ISLAMABAD: More than 3,000 enthusiastic students from 60 private and government schools gathered in Islamabad College for Girls (ICG) to promote protection and conservation of wetlands in Pakistan through mass awareness. The event was held to mark World Wetlands Day on Wednesday.
Organised by the ministry of environment, the event provided an interactive forum for students to display their talents through various media and develop a conceptual understanding of the critical relationship between wetlands and forests.
The day is celebrated across the globe to mark the date of adoption of the international convention on Wetlands, held in the Iranian city of Ramsar on February 2, 1971.
Federal Minister for Environment, Hameedullah Jan Afridi, inaugurated the day’s celebrations by releasing a bunch of helium balloons in air, followed by a tree plantation drive.
The environment minister, in his inaugural address, said, “All of us should be responsible and play our due role in combating deforestation and degradation of wetlands for a better future.”
He said the value of forests and wetlands cannot be undermined in today’s world amid climate uncertainty and global warming. These natural systems not only provide vital sinks for greenhouse gases but also present a unique ecosystem that supports a rich population of biodiversity and life.
“Global warming and climate change has become a serious issue and we need to arrest its extreme affects on the globe,” Afridi said. He said that children are our main stakeholders and their role can “enhance the struggle to meet environmental challenges.” The minister said the mass awareness campaign to highlight the importance of environment that the ministry had launched needed public support.
The event at ICG featured a range of activities with particular focus on raising awareness on the need to conserve wetlands and forests.
Art, essay, story writing and three-dimensional model-making competitions were held, which provided ample opportunities for the participating students to develop a sound understanding of this year’s theme, “Wetland and Forest”.
“If animals and forests could talk, they would have definitely protested against the violation of their rights,” said Munnazza, an O-level student from Khaldunia School Islamabad, who took part in an essay writing competition titled “If Animals and Plants talked”.
She said, “It is our responsibility to create awareness about the importance of forests and strive to make Pakistan a beautiful country.”
Zarar Haider, a student from Root added, “I love nature and I want it to remain beautiful for generations to follow.”
An official of the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan said the day is being celebrated throughout Pakistan, including Makran, Kot Adu, Sukkur, Nowshera, Khushab, Faisalabad, Gilgit and Chitral. However, the main event to mark World Wetlands Day in Pakistan was held at IGC.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2011.
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