Wildlife Dept to draft rules for new habitat categories

Following instructions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Punjab Wildlife Department has initiated the formulation of rules for six wildlife habitat categories in the province.

In this regard, a nine member committee headed by the Punjab Wildlife Directorate General, has also been set up and work is reported to be underway.

As per IUCN rules, the categories of wildlife habitats now introduced in the province of Punjab include, National Parks, Natural Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wilderness Areas, Buffer Zones, Wildlife Reserves and Wetlands.

The nine-member committee will now formulate rules pertaining to the aforementioned habitat categories and the wildlife species which populate these habitats.

The said committee includes representatives and legal experts from various government departments as well as domestic and foreign Non-government Organisations working in the wildlife field. According to available details, National Parks will be areas used for public awareness regarding wildlife with a complete ban on all kinds of hunting activities.

In addition to that, hunting activities will also be outlawed in areas declared as National Parks, Natural Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wilderness Areas and Buffer Zones, by the government. The natural environment and wildlife of these areas will be protected and conserved, while significant steps will be taken to increase the wildlife numbers.

For areas under the Wildlife Reserve category however, hunting will only be allowed with a special permission granted by the relevant department.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, provincial wildlife department officials said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been particularly serious about environment and wildlife conservation in the country.

Following the Prime Minister’s directives, the department has taken significant steps towards the protection and conservation of Punjab’s natural habitats and all species which live in them. “In accordance with guidelines of international wildlife and environment protection agencies as well as the relevant United Nations departments, we are also taking steps for the protection of wildlife under the international law.

The Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 has already been passed and now we are working towards drafting the required rules for it. This is expected to increase wildlife growth in the province and also help better protect endangered wildlife species,” an official privy to the development informed The Express Tribune.