Students combine hiking, conservation and plant research in Malam Jabba

SWAT: A group of girl students from Swat and Chitral took part in a hiking trip near the Malam Jabba forest on Sunday that combined environmental conservation with scientific learning, as they cleaned a tourist site and gathered preliminary information on medicinal plants in the area.

The activity was arranged by the Sheen Alpine Association, described as the first local women-led outdoor organisation in the region, in collaboration with the Upper Swat Development Authority and the Swat district administration. According to the organisers, the association works to expand women’s participation in fields and activities not traditionally associated with them, including hiking, eco-tourism, mountain exploration, trekking, rock and glacier climbing, climate change awareness, artificial intelligence and STEM education.

The event brought together school, college and university students from Swat and Chitral, giving them a chance to observe nature, learn about biodiversity and take part in environmental protection efforts. During the trip, participants also documented different medicinal plants found in the forest for future research.

Maria Rahim, head of the association, said the group had been formed by young students from Swat and Chitral with the aim of helping girls become empowered and self-reliant.

“We are a voluntary association established by young students from Swat and Chitral, solely working to empower young girls and help them become independent,” said Maria Rahim, head of the association. “The girls are happy to break barriers and participate in outdoor activities without relying on men.”

Namra Ahmad, a member of the team, said such initiatives had once seemed out of reach in the region, but young girls had gone on to launch their own outdoor activities. She said the participants had found a number of medicinal plants and photographed them, adding that research would begin soon and a report would be published.

“We found many medicinal plants and took their photographs. Soon, we will begin research on these plants and publish a report,” she said.

She also raised concern over pollution at tourist destinations, saying scenic points and forest areas were often strewn with polythene bags, plastic bottles and snack packaging left behind by visitors.

“Most tourists visiting these areas are men, and unfortunately many leave behind waste, which damages the natural beauty of forests and tourist sites,” she added.

During the hike, the participants picked up litter along the trail and at frequently visited viewpoints to underscore the need for responsible tourism and environmental care. Organisers said the initiative was intended to encourage girls to take part in outdoor learning, conservation work and scientific exploration while also supporting sustainable tourism in Swat’s mountainous areas.

One of the students, Zuha Akbar, described the outing as both informative and enjoyable, saying she learned new things about nature and medicinal plants while also appreciating the weather and landscape.

“I learned many new things about nature and medicinal plants. I also enjoyed the cool weather and the stunning natural beauty of the area,” she said.