For the first time, women receive environment awards

WWF-P has given awards to people who have strived to conserve ecological resources.

KARACHI: In the village on the outskirts of Pai forest in Shaheed Benazirabad, hacking trees was the bread and butter of many women - until one of them realised that as the canopy began to vanish, so did the myriad animals that lived in it.

Hameeda Keerio began raising her voice, asking people to switch to environment-friendly livelihoods. Soon enough they started listening. At World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan’s award ceremony on Thursday, she received the Women in Nature Conservation Award for her efforts.

“We had no knowledge of our own resources, including birds, animals and trees. We own them now and encourage men and women for their conservation,” she told The Express Tribune after receiving the award. She added that villagers now also proudly keep a count of the species of animals found in the area.

Rab Nawaz, the director of WWF-P’s Sindh chapter, said, “It is the first time that female conservationists are being recognised. The government should encourage them as they can play a pivotal role.”

Hameeda was not the only woman who was awarded at the ceremony. Bibi Sanaz from Balochistan was also awarded for her efforts to protect jojoba trees. Hajira Bibi was given the award for mobilising women to take part in the management and conservation of natural resources at Keti Bunder. Bibi Miraj also won the award for her efforts to raise awareness about the protection of natural resources amongst the women of Shimshal, Gilgit-Baltistan. Nazeeran Bibi was awarded for her efforts for women’s development and conservation of natural resources in Chotiari.



Other awards were also given out at the ceremony as well. Abdul Ghani (late), was given the Syed Asad Ali Conservation (SAAC) Award for his efforts to conserve mangroves in Kakapir village. Syed Baqel Shah won the prize for advocating the protection of partridges in Thatta, as a result of which the community declared 23 kilometers as a no-hunting zone. Muhammad Yousaf, whose seven-year-old son died as a result of a leopard attack in Abbottabad last year, was given the SAAC award for his exceptional attitude in this situation. He also played an instrumental role in resolving conflicts between Wildlife authorities and the his community.

The Living Planet Award was given to organisations and researchers who made a significant contribution to conservation through projects funded by WWF-P’s Small Grant programme. This year’s award was presented to the Nature Conservation Committee for initiating community-based conservation of pheasants in Hattian Dopatta, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Sonmiani Development Organisation for the promotion of eco-tourism. Dr Amtul Jamil Sami from Punjab University also received the award for her research on the genetics of Indus dolphins. “Some people claim that the Indus dolphin migrated to Pakistan from India, but according to my research, there is a great difference between [the species of both countries].”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2013.