Planet saviours: Environment conservationists recognised by WWF-Pakistan

Lal Bibi from Lasbella wins Syed Asad Ali Award for Nature Conservation.


Our Correspondent January 08, 2015
Syed Babar Ali paid tribute to Syed Asad Ali and the award recipients. Dr Kauser Malik, the Scientific Committee chairman; Zahoor Raja; and Dr Kausar Cheema also attended the ceremony. PHOTO: WWF

LAHORE: WWF-Pakistan organised an award-distribution ceremony on Thursday at its head office to acknowledge the efforts of conservationists who had worked to protect the environment or raised awareness among people during the past year.

The Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award, Women in Nature Conservation Award and The Living Planet Award were given.

The Syed Asad Ali Award for Nature Conservation is a tribute to late Syed Asad Ali for his contributions to nature conservation in Pakistan.

This year the award was presented to Lal Bibi from Lasbella, Balochistan. She was presented the award, certificate and a cheque by Syed Babar Ali, the WWF-Pakistan emeritus president.

Lal Bibi, founder of the Sahil Women Welfare Society, has been promoting sustainable fishing practices in Gadani Town, Balochistan. Lal Bibi has also helped 60 fisherfolk families in improving the quality of fish-catch by providing them insulated fish boxes.

Her most significant contribution to conservation was rescuing 200 stranded pan-tropical spotted dolphins in Gadani, Balochistan, by leading a group of fishermen during a 15-hour operation, which resulted in the safe rescue and release of the dolphins.

WWF-Pakistan initiated the Women in Nature Conservation Award in 2012 to recognise the significant role of women in the management and conservation of natural resources. The award was inspired by the Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award’s motive of recognising communities involved in nature conservation. This year, the award has been presented to Nuzhat Siddiqui and Nazia Ihsan. Brig (retd) Mukhtar Ahmad, WWF-Pakistan, emeritus vice president, presented the awards, certificates and cheques to the recipients.

Nuzhat Siddiqui, an environmental educationist, is carrying out capacity-building activities in 630 city government schools and has also co-authored a publication titled Sehatmand Mahol aur Khawateen, published by WWF-Pakistan under its Indus for All Programme (IFAP). Nazia Ihsan, a government school teacher in Khanispur, Abbottabad district established 16 nature clubs in her school and trained almost 1,000 students in natural resource conservation activities.

The Living Planet Award was established in 2007, and is awarded to non-government organisations, community-based organisations or researchers that have made a unique and promising contribution to nature conservation. This year, WWF-Pakistan presented two living planet awards. Hammad Naqi Khan, WWF-Pakistan director general, presented the award to Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, Islamabad for conducting an outstanding project on the conservation of mahseer fish in Poonch River and Mangla Dam. The second award was given to Keenjhar Maroonara Welfare and Development Organisation, Thatta for the determined efforts to protect partridges in Jhimpir, Thatta.

Syed Babar Ali paid tribute to Syed Asad Ali and the award recipients. Dr Kauser Malik, the Scientific Committee chairman; Zahoor Raja; and Dr Kausar Cheema also attended the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2015.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