AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILES OF THE RURAL COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN HILKOT WATERSHED MANSEHRA

The objective of the study was to develop and describe socioeconomic profiles of the rural community in the Hilkot Watershed Mansehra engaged in natural resources management practices. The study reveals that population living in the sample area have diverse cultural and ethnic background. Mainly population consists of Gujars (58.75%), Swati (33.12%), Syeds (6.87%), Awans (1.87%). Major occupation in the sample area: farming,(47.5%), farming with service(19.37%), service (1937%), farming with business (6.25%), business (4.37%), and labor (3.12%). The study witnessed uneven landholding with thirty six percent of the population are owners, 8% owner-cum- tenants, 49% were tenants, and 7% landless. 72.7% of the owners have less than 200 kanals or 8 acares of land (average), 15.15% had land holdings between 200-500 kanals or 25-62.5 areas (average), while about 12% are big landlords holding more than 500 kanals or more than 62.5 acres of land. The average household size is 8.4 where 51.3% were male and 48.7% were female. Generally the standard of living is very low. Mostly people are uneducated. The study found lower literacy in female than male. The literacy rate in Gugar community was too low. The community needs programs for their socio-economic uplift which would have positive impact on community’s natural resource management practices