Sustainable Livelihoods and Socio-Economic Determinants of Chilgoza Pine Income in Diamer District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) is an important natural asset for rural living in mountainous northern Pakistan (such as in the Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan). Chilgoza nuts are classified as a high-value non-timber forest product (NTFP). They can provide significant amounts to household economies, which are increasingly being challenged by ecological and socio-economic stressors. This research explores the relationships between chilgoza harvesting, household income portfolios, and the livelihood strategies of forest-dependent communities in the context of the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Framework (SRLF). The study uses a mixed-methods technique that combines household surveys, participatory focus groups, and institutional analysis in four villages to represent the Chilas Valley. The findings show that chilgoza harvesting represents a vital piece of livelihood diversification plans, including households without many or any alternative income sources. The study shows important socio-economic determinants that are impacting harvesting, such as household Labour, traditional ecological knowledge, and access to forests. However, these socio-economic benefit streams were all becoming constrained as a result of ongoing systemic issues such as climate variability, inadequate market access, and poor governance frameworks for the sustainable management of forests. Theoretical implications underscore the need to re-evaluate NTFP-based livelihoods as they are either discussed or excluded in popular and academic literature on sustainable development or climate resilience. Practical recommendations highlight areas of necessary improvement, such as enhanced local institutional strength or equitable value chain distribution, and the development of integrated conservation strategies that balance ecological integrity with local economic needs. Overall, this research contributes to wider academic debates related to the governance of natural resources in fragile mountain ecosystems and provides useful policy-relevant input into the region's planning for development. Ultimately, the research underlines the need for more holistic approaches that view chilgoza pine beyond that of an economic commodity, but as a keystone species which assists the proportional integrity of people living sustainably with the ecological and cultural integrity of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.