Joint efforts for ecosystem restoration stressed

PESHAWAR: The participants of a workshop on Tuesday urged the people from all strata of the society to join hands with the Ministry of Climate Change for ecosystem restoration.

The workshop titled “Exploring Funding Opportunities for Effective Ecosystem Restoration in Pakistan” was organized by Generating Global Environmental Benefits (GEB) initiative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to a press release, the participants expressed interest in the workshop as it enlightened them on biodiversity loss and ecosystem restoration and hence the need for generating finance to conserve ecosystems.

The workshop was opened by Dr. Saleem Janjua, Country Coordinator, GEB, UNDP-Pakistan, who welcomed the participants and panelists. He introduced the GEB initiative of UNDP and explained that the purpose of organizing this workshop was to sensitize stakeholders on the World Environment Day as well as to reflect on the Ministry of Climate Change, government of Pakistan’s efforts and current initiatives that have been taken to conserve the ecosystem. It also discusses the financing mechanisms available globally and that can be tapped by Pakistan for ecosystem restoration.

The director general (Environment), Ministry of Climate Change remarked that the workshop was arranged in consonance with the theme of World Environment Day. He emphasized the importance of ecosystem restoration and mentioned that Pakistan has rich and diverse ecosystems that need not only to be preserved but also to be restored amid the anthropogenic damage.

The Ministry of Climate Change has started various flagship projects for eco-system restoration. However, much more needs to be done and exploring more financing options is the need of time.

Dr Dost Muhammad Baloch, VC, Lasbela University, said it as need of Pakistan. He added that Balochistan faced severe climate-change-related issues, and the need of the time is that academia works in collaboration with relevant departments, ministries to ensure ecosystem restoration.

Ms Rukhsana Naveed, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, chief guest of the workshop, remarked that the government of Pakistan had started various initiatives for ecosystem restoration and was fully committed to playing a leadership role in addressing the issue of climate change and making a shift towards a “clean and green” Pakistan through a well-articulated climate change agenda consisting of a number of on-the-ground flagship initiatives.

However, she added, government efforts require combined support from all strata of the society. The need of the time remains to explore more financing windows for ecosystem restoration.

The remarks session was followed by the technical presentations that unfolded the topic in detail.