Biodiversity in Pak

Government of Pakistan
Biodiversity Action Plan

Pakistan
Prepared with support from

IUCN/WWF
and financed by
World Bank/GEF
August 1999
Executive Summary
With its dramatic geological history, broad latitudinal spread and immense altitudinal
range, Pakistan spans a remarkable number of the world's broad ecological regions.
These range from the coastal mangrove forests of the Arabian Sea to the spectacular
mountain tops where the western Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges meet.
This variety of habitats also supports a rich variety of different species which contributes
to the overall biological diversity (or biodiversity) of the country.
Pakistan has some of the worlds rarest animals and plants but these are now in danger
of disappearing forever due to overuse and loss of natural habitat. While people are
without doubt a most valuable resource in Pakistan, uncontrolled population growth puts
ever-increasing pressures on the countrys natural resource base. Misguided economic
policies have widened inequalities and forced rural people and others to exploit
biodiversity at rates that are no longer sustainable. As a result, processes such as
deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, salinity and waterlogging have become major
threats to the remaining biodiversity in Pakistan. It is now feared that Pakistan has the
worlds second highest rate of deforestation. The continuing loss of this forest habitat
with its associated fauna and flora will have serious implications for the nations other
natural and agro-ecosystems.
Just as more and more people may be part of the problem, they must also be part of the
solutions. The key to protecting the biological heritage of Pakistan lies in the
involvement of local people and in the support provided by competent institutions for the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The Government of Pakistan
recognized the importance of these measures in the preparation of the National
Conservation Strategy (1992) and in becoming a signatory to, and ratifying, the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1994.
The current Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is a first attempt to meet the planning
requirements of the Convention. It tries to roll into one, the three sequential processes
called for under the Convention (the country study, national strategy, and action plan). As
such it provides a brief assessment of the status and trend of the nations biodiversity
(Chapter 2), outlines strategic goals and objectives (Chapter 3), and identifies a plan of
action that includes coordination arrangements and implementation measures (Chapters
4, 5, and 6). Preparation of the BAP has been carried out under an agreement between
the Government of Pakistan and the World Bank under the Global Environment Facility
Trust Fund (GEF). The World Conservation Union, Pakistan (IUCN-P) was selected as
the lead agency in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWFP).
The process leading up to preparation of the BAP has involved broad participation from
governments, academia and civil society through national and regional-level consultative
workshops to develop and review the draft document. A number of background papers
were prepared for BAP by national experts on sectoral and cross-cutting issues.
Periodic oversight during the drafting of BAP has been provided by a national
Biodiversity Working Group constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Local
Government and Rural Development and consisting largely of government
representatives.
ii
This Biodiversity Action Plan sets out a strategy for action under 13 main components
which correspond to the Articles of the CBD: planning and policies, legislation,
identification and monitoring, in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation, sustainable use,
incentive measures, research and training, public education and awareness,
environmental impact assessment, access issues, exchange of information, and financial
resources. For each component, the issues relevant to Pakistan are identified and a list
of objectives and corresponding actions are recommended to deal with the identified
issues. Slowing the rate of biodiversity loss in Pakistan will require policy and
institutional reform as well as institutional strengthening to better understand the
elements of biodiversity and the most effective means for ensuring the conservation and
sustainable use of these elements. The active participation and support of local
communities will be essential for in-situ conservation. The Plan calls for greater
collaboration between government agencies, local communities and NGOs to work
together as partners in biodiversity conservation.
Overall responsibility for implementation of the BAP will fall on the Ministry of
Environment, Local Government and Rural Development (MELGRD) which is also the
national focal point for implementing the CBD. The Plan proposes establishing a small
Biodiversity Secretariat within MELGRD using existing resources to coordinate BAP
implementation and foster linkages between, and within, different sectors affecting
biodiversity. The location and structure of the Secretariat should be finalized by the
Ministry itself. The Secretariat would report to a Federal Biodiversity Steering Committee
and receive technical support from a broad-based, re-notified Biodiversity Working
Group. Since most implementation measures will take place at the provincial level, the
Plan also proposes Provincial Steering Committees to be constituted (or merged with
those created under provincial conservation strategies).
Finally, the Plan provides an implementation schedule of proposed actions to prioritise
those that could be implemented immediately and at low cost following government
endorsement of the first Biodiversity Action Plan for Pakistan.
iii
Table of Contents
List of Annexures................................................................................................................................... iv
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ iv
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... iv
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms.......................................................................................................v
Chapter 1
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1
What is Biodiversity? ......................................................................................................1
1.2
Why is Biodiversity Important?.......................................................................................1
1.3
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ..............................................................2
1.4
A Biodiversity Action Plan For Pakistan .........................................................................3
Chapter 2
Biodiversity in Pakistan - A Review ...................................................................................................4
2.1
Current Status ................................................................................................................4
2.2
Recent Trends in Pakistan ...........................................................................................11
2.3.
Direct Causes of Biodiversity Loss in Pakistan............................................................16
2.4
Indirect (Root) Causes of Biodiversity Loss in Pakistan ..............................................21
Chapter 3
Principles, Goals And Broad Aims ...................................................................................................27
3.1
The Goal of The Biodiversity Action Plan (Bap) ..........................................................27
3.2
Broad Aims of The Biodiversity Action Plan ...............................................................27
Chapter 4
Proposals For Action .........................................................................................................................29
4.1
Planning And Policies ..................................................................................................29
4.2
Legislation ....................................................................................................................31
4.3
Identification And Monitoring........................................................................................34
4.4
In-situ Conservation .....................................................................................................37
4.5
Ex-situ Conservation ....................................................................................................42
4.6
Sustainable Use ...........................................................................................................43
4.7
Incentive Measures ......................................................................................................46
4.8
Research And Training ................................................................................................48
4.9
Public Education And Awareness ................................................................................50
4.10 Environmental Impact Assessment..............................................................................53
4.11 Access Issues ..............................................................................................................54
4.12 Exchange of Information ..............................................................................................56
4.13 Financial Resources.....................................................................................................57
Chapter 5
Coordinating Biodiversity Conservation Efforts ............................................................................60
Chapter 6
Implementation Measures .................................................................................................................61
References ...........................................................................................................................................76
iv
List of Annexures
Annexure 1: Report on Stakeholder Participation ............................................................................68
Annexure 2: Other International Biodiversity-related Conventions to which
Pakistan is a Party........................................................................................................74
List of Figures
Figure 1:
Map of Pakistan..............................................................................................................5
Figure 2:
Major Vegetative Zones of Pakistan ..............................................................................7
Figure 3:
Organogram for BAP Implementation..........................................................................64
List of Tables
Table 1:
Species Richness and Endemics for Major Plant and Animal Groups in Pakistan.....10
Table 2:
Critically Threatened Ecosystems in Pakistan .............................................................15
Table 3:
Human Use of Wildlife in Pakistan. Most of the species included are

