Global recognition: Local project cited in UN report

SEED is a Pak-Italian mountain conservation initiative.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan does not always get a favourable mention in United Nations’ (UN) reports, especially when it comes to development indicators.

But in a positive turn of events, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appreciated Pakistan’s mountain conservation and development initiative, “Social, Economic and Environmental Development (SEED) project,” in his report on Sustainable Mountain Development.

The report was presented in the 68th session of the UN General Assembly recently.

SEED is a joint initiative of the governments of Pakistan and Italy under the framework of the Pakistan-Italy Debt Swap Programme. It is being carried out at the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).



The report on Sustainable Mountain Development was prepared by the office of the secretary general and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in collaboration with various governments and relevant UN agencies.

The report describes the status of sustainable mountain development at the national and international levels and cited the SEED project as an example of positive sustainable work being done in Asia.

The €8 million SEED project is being implemented by the Ev-K2-CNR Committee, Karakorum International University and other agencies.

Raffaele Del Cima, the project director for SEED, said “It is a big achievement for the governments of Pakistan and Italy that their joint intervention for sustainable mountain development is among the top two in Asia, as mentioned in the UN report.” Del Cima said the project is promoting natural resource management, eco-tourism, and community uplift at the park.

A management plan for the CKNP has already been submitted to the G-B government for approval and subsequent implementation, he said.

He said the Karakorum International University has carried out several scientific and social researches, and has provided financial support to Ph.D. students under the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2013.