Islamabad, 24 May 2022 (TDI): International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan observed the International Day of Biological Diversity across the country.
They urged efforts to save and preserve the fragile ecosystem of Pakistan. In this context, special celebratory events were organized in Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Tehsil Kahuta.
Events were also organized in the coastal areas of Balochistan, on May 22, 2022. In addition, celebrations were held at Pallandari, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir by the Biodiversity Management Plan Implementation Project.
The participants of the celebrations included representatives of the government departments, project area communities, teachers, and students of project area schools.
Dr. Z. B. Mirza, a prominent Biodiversity specialist also attended the celebration at the special request of IUCN. Moreover, Dr. Naeem Awan shed light on the importance of Biodiversity day welcoming the participants.
While Asim Jamal, the Project Manager apprised the participants about the activities of the Biodiversity Management Plan Implementation project as well as its function in safeguarding the biodiversity of the region.
Dr. Z. B. Mirza also addressed the attendees to provide a deep understanding of the features of biodiversity and its significance. Along these lines, he elucidated the importance of the ecosystems and how various parts of biodiversity process to run this ecosystem.
Likewise, Divisional Forest Officers, District Education Officers, and representatives of the communities lauded the role of IUCN in organizing and enlightening communities about the conservation of Biodiversity in the Karot Biodiversity Management Plan implementation project area.
In his concluding remarks, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, the Country Representative of IUCN appreciated the support of government departments in successfully executing the KAROT Biodiversity Management Plan.
He stated that IUCN had brought eminent global expertise to expand the IUCN Pakistan team improving BMP Implementation strategies and converting environmental degradation into opportunities. He acknowledged the role of communities and teachers in this regard.
He guaranteed IUCN’s technical aid to establish partnerships with the government departments for the improvement of the environment, nature-based solutions, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, and ecosystem restoration in Pakistan.
Asim Jamal, the Project Manager praised the participants for assuring that IUCN will continue to link the communities with the government departments to resolve their problems.
Balochistan Forest Department and Pakistan Navy also partook in the celebrations held at Miani Horr Balochistan. The IUCN team led by Dr. Babar Hussain, Coastal and Marine Expert from IUCN, invited communities and youth to create awareness.
They briefed them on an ongoing mangroves restoration project and sensitized them to the significance of conserving these ecosystems. About 230,000 mangroves saplings were planted on occasion.
The exercise was launched under the Restoration of Mangroves and Plantation project. The project is implemented by IUCN Pakistan and funded by the Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management.
Development Project of the Irrigation Department of Balochistan is also part of the project to restore mangroves along the coast of Balochistan. Also, IUCN celebrated the Day with the students of Azeem Public School, in Tehsil Kahuta.
Around 400 individuals including staff and students of the School, members of the community & IUCN staff members attended while Brigadier (Retired) Javed Satti was the chief guest.
Other guests included Dr. Muhammad Ayub, former Director-General of Fisheries, and Waqas Ahmad of the Ministry of Information Technology.
Brigadier Javed Satti thanked IUCN for arranging the event to commemorate the International Day of Biological Diversity. Furthermore, he shared his views on the significance of Biodiversity.
He said that for sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity, it is imperative to involve the natives in the conservation efforts. He also enunciated that forest fire is the main threat to forests in the project area.
However, IUCN Pakistan must play its role to preserve this natural forest. He admired the actions of IUCN in the project area and communicated his full support for its conservation efforts.
Aside from that, Muhammad Ayub underscored the importance of ‘Biological Diversity.’ He stated that biodiversity provides shelter, fuel, food, and medicine.
Besides, the ecosystems provide vital services like water purification, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, pollination, climate regulation, and control of agricultural pests.
During the program, students also made speeches on the significance of the International Day for Biological Diversity. The project involved the plantation of mangroves over 510 acres with sowing in the Porali River Delta at Miani Hor.
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