believed to be declining partially (or wholly) due to this use........................................18
Table 4:
Summary of Protected Areas in Pakistan (based on NCCW data) .............................37
Table 5
BAP Implementation Schedule.

Numbers refer to specific actions as described in Section 4.......................................65
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

AIOU ....................................................................................................Allama Iqbal Open University
AJK ..........................................................................................................Azad Jammu and Kashmir
BCS ............................................................................................Balochistan Conservation Strategy
BWG ...................................................................................................... Biodiversity Working Group
CBD .............................................................................................Convention on Biological Diversity
CERC .............................................................Centre for Environment Research and Conservation
EIA ............................................................................................. Environmental Impact Assessment
GATT ................................................................................General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs
GBS ....................................................................................................... Global Biodiversity Strategy
GEF ....................................................................................................... Global Environment Facility
GoNWFP ................................................................... Government of North West Frontier Province
GoP........................................................................Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
HESS ...........................................................................................Household Energy Strategy Study
HYVs.............................................................................................................. High Yielding Varieties
ICBP .....................................................................Inter-governmental Council for Bird Preservation
IEE ................................................................................................Initial Environmental Examination
IPCC ......................................................................... Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change
IUCN-P ............................................................................ The World Conservation Union, Pakistan
MELGRD/MoE...................... Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development
NACS....................................................................................Northern Areas Conservation Strategy
NCCW .................................................................. National Council for the Conservation of Wildlife
NCS ................................................................................(Pakistan) National Conservation Strategy
NCSU .......................................................................................National Conservation Strategy Unit
NEQS ................................................................................National Environment Quality Standards
NGO............................................................................................... Non Governmental Organisation
NIAB .............................................................................Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology
NIBGE ............................................... National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
PA .............................................................................................................................. Protected Area
PEPA ................................................................................Pakistan Environment Protection Agency
PMNH ...................................................................................... Pakistan Museum of Natural History
PRA ..................................................................................................... Participatory Rural Appraisal
SDPI .................................................................................Sustainable Development Policy Institute
SPCS ................................................................................ Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy
UNEP................................................................................ United Nations Environment Programme
VOs.................................................................................................................. Village Organizations
WAPDA ............................................................................... Water & Power Development Authority
WRI...........................................................................................................World Resources Institute
WTO .........................................................................................................World Trade Organization
WWF-P.................................................................................World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan
ZSD....................................................................................................Zoological Survey Department
vi
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY
Biological diversity or biodiversity has been defined as:
the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter
alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species,
between species, and of ecosystems. (CBD 1992).
Diversity within species (or genetic diversity) refers to variability in the functional units of
heredity present in any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin. Species
diversity is used to describe the variety of species - whether wild or domesticated) within
a geographical area. Estimates of the total number of species (defined as a population of
organisms which are able to interbreed freely under natural conditions) range from 2 to
100 million, though less than 1.5 million have actually been described. Ecosystem
diversity refers to the enormous variety of plant, animal and micro-organism
communities and ecological processes that make them function.
In short, biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth. This variety provides the building
blocks to adapt to changing environmental conditions in the future.
1.2
WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?

Richness of species in an area indicates the total biodiversity of that particular area.
However, it increases with the complexity of an ecosystem and vice versa. All species
display genetic variation among individuals and populations. Genetic variation brings
natural selection and adaptability to changes in the environment, which ultimately
ensures species survival. Genetic diversity in domestic species and their wild relatives
enables researchers to develop improved varieties of animals and plants for human
needs. Diversity in wild plant species is major medicinal resource in Yunani Tib, and
40% of the allopathic drugs were originally made from wild medicinal plants, and it is
insurance for further food security.
Biodiversity provides free of charge services worth hundreds of billions of rupees every
year that are crucial to the well-being of Pakistans society. These services include clean
water, pure air, pollination, soil formation and protection, crop pest control, and the
provision of foods, fuel, fibres and drugs. As elsewhere, these services are not widely
recognized, nor are they properly valued in economic, or even social terms. Reduction in
biodiversity (including local extinction of species) affects these ecosystem services. The
sustainability of ecosystems depends to a large extent on the buffering capacity provided
by having a rich and healthy diversity of genes, species and habitats. In that respect,
biological diversity is like economic diversity in a city; it is essential for long term survival
and a sound investment in the future.
Conservation of biodiversity also makes good environmental sense. The air we breathe,
the water we drink and the soil that supports crop production are all products of the
complex interactions that occur among various living organisms on earth. If these vital
ecological services are damaged, so are the physical conditions maintained by the
worlds species and ecosystems. Losing biodiversity is a bit like losing the life support
systems that we, and other species, so desperately depend upon.
The conservation of biodiversity is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. It

provides flexibility and options for our current (and future) use of natural resources.
Almost 70% of the population in Pakistan lives in rural areas, and a large part of this
population depends directly or indirectly on natural resources. Conservation of
biodiversity is crucial to the sustainability of sectors as diverse as energy, agriculture,
forestry, fisheries, wildlife, industry, health, tourism, commerce, irrigation and power.
Pakistans development in the future will continue to depend on the foundation provided
by living resources and conserving biodiversity will ensure this foundation is strong.
1.3
THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)

