Initiatives stressed to mitigate impacts of climate change

FAISALABAD: Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Monday called for accelerated efforts to ensure sustainable food security, biodiversity, and strategies to mitigate impacts of climate change.

Addressing a two-day international conference on biodiversity and bio-safety arranged by Center for Advanced Studies, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, as a guest of honour he said climate change has affected a balance between humans, animals and environment and now it is essential to prevent deforestation, control pollution, counter irrational use of water and stop the indiscriminate use of pesticides on crops for a better environment for the future generations.

He said to ensure food security, we have to develop agriculture on scientific basis. Dr Mukhtar said public contribution to address pollution and deforestation issue should be raised so that this challenge can be tackled. Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, said the imbalance in the ecosystem is increasing for which scientists, civil society, industry, and experts have to make joint efforts.

He said 70 percent of the Punjab’s agricultural area consists of wheat and rice crops and it consumes 75 per cent of the province’s water.He said steps must be taken to prevent unnecessary use of water and tangible research work has been carried out in various projects in the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with International Center For Development and Decent Work of University of Kessel Germany.

He said the bio-safety measures include the regular monitoring of biosafety in laboratories especially involved in genetic manipulation of living organism including microbes, plant and animals.

German Scientist Dr Andreas Burkert said sophisticated price mechanism will have to be set up to prevent irrational use of water in agriculture in the subcontinent. He said due to solar tube wells, underground water is being used indiscriminately.

He said natural resources should be respected and environment-friendly technologies should be promoted. He said the melting glacier is a big problem for the world.Dr Martin Wiehle of the University of Kassel, Germany, said in Asia, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are the worst affected countries due to climate change, where water per capita is gradually decreasing. He said the melting glaciers are increasing the sea level.

Pro-Vice Chancellor/Dean Agriculture UAF Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan said all the stakeholders have to formulate concrete strategies to safeguard the biodiversity.He said due to climate change, many species have become extinct due to which the ecological balance is disturbed. The ecosystem comprises of biotic factors including microbes, animals and plants; and abiotic factors. Every organism has its unique role in the stability and sustainability.