INTRODUCTION

HAASHAR Association, a non-profit, non-governmental Association! registered under Societies Act XXI Of 1860, was founded in the year 2000 by a number of like minded people to continue support to Joint Forests Management Committees in Upper Siran and Tanawal Area of district Mansehra and to fill the vacuum which was created in the wake of premature termination of the Siran Forest Development Project. Over a period of time HAASHAR continued to evolve and expanded its operations beyond facilitation for Joint Forests Management to livelihood improvements, biodiversity conservation, capacity building integrated natural resource management and rural development in other parts of district Mansehra as well. The focus of HAASHAR Association is based on the principles of people’s participation, sustainability, self help local institutions, skills development, democracy and poverty reduction with due considerations to gender issues.