The future of life on Earth captured worldwide attention at the Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992 when 155 nations, states and the European Union signed the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This act signalled their intention to form a
global alliance to protect habitats, species, and genes, to shift to sustainable modes of
resource use, and to make the necessary policy, economic and managerial adjustments
to guarantee that the benefits to be gained from the use of components of biological
diversity are equitably shared across local, regional, and global societies. The CBD was
signed by Pakistan in 1992 and ratified by the Cabinet in 1994.
Pakistan and other nations at Rio also adopted a comprehensive global work plan for
sustainable development and global environmental protection well into the 21st century.
Named 'Agenda 21', the plan contains 40 chapters of non-binding recommendations
spanning the full range of social, economic, and environmental issues. One chapter is
devoted to the conservation of biological diversity, and biodiversity-related activities are
featured throughout other chapters.
Having agreed to conserve biodiversity, foster the sustainable use of forests, fisheries,
agriculture and other resources, transfer related technologies, and share in financial
investments, Pakistan faces the question: how can the nation determine what steps to
take? Article 6 of the Convention calls for parties to:
develop national strategies, plans or programmes, or adapt existing plans, to
address the provisions of the Convention; and to integrate biodiversity work
into sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.
The preparation of conservation and development strategies and action plans is not new
to Pakistan. Pakistan has a well established procedure for the preparation of Five Year
Plans and Annual Development Plans. Pakistan has a National Conservation Strategy
(GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992) adopted as national policy in 1993 and accepted by the World
Bank as the National Environmental Action Plan. A Sarhad Provincial Conservation
Strategy (GoNWFP 1996) has been completed and other regional strategies (Northern
Areas, Balochistan) are in preparation. There are also a number of sectoral plans for
biological resources such as the Forestry Sector Master Plan (GOP 1992).
Pakistan has been involved in many aspects of biodiversity conservation including
national park planning, endangered species protection and recovery, and plant and
animal propagation and breeding. In some sectors, such as forestry, Pakistan has
worked at larger scales to manage watersheds. However, experience with planning and
implementing biodiversity-related measures has been limited. Pakistan has not yet
approached biodiversity planning and implementation in the comprehensive, integrated
manner required by the Convention.
Three processes used in sequence have been recommended for adoption in the
Convention: country studies (biodiversity assessment), national strategies (developing
goals and operational objectives), and action plans (identifying actions and
implementation measures). All three are components of a larger and quite flexible
process that can help countries build on existing institutions, programmes, investments,
and capabilities. This process is cyclical. It leads countries to periodically assess their
biota and capacity, identify an evolving set of priorities and actions for responding to new
opportunities, and prepare different reports to government, society and the Convention
on their findings and conclusions. The process is multi-sectoral, involving a wide range
of government ministries, private resource-using industries, and civil society. And finally,
it is adaptive. It is revised and reformulated as new information arrives, and the results
of previous activities and investments are continually assessed.
1.4
A BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN FOR PAKISTAN

This Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Pakistan is a first attempt to meet the planning
requirements of the Convention. It rolls into one the three sequential processes called
for under the Convention (the country study, national strategy, and action plan). The
Pakistan BAP provides a brief assessment of the status and trend of the nations
biodiversity (Chapter 2), outlines strategic goals and objectives (Chapter 3), and
identifies a plan of action that includes coordination arrangements and implementation
measure (Chapters 4, 5, and 6).
Preparation of the BAP has been carried out under an agreement between the
Government of Pakistan and the World Bank under the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) Trust Fund. The World Conservation Union, Pakistan (IUCN-P) was selected as
the lead agency in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWFP).
Broad participation has been sought through a consultative process which has included:
periodic oversight by the national Biodiversity Working Group constituted by the Ministry
of Environment, Urban Affairs, Forests and Wildlife (now the Ministry of Environment,
Local Government, and Rural Development); a national level consultative workshop
attended by 87 scientists and managers concerned with biodiversity issues; the
preparation of a number of background papers by experts on sectoral and cross-cutting
issues; and distribution of a draft BAP and its review at five provincial consultative
workshops attended by 172 participants. For a full review of the consultative process
leading up to BAP preparation, see Annex 1.
While the BAP necessarily covers much of the same ground covered by the National and
Provincial Conservation Strategies, it is more focused on biodiversity and therefore
provides a new and important perspective. Biodiversity conservation in Pakistan will be
better served, at least initially, by a distinctive and focused action plan. Such a plan can
promote awareness, unleash political will, and funding. The planning exercise will also
be the subject of Pakistan's first National Report to the Conference of the Parties on the
implementation of the CBD.
Chapter 2
BIODIVERSITY IN PAKISTAN - A REVIEW
2.1
CURRENT STATUS
Biogeography
Pakistan covers a land area of 882,000 km2 (Fig. 1), almost all of which might be
considered part of the watershed of the River Indus. From the Arabian Sea coast and the
mouths of the Indus near the Tropic of Cancer, Pakistan extends some 1,700 km
northward to the origins of the Indus among the mountains of the Himalayas, Hindu Kush
and Karakorum, whose peaks exceed 8,000 metres (K-2, 8,611 m, the second highest in
the world). Pakistan has a coastline of about 1,046 km with 22,820 km2 of territorial
waters and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 196,600 km2.
The land mass of Pakistan originated in the continent of Gondwanaland which is thought
to have broken off from Africa, drifted across the Indian Ocean, and joined mainland Asia
some 50 million years ago. With the creation of a land-bridge between Gondwanaland
and south-east Asia, Indo-Malayan life-forms are thought to have invaded the evolving
subcontinent, and these now predominate in Pakistan east of the River Indus. The north
and west of the country is dominated by Palaearctic forms. Some Ethiopian forms have
become established in the south-western part. Some 20 million years ago, the gradual
drying and retreat of the Sea of Tethys created the Indus lowlands, and a violent
upheaval 13 million years ago gave rise to the Himalayas. A series of Pleistocene 'iceages', the last ending just 10,000 years ago, gave rise to some unique floral and faunal
associations.
With its dramatic geological history, broad latitudinal spread and immense altitudinal
range, Pakistan spans a remarkable number of the world's broad ecological regions.
According to various classification systems (UNEP 1995), Pakistan includes examples of
three of the world's eight biogeographic 'realms' (the Indo-Malayan Realm, Palaearctic
Realm and Africotropical Realm), four of the world's ten 'biomes' (the desert biome,
temperate grassland biome, tropical seasonal forest biome and mountain biome) and
three of the world's four 'domains' (the polar/montane domain, humid temperate domain,
and dry domain).
Pakistan's seas fall biogeographically within the 'Arabian Seas Region 11' (Kelleher et al.
1995). The coastal area from Pakistan west to Somalia is considered by Hayden et al.
(1984) to be the coastal-margin realm, 'Eastern Monsoon (J)'. Regarding its fauna, the
Pakistani coast is considered the western-most extent of the vast Indo-Polynesian
province.
Ecological Zones and Agro-ecosystems
Pakistan supports a wide array of ecosystems. However, any description of the natural
ecological zones of Pakistan must be qualified by the statement that these zones have
been so widely affected by human activity that very few truly natural habitats remain. To
date, no systematic attempt has been made to define the ecological zones of Pakistan.
Roberts (1991) has provided an initial classification of terrestrial ecosystems within 12
major vegetative zones (Fig. 2). These range from the permanent snowfields and cold
deserts of the mountainous north to the arid sub-tropical zones of Sindh and
Figure 1: Map of Pakistan
Balochistan; from the dry temperate coniferous forests of the inner Himalayas to the
tropical deciduous forests of the Himalayan foothills, the steppe forests of the Suleiman
Range and the thorn forests of the Indus plains; and from the swamps and riverine
communities of the Indus and its tributaries to the mangrove forests of the Indus delta
and Arabian Sea coast.
The coast of Pakistan forms the northern boundary of the Arabian Sea, where
oceanographic influences dominate over those of the continent, which is essentially a
sub-tropical desert. The only major freshwater input comes from the Indus at the eastern
extremity, which discharges some 200 km3 of water and 450 million tonnes of suspended
sediment annually. This creates the Indus Cone, a 2,500 m deep pile of loose sediment
on the floor of the Arabian Sea which fans away from the mouth of the river as a vast,
sub-aqueous delta.
Coastal ecosystems include: numerous deltas and estuaries with extensive inter-tidal
mudflats and their associated wetlands (the Indus Delta has an estimated 3,000 km2 of
delta marshes); sandy beaches; rocky shores; mangroves (four species); and
seagrasses (as yet not well described). The seas of Pakistan are the richest in
phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Arabian Sea Region (Pernetta 1993).
Through the conversion of natural habitats to agricultural use, a number of distinct agroecosystems have been created in Pakistan. The 1992 Forestry Sector Master Plan
identifies nine main agro-ecological zones. The irrigated plains of Pakistan constitute the
largest irrigated system in the world. Here, agro-ecosystems have almost entirely
replaced the original tropical thorn forests, swamps and riverain communities of the
Indus plains.
Species Richness and Endemism in Pakistan
Species richness is only one measure of biological diversity but the use of this parameter
to assess biodiversity is limited by the fact that many species, particularly insects, fungi
and micro-organisms, remain to be identified. Little work has yet been done to evaluate
other measures of biodiversity in Pakistan, including taxonomic and functional diversity,
and the amount of genetic variability within species and their sub-divided populations.
Because Pakistan is largely bounded by man-made borders and does not comprise an
isolated entity in biogeographic terms, relatively few species are found only in Pakistan.
Thus, Pakistan has relatively low national rates of endemism for some species (about
7% for flowering plants and reptiles, and 3% for mammals; Table 1) but higher for freshwater fish (15%). However, the proportion of 'restricted range' species occurring in
Pakistan is much higher, and for many of these species, Pakistan contains the bulk of
the global population.
Mammals
Up to 174 mammal species (including yet to be published information from PMNH) have
