Biodiversity is the existence of all species and requires collective efforts for its conservation: Arshad Farooq

Karachi, May 23, 2016 (PPI-OT):IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) organized a seminar to celebrate the “INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 2016”on Monday, May 23, 2016 at the Federation House, in Karachi.

The purpose of the seminar was to highlight the significance of biodiversity conservation and its importance for human beings. In his welcome address Mr. Arshad Farooq, Vice President FPCCI-CSR said that that biodiversity is the existence of all the species and requires collective efforts for its conservation.

Chief Guest of the occasion was Ms. Meher Marker Noshirwani, Technical Advisor to Trust for Conservation of Coastal Resources, who appreciated the efforts of FPCCI and IUCN for organizing the event and summarized her thoughts in the following phrase:” Nature’s fate is ours, and whatever damage nature will suffer, it will be the fate of human beings too.” So we need to be very careful when managing our natural resources.”

Mr. Shafat Zaidi, Senior Vice Chairman of FPCCI standing committee on Environment made a detailed presentation on the Biodiversity. He said that almost 100% of our food products are obtained from the nature.

Mr. Ghulam Qadir Shah, National Coordinator MFF Programme made a detailed presentation on the significance of Biodiversity. He said Pakistan is bestowed with 9 climatic zones from the snow covered peaks of Karakoram to the shores of Arabian Seas. He further said that 37 mammal species and 25 bird species are threatened in our country. Besides, 500 species of the plants have become rare in Pakistan.

He said that entire web of biodiversity is under threat due to human activities and over population. He also enumerated the initiatives of IUCN Pakistan towards conservation and protection of Biodiversity in Pakistan. He encouraged the private sector to join the conservation community in conservation of forest and natural resources so that the biodiversity can be protected in the wider interest of the humans.

For more information, contact:
George Sadiq
Programme Officer
Education, Communication and Outreach
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Pakistan Country Office
1, Bath Island Road,
Karachi-75530
Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35861540
Fax: +92-21-35835760, +92-21-35761448, +92-21-35870287
Cell: +92-301-2931184
Email: george.sadiq@iucn.org
Website: www.iucn.org