As the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan has announced a significant commitment to collaborate with national partners to safeguard and restore the country’s natural environment.
This initiative emerges in response to a troubling global trend of a 30% decline in biodiversity, driven by habitat loss and degradation.
UNDP’s strategy in Pakistan encompasses the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and Early Action Support. By leveraging these programs, the organization aims to boost investments in nature, integrate biodiversity into national planning and finance, and develop early responses to environmental risks.
These efforts are crucial for addressing Pakistan’s pressing ecological challenges, including deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, salinity, waterlogging, and hunting. UNDP emphasizes that protecting nature is synonymous with protecting people, highlighting the essential role biodiversity plays in sustaining food, the environment, and livelihoods.