Environment & Sustainability

The Kalasha are an indigenous community residing in three valleys found at the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Pakistan. Their ancient religion is deeply connected to nature, and they celebrate the changing seasons. Once beyond the monsoons, their isolated valleys are now routinely flooded due to climate change. In 2015, devastating floods destroyed fields, homes and Kalashas’ livelihoods, threatening the very existence of Pakistan’s smallest indigenous community. We document the annual harvest festival, which this summer was followed by the historic floods that inundated much of Pakistan. Episode Director: Tazeen Bari Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Chitral district, Pakistan

غیر معمولی بلند درجہ حرارت شسپر نامی پاکستانی گلیشئیر کے ڈرامائی پگھلاؤ کا سبب بنا اور اب پانی حسن آباد کے پل کو خطرے میں ڈال رہا ہے۔ موسمیاتی تبدیلی اس نظارے کو تیزی سے بدل رہی ہے اور ایک قدیم طرزِ زندگی خطرے سے دوچار ہے۔ ہر کوئی اسی بارے میں بات کر رہا ہے، مگر جانتا کوئی نہیں ہے کہ آنے والا کل اپنے ساتھ کیا لا رہا ہے۔ دیکھیئے ڈاکیومینٹری پہاڑوں کا گریہ یہ فلم پاکستان کے ان لاکھوں افراد کے نام ہے جوحال ہی میں موسمیاتی تباہ کاریوں کا شکار ہوئے اور زندگی کے علاوہ سب کچھ کھو بیٹھے۔ Last May, record temperatures provoked a GLOF or glacial lake outburst flood in northern Pakistan, sweeping away bridges and villages in the valley below the Shisper glacier. Higher up the mountains, a semi-nomadic people called the Wakhi were leading their yaks to summer pastures. Their traditional lifestyle has also been heavily impacted by climate change. We profile both the scientists and the villagers on this global warming frontline. Episode director: Karim Shallwanee Series director: Andrew Tkach Locations: Gilgit-Baltistan region, #Pakistan

میرا رخ اس مقام کی جانب ہے جہاں کرغیزیوں کی روح بستی ہے، بلندو بالا آلو ٹو کے پہاڑوں اور برف کے تودوں کے درمیان۔ جانے کتنی پشتوں سے ہمارے اجداد نے ہمارے لیے اس سزمین کو محفوظ رکھا ہے، یہ اتنی انمول ہے کہ قومی ترانے میں اسی کا گیت گایا جاتا ہے۔ میں اپنے ملک کے قیمتی ترین خزانوں میں سے ایک کاسرچشمہ کھوجنے بڑھ رہا ہوں، وہ ہے عظیم دریائے نارین Season 2, Episode 8: Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn River, born near the Petrov Glacier, begins its journey next to a massive gold mine, long, troubling environmentalists. Although the river is very important for agriculture and power production, the environmental awareness of those who depend on its health is low. Raw sewage is routinely dumped into Naryn River. A drought and melting glaciers would deplete the Toktogul reservoir, jeopardize the viability of the power station. We talk to those trying to save a river in serious condition. Episode Director: Iskender Aliev Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Naryn, #Kyrygyzstan

Last May, record temperatures provoked a GLOF or glacial lake outburst flood in northern Pakistan, sweeping away bridges and villages in the valley below the Shisper glacier. Higher up the mountains, a semi-nomadic people called the Wakhi were leading their yaks to summer pastures. Their traditional lifestyle has also been heavily impacted by climate change. We profile both the scientists and the villagers on this global warming frontline. Episode director: Karim Shallwanee Series director: Andrew Tkach Locations: Gilgit-Baltistan region, #Pakistan VRW-019

Season 2, Episode 8: Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn River, born near the Petrov Glacier, begins its journey next to a massive gold mine, long, troubling environmentalists. Although the river is very important for agriculture and power production, the environmental awareness of those who depend on its health is low. Raw sewage is routinely dumped into Naryn River. A drought and melting glaciers would deplete the Toktogul reservoir, jeopardize the viability of the power station. We talk to those trying to save a river in serious condition. Episode Director: Iskender Aliev Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Naryn, #Kyrygyzstan VRW-018