been reported to occur in Pakistan (Table 1). There are at least three endemic species &
a number of endemic and near-endemic subspecies. Species belonging to the Palaearctic realm occur largely in the Himalayan and Balochistan uplands; those belonging to
the Indo-Malayan realm occur primarily in the Indus plains including the Thar desert and
Himalayan foothills. In addition, species with affinities to the Ethiopian region occur in the
dry southwest and along the Makran coast and Thar desert of Pakistan (Roberts 1997).
Figure 2: Major Vegetative Zones of Pakistan (after Roberts 1991)
Birds
At least 668 species of birds have been recorded in Pakistan (Table 1), of which 375 are
recorded as breeding (Roberts 1991, Z.B. Mirza, pers. comm.). A high percentage of
Pakistan's bird fauna is migratory, with a huge invasion of Palaearctic winter visitors
(over 30% of recorded species; Roberts 1991).
One third of Pakistan's bird species have Indo-Malayan affinities, and the remaining
Palaearctic; of the latter, about one third are more specifically Sino-Himalayan in
distribution (Roberts 1991). The Suleiman Range, Hindu Kush, and Himalaya in NWFP
and Azad Kashmir comprise part of the Western Himalayan Endemic Bird Area; this is a
global centre of bird endemism with 10 restricted range species in Pakistan. The Indus
valley wetlands constitute a secondary area of endemism, with one restricted range
species.
Reptiles and amphibians
Over 177 species of reptiles are known in Pakistan, (Chelonia 14, Crocodilia 1, Sauria
90, Serpentes 65). Of these, 13 species are believed to be endemic (Table 1). As with
other groups, these are a blend of Palaearctic, Indo-Malayan and Ethiopian forms. One
genus, the monospecific Teratolepsis, is endemic, while another, Eristicophis, is nearendemic. The Chagai Desert is of particular interest for reptiles, with six species endemic
to Pakistan and a further six species found only here and in bordering parts of Iran.
Important populations of marine turtles nest on Pakistan's southern beaches. As
Pakistan is a predominantly arid and semi-arid country, it is not surprising that only 22
species of amphibians have been recorded, of which 9 are endemic.
Fish
Pakistan has 198 freshwater fish species, including introduced species. This fish fauna
is predominantly south Asian, with some west Asian and high Asian elements. There are
29 endemic species. Also noteworthy are the 9 species of snow trout (sub-family
Schizothoracinae) which occur in rivers of the northern mountains. Species richness is
highest in the Indus river plains, the Kirthar Range and the Himalayan foothills, while the
river systems of north-east Balochistan have the highest levels of endemism. Almost
800 species of fish have been recorded in Pakistan's coastal waters; however, no
analysis of their population status and distributional range is available.
Invertebrates
Known species of invertebrates represent only a small proportion of the actual number
likely present in Pakistan. However, some taxa are better known than others, especially
for marine invertebrates (Table 1). Among the best known are also the Lepidoptera
(butterflies), and at least two books on the butterflies of Pakistan are in preparation. The
total number of butterfly species probably exceeds 400, with high rates of endemism in
the Satyrids, Lycaenids and Pierids (PMNH data). Butterflies of high altitudes are largely
either endemic or are derived from boreal fauna from the west. In the northern mountains
alone, 80 species with many endemics, have been recorded (Hasan 1997).
Sofar, more than 5000 species of insects have been identified in Pakistan including 1000
species of Heteroptera, 400 species of Lepidoptera, 110 species of Diptera, 49 species
of Isoptera, 109 species of Polychaetes, over 700 marine molluscs, 100 species of land
snails, and 355 species of nematodes (see also section on Soil Biodiversity).
Plants
About 5,700 species of flowering plants (Angiosperms) have been reported to date in the
'Flora of Pakistan (Nasir and Ali 1970), including both native and introduced species
8
(Table 1). In a preliminary analysis of the flora of Pakistan, Ali and Qaiser (1986) found
that the number of species per genus is much lower than the global average, indicating a
high diversity at the generic level; and that the flora includes elements of six
phytogeographic regions, being in order of importance: the Mediterranean, Saharo
Sindian, Euro-Siberian, Irano-Turanian, Sino-Japanese, and Indian. The families with the
largest numbers of species are the Compositae (649 species), Poaceae (597),
Papilionaceae (439), Brassicaceae (250), and Cyperaceae (202). Among the lower
plants, there are at least 189 pteridophytes (ferns and their allies), of which 153 are SinoHimalayan elements and 36 Euro-Siberian.
Four monotypic genera of flowering plants (Douepia, Suleimania, Spiroseris,
Wendelboa), and around 400 species (7.8%) are endemic to Pakistan (R. Rafiq, pers.
comm.). Most endemics are Irano-Turanian and Sino-Japanese elements. Almost 80%
of Pakistan's endemic flowering plants are confined to the northern and western
mountains (Ali and Qaiser 1986). Here, two phytogeographic provinces can be
distinguished: the Balochistan Province and the Western Himalayan Province. The
Kashmir Himalayas in particular are identified as a global centre of plant diversity and
endemism. Families with more than 20 recorded endemics are Papilionaceae (57
species), Composite (49), Umbelliferae (34), Poaceae (32) and Brassicaceae (20); 31 of
the endemics belong to the genus Astragalus, the largest genus in Pakistan with about
134 species (R. Rafiq, pers. comm.). New endemics are still being discovered.
Soil Biodiversity and Microbes
Soil biodiversity comprising populations of nematodes, annelids, snails and slugs, microarthopods, millipedes, centipedes, termites, and other micro-organisms such as algae,
fungi, protozoan, and bacteria represents the largest group of living organisms.
Estimates suggest that only 10% of the soil biodiversity and of other microbes has, so
far, been studied and described. These organisms can be both extremely beneficial as
well as damaging in different environments.
The fauna of plant parasitic nematodes in Pakistan includes 191 species belonging to 56
genera, 36 sub-families, 21 families, 9 super-families, 3 sub-orders, and 3 orders
(Maqbool et al., 1992). Plant parasitic nematodes are known to affect crop yields, quality
of the product produced and limited utilization of the nutrients. Burrowing, cyst, dagger,
lance, reniform, root-knot, seedgull, sheath, and stunt nematodes are common in
Pakistan and can cause 5-20% damage to host plants. Damages due to root rot disease
produce a loss of up to 10-80% in different vegetable crops and fruit trees (Abdul Aziz
Khan, pers. comm.).
In Pakistan, the information on soil biodiversity and microbes is very limited except for
soilborne fungi and nematodes for which reliable and published research data are
available (Mirza and Qureshi 1978; Ghaffar 1984). For root infecting fungi, Soilborne
Diseases Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Karachi, have identified
more than 169 host plants. More than 4500 species of fungi (Naseem, pers. comm.)
have been reported from Pakistan including: 24 genera and 68 species of Ascomycetes;
216 genera and 881 species of Basidiomycetes; 256 genera and 1321 species of
Deutromycetes; and two genera and four species of Myceliasterilia. A total of 775
species of algae has also been reported (Shameel, pers. comm.).
According to the Greek philosopher Aristotles, earthworms are the soil builders and ecosystem engineers. They maintain and enhance soil fertility by way of adding nitrogen,
phosphorus, potash, and magnesium and sodium to the soil. Not more than 20 species
are known from Pakistan. Studies on their distribution and their relation with different
ecosystems have not been attempted. A total of 50 termite species have so far been
recorded from Pakistan (Ahmad & Akhtar 1994).
Table 1: Species Richness and Endemics for Major Plant and Animal Groups in
Pakistan. Reviewed by M. Farooq Ahmad (ZSD)

