KARACHI:IUCN Pakistan celebrated the International Day of Biological Diversity across the country, calling for steps to protect and conserve Pakistan’s fragile ecosystem. Special events were held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Tehsil Kahuta, as well as on the coast of Balochistan, on May 22, 2022.
IUCN Pakistan celebrated the International Day of Biological Diversity at Pallandari, Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the Biodiversity Management Plan Implementation Project. Representatives of the government departments, project area communities, teachers and students of project area schools participated in this celebration event. Dr Z. B Mirza, renowned Biodiversity specialist also attended the celebration on special request of IUCN.
Dr. Naeem Awan welcomed the participants and explained the importance of Biodiversity Day. Mr. Asim Jamal. Project Manager briefed the participants about activities of Biodiversity Management Plan Implementation project and its role in protecting biodiversity of the area.
Dr. Dr. Z B Mirza spoke on this occasion and provided a deep insight into the components of biodiversity and its importance. He enlightened the participants on the importance of the ecosystems and how different components of biodiversity function to run this ecosystem.
Divisional Forest Officers, District Education Officer and representatives of the communities appreciated role of IUCN in organizing and educating communities regarding conservation of Biodiversity in Karot Biodiversity Management Plan implementation project area.
In his concluding remarks Country Representative IUCN, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema. appreciated the support of government line departments in successfully implementing the KAROT Biodiversity Management Plan. He said that IUCN has brought renowned international expertise to augment the IUCN Pakistan team enhancing BMP Implementation strategies and to convert environmental degradation into opportunities.
He also acknowledged the role of communities and teachers for their positive and effective role for biodiversity conservation. He also assured IUCN’s technical support for establishing partnership with the government line departments for betterment of the state of environment, nature-based solution, protected area management, biodiversity conservation and ecosystems restoration in Pakistan. Mr. Asim Jamal, Project Manager appreciated and thanked the participants and assured that IUCN will try to link the communities with government department to resolve their issues.
Pakistan Navy and Balochistan Forest Department participated in the celebrations held at Miani Horr Balochistan, where IUCN team led by Dr. Babar Hussain, Coastal and Marine Expert from IUCN, invited communities and youth under an ongoing mangroves restoration project and sensitized them to the importance of conserving these ecosystems. Around 230,000 mangroves saplings were planted during the event. The activity was undertaken under the Restoration of Mangroves and Plantation project being implemented by IUCN Pakistan funded by Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Project of the Irrigation Department of Balochistan, for the restoration of mangroves along the coast of Balochistan.
In Tehsil Kahuta IUCN celebrated the Day with the students of Azeem Public School. The event was attended by around 400 persons which included staff and students of Azeem Public School, Members of the Community and IUCN staff members. Brigadier (Retired) Javed Satti was the chief guest on this occasion. Other guests who spoke on this occasion included: Dr. Muhammad Ayub, former Director General Fisheries, Mr. Waqas Ahmad of Ministry of Information Technology. also graced the event.
Brigadier (Retired) Javed Satti thanked IUCN for organizing the event on occasion of the International Day of Biological Diversity and shared his views on the importance of Biodiversity. He said that sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity, it is very important to involve the local communities in the conservation efforts. He also said that forest fire is the main threat to forest in the project area and IUCN Pakistan must play its role to conserve this natural forest. He appreciated the efforts of IUCN in the project area and expressed his full support to IUCN in its conservation efforts.
Muhammad Ayub shed light on the topic ‘Biological Diversity’ and shared the importance of biodiversity. He said that biodiversity provides food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Further, ecosystems provide crucial services such as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests.
During the programme students made speeches on the importance of the International Day for Biological Diversity. The project involves plantation of mangroves over 510 acres with sowing in Porali River Delta at Miani Hor.