کرغستان کے گلیشیئیر کا شمار وسطی ایشیا کے سب سے بڑے میٹھے پانی کے ذخائر میں ہوتا ہے۔ اگر ساری برف پگھل جائے تو یہ ملک، گویا اسکاٹ لینڈ اور انگلینڈ کو ملا لینے سے بننے ویلے رقبے کے برابر خطہ ، تین میٹر گہرے پانی میں ڈوبا ہوگا۔ ساٹھ کلومیٹر لمبا، جنوبی انلچک گلیشیئرنہ صرف خطے میں میں دیو قامت ہے بلکے دنیا کے بڑے گلیشیئروں میں سے ایک ہے۔ کرغذی چرواہے اسے سرد ہواوُں کی وادی کہتے ہیں۔ اس قسط میں ہم اس وادی کے اوپر موسمی تغیرات کے اثرات دیکھیں گے۔ Season 2, Episode 7: The people of the Sary-Jaz River valley have always believed that the Enilchek glacier would be there forever. After all, the Sary-Jaz valley is fringed by the highest peaks in the Tien Shan range, Peak Pobeda (7439 m) and Khan-Teniri (6995 m). But Alexander Vereshchagin, the chief scientist in the Khan Teniri Nationa Park, knows better. Alexander has seen with his own eyes how much the biggest collection of glaciers in #Kyrgyzstan has dramatically retreated. We join him on a horseback survey of Khan Teniri Nature Park, as he meets the valley’s shepherds and surveys the profound changes in their landscape. Episode Director: Aibek Baiymbetov Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Khan Teniri Nature Park, Kyrgyzstan

Season 2, Episode 7: The people of the Sary-Jaz River valley have always believed that the Enilchek glacier would be there forever. After all, the Sary-Jaz valley is fringed by the highest peaks in the Tien Shan range, Peak Pobeda (7439 m) and Khan-Teniri (6995 m). But Alexander Vereshchagin, the chief scientist in the Khan Teniri Nationa Park, knows better. Alexander has seen with his own eyes how much the biggest collection of glaciers in #Kyrgyzstan has dramatically retreated. We join him on a horseback survey of Khan Teniri Nature Park, as he meets the valley’s shepherds and surveys the profound changes in their landscape. Episode Director: Aibek Baiymbetov Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Khan Teniri Nature Park, Kyrgyzstan VRW-017

چرواہے کی زندگی بہت مشکل ہے مگر کوئی متبادل نہیں۔ ہم روتے ہیں ہنستے ہیں مگر جڑ کر رہتے ہیں۔ ہمارے تو اپنے بچے بھی ہمیں نہیں سمجھتے۔ یہ ہے ایک چرواہے کی زندگی Season 2: Episode 5: Shepherds of Naar - With unpredictably severe storms and rising temperatures, Pasang and Rgitar’s yaks must be herded higher and higher every summer, making the journey ever more perilous.Follow the shepherds leading the vast yak herds of one Nepalese village to higher pastures, and the troubles they face. Episode Director: Asmita Shrish Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Nar Phu Valley, #Nepal #VRW #ClimateChange #ClimateAction

Season 2: Episode 5: Shepherds of Naar - With unpredictably severe storms and rising temperatures, Pasang and Rgitar’s yaks must be herded higher and higher every summer, making the journey ever more perilous. Follow the shepherds leading the vast yak herds of one Nepalese village to higher pastures, and the troubles they face. Episode Director: Asmita Shrish Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Nar Phu Valley, #Nepal #VRW #ClimateChange #ClimateAction VRW-015

دنیا کی بلند ترین چوٹیوں کی اوٹ میں شکار سونگھتی پھرتی ہے تن تنہا ایک بلی۔ برف میں سائے۔ برفانی تیندوے Season 2, Episode 4: Snow Shadows, Snow Leopards – The world’s most elusive big cats are suffering greatly on account of habitat destruction. With less natural prey to eat, #snowleopards are attacking more domesticated livestock. We follow one angry herder who has lost more than a hundred animals to snow leopards. And a former hunter, now a tourist guide, who wholeheartedly works to protect the #bigcats. Episode Director: Abdullah Khan Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Karakoram Mountains, #Pakistan #VRW #Resilience #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ThirdPole

Season 2, Episode 4: Snow Shadows, Snow Leopards – The world’s most elusive big cats are suffering greatly on account of habitat destruction. With less natural prey to eat, #snowleopards are attacking more domesticated livestock. We follow one angry herder who has lost more than a hundred animals to snow leopards. And a former hunter, now a tourist guide, who wholeheartedly works to protect the #bigcats. Episode Director: Abdullah Khan Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Karakoram Mountains, #Pakistan #VRW #Resilience #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ThirdPole VRW-014