Pakistan has endorsed
the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Program (GSLEP) by developing its National
Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Priorities (NSLEP) and joined other snow
leopard range countries for achieving the goal of “securing 20 landscapes by
2020” three of which falls in Pakistan, said the Federal Minister for Climate
Change Senator MushahidUllah Khan. He was speaking at the International Snow
Leopard Day event been organized by Snow Leopard Foundation in collaboration
with Ministry of Climate Change and other partners. The Ministry of Climate
Change has involved all the provinces and relevant stakeholders while planning
the conservation strategy. He further added that this program would be started
in April 2018.It was also emphasized by the minister that population explosion
and climate change causing extinct of
snow leopard in Pakistan. He also mentioned that Whitely Award received by
Dr.Ali Nawaz for his efforts to conserve Snow Leopard in Pakistan is great pride
for Pakistan. Federal Secretary Ministry
of Climate Change Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, H.E Dr. Tore Nedrebo The Ambassador of
Norway and other officials from government and non-government organizations
were present at the event.
The International Snow Leopard Day was
celebrated to renew the commitment of protecting and conserving the snow
leopard, its habitat and the ecosystem. Highlight of the event was screening of
documentary by Snow Leopard Foundation “Science, Society and Snow Leopards”,
which was greatly liked by the audience. An act by school children and
announcement of poster competition were also part of the event. The poster
competition was arranged one month earlier as part of the snow leopard day
celebrations in snow leopard communities’ schools in its program regions in
GilgitBaltistan and Chitral.
Speaking at the event, H.E Dr. Tore
Nedrebothe Ambassador of Norway shared his comments and views on climate
change. He told the audience that the weather conditions are extreme in Norway
as in the snow leopard habitat. Norway, established a national disaster relief
fund in 1962 to address climate and climate change related damages. Such fund
can be established in the snow leopard range in Pakistan to cope up with the
climate change and impacts. Measures to
improve the status of the snow leopard in the Pakistan will have positive
impacts on the overall mountain communities and contribute to resilient
ecosystems. Norwegian universities have established programs on climate
research related to hydrology, climatology, glaciology, and response of arctic
life. The NMBU (Norwegian University of
Life Sciences) is exploring climate change effects on large carnivores and
harvested mammals. Supported by the Norwegian Research council, NMBU is
maintaining an active collaboration with the Snow Leopard Foundation for
extensive field research in northern mountains of Pakistan.
Federal Secretary Ministry of Climate
Change Syed Abu Ahmad Akif informed the audience that Pakistan is an active member
of GSLEP process and chaired the GSLEP steering committee for three years.
Three GSLEP model landscapes; Karakoram-Pamir, Himalayas and Hindu kush, falls
in Pakistan. He Talked about the measures to impart ground-breaking impact in
context of conserving these ecosystems such as: establishing endowment fund to
encourage community’s active participation in conservation by providing safety
net against predation losses and incentives to improve natural habitats in
their valleys. By establishing National Wildlife Institute to provide a
platform for professional training of wildlife professionals of all
levels/cadres and foster systematic ecological research to understand ecology
and conservation needs of threatened species of Pakistan. To establishing Information
Centres to promote awareness about snow leopards, prey species and the values
of snow leopard ecosystem, and to engage youth in conservation activities
Inspector
General Forests Syed MahmoodNasir spoke about the improvement in the need of
advanced scientific research in wildlife conservation and environmental
protection. The Federal Minister
praised the efforts of snow leopard foundation and Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz for
arranging this event and specially the involvement of local community schools
in poster competitions and other activities. The products of Snow Leopard
Enterprise were also put on display so showcase the crafts produced by female
artisans from snow leopard range communities. These women are trained by Snow
Leopard Foundation team of women in order to enhance their skills which can
help the local communities to improve their household livelihoods.
