Solutions for saving biodiversity discussed

Regulated trophy hunting convinces local communities to conserve wildlife

PESHAWAR: Nature based solutions are most viable in preserving the biodiversity, experts said at a webinar on International Day for Biological Diversity organised by IUCN Pakistan .

The theme of the day this year was ‘Our solutions are in nature’ said a press release issued on Saturday.

In her remarks, Aban Marker Kabraji, Regional Director IUCN Asia and Director - Regional Hub for Asia-Oceania, said that nature based-solutions has been IUCN's concept that was developed many years go and its understanding, analysis and its application is constantly evolving.

She further explained that given the current pandemic, IUCN continued to be safe and continued to think of the linkages “we have with nature, and how nature-based solutions could serve as a way forward for us all."

Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative IUCN Pakistan said Trophy Hunting Programme as an example initiative that has benefited local communities monetarily to the tune of $7 million per year. The local communities also take keen interest in conservation of wildlife species if they get benefits from conservation activities.

He said there was a need to manage inland and marine protected areas in the country. He said that the government has an established regime at the federal and provincial levels, but there is an opportunity to go for partnership developed with provinces and local communities so as to give charge to the communities who dwell in and around these protected areas and are the real beneficiaries.

Malik Amin Aslam, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change talked of the Green Stimulus initiative of the government saying that it is based on protecting environment and creating jobs in the wake of Covid-19.

He said that the situation has compelled the people to migrate from urban to rural areas. He said that the programme has employed 65,000 people in Pakistan. There are two more phases of the programme and it is estimated that by the end of the third phase we will have 600,000 people employed."

Aslam: "We have 10 billion trees plantation programme with ownership by all provinces, the second part is the National Parks and Protected Areas. These are not properly managed which we will focus on and will be announcing seven national parks in June 2020.

There will also be initiatives on Urban Waste Management and Liquid and Solid Waste Managements well as Post Covid-19 Recovery with financing through the Ecosystem Restoration Fund created and announced at the UN Climate Change Conference during 2019.

We know that the cause of this plague lies in nature and there is a cost to pay if we invade nature and there are benefits if we invest in nature. The COVID-19 crisis has taught us a new pathway to growth and economic development."

Raphaël Glémet, Senior Programme Officer, Water and Wetlands, IUCN Asia Regional Office made a detailed presentation on Nature-based Solutions for Societal Challenges for delivering on SDGs.

Defining the concept of eco-system, he said that ecosystem services provide benefit to people (human well being).

The ecosystems also protect us from storProvisioning it provides water, food, agriculture, and fuel.

The biosphere underpins economic and social well-being. He said that 4 SDGs are linked to ecosystems i.e. Food security, water security, poverty etc.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2020.