SKARDU: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) organized a training session on the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) for field staff of Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) and Deosai National Park (DNP) in Skardu on September 2, 2026.
The training was aimed at strengthening the capacity of frontline conservation staff in modern protected-area monitoring, field data collection and reporting through the use of SMART technology.
SMART is designed to help conservation teams systematically record and analyze field observations, enabling them to better understand wildlife populations, threats, patrol activities and changes within protected areas.
The initiative is expected to support improved conservation planning and wildlife monitoring across Gilgit-Baltistan, while promoting more evidence-based decision-making for the protection of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
By equipping field teams with modern monitoring tools, the training can also help conservation authorities identify emerging threats and improve the effectiveness of patrols and management interventions in protected areas.
The Forest, Wildlife & Environment Department welcomed such collaborative initiatives, describing them as valuable for strengthening conservation practices and empowering frontline teams working to protect the region’s unique biodiversity.
Gilgit-Baltistan is home to diverse mountain ecosystems and important protected areas, making effective monitoring and timely conservation action essential for safeguarding wildlife habitats and natural resources.
The collaboration between WWF and the protected-area management teams highlights the growing role of technology and reliable field data in strengthening conservation efforts and ensuring better management of some of the region’s most ecologically significant landscapes.