Total Reported in Pakistan
Endemics
Threatened
Mammals
1741
62
203
Birds
6684
253
Reptiles
1771
135
66
Amphibians
227
98
17
Fish (freshwater)
1981
291
16
Fish (marine)
7889
59
Echinoderms
2510
210
Molluscs (Marine)
76911
811
Crustaceans (Marine)
28712
612
Annelids (Marine)
10113
113
Insects
>50001
Angiosperms
570014
38015
Gymnosperms
2114
Pteridophytes
18916
Algae
77517
2017
Fungi
>450018
218
13
14
PMNH data
T. J. Roberts, 1997
3
Mallon 1991
4
Z. B. Mirza (CERC)
5
Hafizur Rehman (ZSD)
6
IUCN Red List 1996
Fahmida Iffat (ZSD)

M. S. Khan (Herpetological Lab)
9
M. Farooq Ahmad, 1998
10
Qaseem Tahira (Karachi Univ.)
11
Itrat Zehra (KU)
12
Naseem Ghani, Sabahat(KU)
Javed Mustaquim (KU)

S. I. Ali (KU)
15
Rubina Rafiq (National Herbarium)
16
Fraser - Jenkins, 1991
17
Mustafa Shameel (KU)
18
A. Naseem
Genetic Diversity of Domesticated Species

Crop genetic diversity
Cultivated plant biodiversity may be characterised as the genetic variation existing
among species, local land races, primitive cultivars and microbial species that have been
domesticated, often including their immediate wild relatives. The conservation and
sustainable use of crop genetic diversity is key to improving agricultural productivity and
food security. Pakistan is rich in indigenous crop diversity with an estimated 3,000 taxa
of cultivated plants (U.K. Baloch, pers. comm.). There are around 500 wild relatives of
our cultivated crops, most of which are found in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Ayub Q.
Pres. Comm.). As a matter of fact, northern and western Pakistan comprise one of the
world centres of the origin and diversity of cultivated plants. The oldest civilizations of
Taxila, Harappa and Mohenjodaro domesticated species such as wheat, egg plant,
pigeon pea and cucumber, whereas Northern Areas became the centre of diversity for
several nut fruits. Many wild and local cultivars survived in Pakistan up to the era of the
green revolution. However, with the introduction of new high yield crop varieties of food
and cash crop, expansion of land for cultivation, deforestation and construction of dams,
severe threats to wild and weedy land races of cultivated crops have been posed. The
10
principal crops in Pakistan are wheat, rice, maize, barely, pulses, oil seeds, cotton,
sugarcane, tobacco, vegetables and fruits (both tropical and temperate). The genetic
diversity of these crop plants are still prevalent in the form of wild relatives and local land
races.
Recognizing the importance of preserving crop genetic diversity, Government of Pakistan
started collections of indigenous plant germplasm in the early 1970's. Today, there are
over 15,600 germplasm accessions from more than 40 different crops maintained by the
Plant Genetic Resources Institute (NARC, Islamabad). Over 50% of the germplasm has
been evaluated and presented in respective crop catalogues (U.K. Baloch, pers. comm.).
Livestock genetic diversity
The Indian subcontinent was one of the first places to domesticate cattle, buffalo and
chicken. Pakistan now has two breeds of buffalo, eight cattle, one yak, 25 of goat, 28 of
sheep, one of horse, four of camel, and three of indigenous poultry. The buffalo breeds
Nili-Ravi and Kundi are dairy breeds. Among the cattle, there are two dairy breeds
(Sahiwal, Red Sindhi), five draught breeds (Bhagnari, Dhanni, Dajal, Lohani, Rojhan)
and one dual-purpose breed (Tharparkar or Thari); however, pure-bred animals are
believed to constitute only 20-25% of the cattle population. Of the sheep breeds, 14 are
thick-tailed and 14 thin-tailed. Almost 75-80% of Pakistan's domestic livestock breeds
are derivatives of established breeds and the proportion of non-descript livestock to
pure stock is on the increase, (I. Husain, pers comm.).
2.2
RECENT TRENDS IN PAKISTAN

