Botany conference: Speakers call for conserving natural resources

Stress on incorporating climate change in planning for future.

ISLAMABAD:

The third international conference on Botany concluded at Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) on Monday with a call for conserving natural resources and protecting rare species.

Population explosion, water scarcity, depletion of natural resources and climate change were identified as the biggest threats for the country’s sustainable socio-economic development and environmental safety.

University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan, while speaking at the concluding session, said, “Our plant scientists have done a tremendous job in the recent past by ensuring food security in a country with a population of more than 180 million.”

Meanwhile, Dean Faculty of Biological Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University  Prof. Dr Asghari Bano said, “Effects of global climate change should be taken into account for planning sustainable socio-economic development.”

She added that there was an urgent need to establish a bio-resource centre for the preservation of microbial cultures.

Vice Chancellor QAU Prof. Dr Masoom Yasinzai awarded medals and shields for best presentations and posters. There were more than 150 oral presentations and 300 posters were displayed.

For best oral presentation, the gold medal was awarded to Nadia Haroon, a PhD scholar from Lahore College for Women University, while silver and bronze medals were secured by Dr Rafiq Ahmed, Assistant Prof. COMSATS and Nazneen Bangash from Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, respectively.

The conference was organised by Quaid-i-Azam University in collaboration with Pakistan Botanical Society.

Some 200 scientists and faculty members from across the country as well as Oman, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and France participated in the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2012.