structures, satellite imagery, field observations, and expert and local resident interviews demonstrated the robustness of the methodology. The findings provide a spatial framework to support stakeholders in identifying suitable sites for RSH and contribute to the scientific basis for sustainable water management and climate change adaptation. The approach can also be adapted to other mountainous basins with similar hydroclimatic and geomorphological characteristics.

A healthy ecosystem that supports all living forms depends on water, which is the most magnificent natural resource. Considering the acute global water scarcity, it is critical to investigate rainwater gathering techniques that incorporate practical drought mitigation strategies. In addition to providing a selection of the best sites for natural aquifer recharge, the ultimate objective of this work is to determine where rainwater harvesting structures can be built for efficient and successful rainwater harvesting management in the research region. The current work also focuses on identifying possible locations for natural aquifer recharging utilizing RS and GIS methodologies because the water table is rapidly declining. Land use/land cover, slope, soil, runoff, drainage density, and road limitations were the five criteria used to identify RWH locations using GIS-based MCEs. Using the soil and water assessment tool approach, the observed runoff depth varied from 0 to 900 CMS, and the RWH unit's appropriateness ranged from highly suitable to least suitable. The Panjkora River Basin's total area of 1128.395 km2 is the most suitable for building farm ponds, whereas 954.756 km2 is moderately suitable. The suitable area for check dam building is 350.58 km2, while the moderate area is 245.31 km2. According to the results, 1572.518 km2 are the most suitable areas to build gully plug structures in order to prevent soil erosion and store rainwater, while 3742.38 km2 are of moderate appropriateness. In the current study seven local influencing factors, e.g., land use and land cover (LULC), drainage density, slope, population density, water table, elevation, and soil types, were used to accomplish the objective of natural aquifer recharge sites. More than 72% of the basin has been classified as having moderate to very high potential for artificial recharge. The land area is categorized as highly suitable in 30.19% of cases and very high suitability in 1.01% of situations. In terms of hydrology, this spatial correlation is quite important. Highly or very highly suitable locations for recharge are found in many sections of the moderate and poor groundwater zones. Particularly in areas where traditional groundwater extraction is no longer technically or economically feasible, these interventions would encourage vertical infiltration, lessen runoff, and aid in the restoration of dwindling aquifers. Water managers can implement location-specific, data-driven methods to increase climate resilience and long-term water security in the Panjkora Basin by coordinating recharge planning with natural recharge potential and current groundwater stress.