The ecological trend of greatest concern in Pakistan today is the continuing loss,
fragmentation and degradation of natural and modified habitats: the forest area, already
greatly reduced and fragmented, is suffering further loss and degradation; most
rangelands are suffering further degradation; and many freshwater and marine
ecosystems have already been lost or are threatened with further destruction. Also of
great concern in Pakistan today is the continuing decline in many native species of
animals and plants; some species are already extinct, many are internationally
threatened, and more still are of national concern. The degradation of agro-ecosystems
and the accelerating loss of domesticated genetic diversity are also of grave concern in
Pakistan.
Loss of Natural Habitats
While the loss, fragmentation and degradation of natural habitats in the territory of
Pakistan has been taking place for centuries, the last few decades have seen a
particularly rapid acceleration in this process. This trend is most evident in the remaining
upland forests, scrub forests and mangrove forests, arid and semi-arid rangelands
(including sand dune deserts), inland wetlands, Indus Delta and coastal waters.
Forests
According to the Forestry Sector Master Plan (GOP 1992), forests, scrub, and planted
trees on farmlands cover 4.2 million ha or 4.8% of the country. However, if plantations
(generally single species, and hence of limited biodiversity value) are excluded, the total
area of natural and modified coniferous, scrub, riverine and mangrove forests is less
than 3.5 million ha (4% of the country). If scrub forests are excluded, the total area of
'tall-tree' forest falls to just 2.4 million ha (2.7%), of which four-fifths (2 million ha) have
'sparse' cover (patchy forests with <50% cover). More specifically, more than half of
Pakistan's remaining mangrove forests, more than two-thirds of remaining riverine
forests, and more than nine-tenths of remaining coniferous forests have less than 50%
canopy cover. Good quality (>50% cover) 'tall tree' forest in Pakistan covers less than
400,000 ha (under one two-hundredth part of the country). The remaining forests,
11
fragmented and degraded as they are, appear to be rapidly disappearing.

Two recent studies suggest that Pakistans woody biomass is declining at a rate of 4 to
6% per year (GOP 1992, Hosier 1993). Consumption (primarily for household firewood)
exceeds production in all provinces except in the relatively sparsely populated Northern
Areas; consumption is expected to increase in line with human population growth at
about 3% per year. Both studies concluded that Pakistans woody biomass could be
totally consumed within the next 10 to 15 years.
The Household Energy Strategy Study (HESS; Hosier 1993) drew five lessons for
sustainability. First, sustainability is only possible if more trees are planted, and
conversion from old-growth biomass to farmland plantations will result in serious
environmental degradation. As old growth forests are far more valuable for biodiversity
than new growth, it is critical that this transition takes place as soon as possible.
Second, a high level of planting must be maintained. Third, good tree management is
vital; if the survival rate is less than 75%, commensurately more trees would need to be
planted. Fourth, consumption can be significantly reduced by improved efficiency of
fuelwood use and substitution with more modern fuels. And finally, no matter what the
level of planting, population growth will eventually drive fuelwood demand so high that
forest stocks will be destroyed. Hosier (1993) derives two policy implications: first, that
family planning programmes must be given a high priority, and second, that economic
growth is essential to enable more households to shift to modern fuels.
Regional case studies support the growing body of evidence for this approaching
national disaster. In the upland coniferous forests, for example, a systematic study of the
Siran project area (Hazara Division, NWFP) has indicated a 52% decline in the forest
resource between 1967 and 1992. The study concludes that if present trends continue,
the Siran forests will be gone within eight years (by the year 2005) (Archer 1996). Similar
trends have been observed in the Kaghan and Allai valleys in Hazara Division.
Moreover, plantation survival rates are well below the 75% target set by the HESS study.
The mangrove forests of the Indus Delta show a similarly dramatic decline. In the last 20
years, mangrove cover has been halved from 2,600 km2 in the late 1970s (Pernetta
1993) to 1,300 km2 in the mid 1990s. Once the largest mangrove forests in arid areas of
the world, this national heritage is now quickly disappearing (Saifullah, 1997).
It is now feared that Pakistan is having the world's second highest rate of deforestation.
This destruction is leading to the wholesale disappearance of trees, shrubs, and ground
flora together with the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna they normally support. The loss
of forest habitat has had a severe impact on Pakistans biodiversity, and has serious
implications for the nations other natural and agro-ecosystems.
Unfortunately, the moratorium on timber harvesting in Pakistan following the 1992 floods
has not been very effective. Further, the moratorium has reportedly resulted in increased
timber smuggling from Afghanistan. As most of this wood is extracted by the clear-felling
of forests in Kunar Province, and as these forests fall within the watershed of the Kabul
River, the adverse impacts of deforestation in Afghanistan will be felt downstream in
Pakistan.
Arid and semi-arid rangelands
Trends in biodiversity in Pakistan's arid and semi-arid rangelands, and to some extent in
Pakistan's northern alpine grasslands, are no less disturbing than those in Pakistan's
forest ecosystems. Pakistan has some 28.5 million ha of rangeland, of which 12.6 m
million ha are in Balochistan, 5.8 million ha in Punjab, 2.9 million ha in Sindh, 4.9 million
ha in NWFP, 1.6 million ha in the Northern Areas and 0.8 million ha in AJK; of the
rangelands in NWFP, Northern Areas and AJK, 1.05 million ha are alpine grasslands
(GOP 1992). Of Pakistan's non-alpine rangelands, 90% (27% of the total land mass of
12
Pakistan) have been degraded.

