WWF-Pakistan, Balochistan to cooperate in conservation efforts

Partnership will promote sustainable management of natural resources in province

QUETTA:

To promote collaborative efforts on biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in Balochistan, World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the provincial institutions.

The memoranda were signed with the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), the Balochistan Judicial Academy, Quetta, the University of Balochistan (UoB) and the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP).

Under the MoUs, the partners aimed at enhancing coordination in nature conservation initiatives, building capacities and developing synergies for the betterment of the environment, protection of wildlife and critical habitats in Balochistan.

According to the document inked with the Balochistan Judicial Academy, WWF-Pakistan would build the capacity of newly-appointed judges, prosecutors, investigation officers, and qazis on conservation and environmental challenges, such as protection of biodiversity, deforestation, and climate change issues faced by the province.

As agreed in other MoUs, WWF-Pakistan, BRSP, UoB and BUITEMS would help protect endangered wildlife and would make efforts for better resource management in the province.

It was also decided that the partners would conduct research studies on environmental challenges and organise training sessions for faculty members and students of the University of Balochistan.

Meanwhile, under the agreement, the institutions would also conduct joint initiatives to promote information technology, address environmental problems, support climate change adaptation and mitigation and conduct biodiversity assessment utilising molecular methods.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2021.