Degradation of rangelands reduces the diversity of flora, and changes the vegetative
composition. Increased competition for grazing affects wild herbivore populations
(rodents, lagomorphs, ungulates) and the reduced prey base can then only support
smaller populations of predators.
Wetlands and coastal waters
Freshwater flows in Pakistan's rivers have been substantially reduced by water diversion
in recent decades. This has degraded and fragmented freshwater habitats, and caused
increasing salinity in the Indus Delta. Many riverain wetlands have been drained and
converted to agriculture. Major barrages, such as the Taunsa and Guddu Barrages, act
as barriers to migrating fish and the Indus River Dolphin. This blockage of Indus River
flow to the ocean by dams and barrages is considered to be the most important manmade threat to biodiversity in the marine ecosystem of Pakistan (Ahmed, 1997). Most of
the natural lakes in Pakistan have disappeared over the last 50 years. However, several
new lakes have been created upstream of dams constructed in recent years on the
major rivers. Some of these have become important wintering areas for waterfowl, and
these and other wetlands, particularly in the great valleys of Sindh and Punjab, are
feeding grounds for large concentrations of ducks (Anatidae) and coots (Podicipitidae).
Among coastal ecosystems, mangrove forests are the most vulnerable to severe
changes (Amjad 1996). Along the coast of Sindh, mangroves play an economically
significant role protecting ports from excessive siltation, providing breeding grounds for
commercially important penaid shrimps and fish larvae, and sanctuaries for migratory
birds.
Depletion of Species, Populations and Wild Genetic Diversity
Extinct species
As an example of species loss, at least four mammal species are known to have
disappeared from Pakistan within the last 400 years: Tiger (Panthera tigris); Swamp
Deer (Cervus duvauceli); Lion (Panthera leo); and Indian One-horned Rhinoceros
(Rhinoceros unicornis). A further two species have probably gone extinct in recent
decades: Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus); and Hangul (Cervus elaphus
hanglu). The Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) has been listed as locally extinct but has
now been bred in captivity while the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus) is believed to be
threatened with extinction in Pakistan (Ahmad 1997).
Internationally threatened species
The latest 'IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals' (IUCN 1996) lists 37 species and 14
sub-species of internationally threatened or near-threatened mammals as occurring in
Pakistan. Of these, two are critically endangered, nine endangered, 11 vulnerable, 24
near-threatened, five data deficient and one conservation dependent. The critically
endangered mammals are Balochistan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) and
Chiltan Goat (Capra aegagrus chiltanensis). Other endangered mammals include Snow
Leopard (Uncia uncia), Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor), Markhor (Capra
falconeri), Urial (Ovis vignei), and Woolly Flying Squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus)
Internationally threatened bird species occurring in Pakistan include 25 internationally
threatened (one critically endangered, two endangered, 22 vulnerable) and 17
internationally near-threatened bird species (IUCN 1996). The critically endangered bird
is the Lesser Florican (Eupodotis indica), while the Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus)
and Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) are listed as endangered.
13
Ten internationally threatened reptiles occur in Pakistan (three endangered, three

vulnerable, three near-threatened and one data deficient), but there are no internationally
threatened amphibians.
Species of national concern
Lists of internationally threatened species show only the tip of the iceberg. While there is
little data available to demonstrate the decline of species' populations in Pakistan, the
accelerating loss and fragmentation of natural habitats clearly implies such declines.
Habitat fragmentation isolates populations of a species, exposing the species to a higher
rate of loss of genetic diversity and a higher risk of extinction. While a few preliminary
attempts have been made to draw up national lists of threatened species, including a list
of some 500 species of plant species believed to be nationally rare or threatened (Davis
et al. 1986), no comprehensive and systematic list of species of national concern has
been compiled for Pakistan. Such a list would include: species which are nationally rare
and declining; those which are nationally rare, not declining, but otherwise at risk (e.g.
from population fluctuations, natural catastrophes, persecution, etc.); those which are
highly localised in distribution; and those which are still widespread and common but are
suffering significant decline.
Degradation of Agro-ecosystems and Domestic Genetic Diversity
Pakistan's agro-ecosystems are experiencing a number of trends damaging to
biodiversity. These include soil loss, waterlogging, salination, intensification of
production, and the increased use of pesticides. Soil degradation, waterlogging, and
salination all reduce the productivity of agricultural lands, reducing the capacity of these
lands to sustain soil micro-organisms, invertebrates and higher trophic levels, and
indirectly placing greater human demand on natural biodiversity resources.
Intensification reduces floral and faunal diversity in crops and field margins.
Globally, the genetic diversity of many crops is eroding. This is mainly due to the
development during this century of very uniform cultivars, grown in very uniform
environments, created by using the same sophisticated agricultural practices throughout.
The spread of cultivars in Pakistan is expected to lead to an erosion of primitive crop
genetic variety. It is estimated that more than 90% of primitive cultivars/landraces of
major food crops in Pakistan has already disappeared.
Critically Threatened Ecosystems
Given the widespread historic conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture in
Pakistan, the already highly advanced and rapidly accelerating depletion of habitats, and
the continuing depletion of species and populations, almost all remaining natural or
modified ecosystems in Pakistan are now critically threatened.
No systematic and comprehensive assessment has yet been made with the aim of
objectively ranking the biodiversity importance of Pakistan's remaining natural
ecosystems and habitats. However, based on various reports (e.g. Mallon 1991, ICBP
1992) and the opinions of recognised authorities (e.g. Roberts, pers. comm., R. Rafiq,
pers. comm.), at least ten ecosystems of particular value for their species-richness
and/or unique communities of flora and fauna are threatened with habitat loss and
degradation (Table 2). Given their biodiversity importance and the high level of threat,
these ecosystems are considered to be of critical concern for conservation.
Table 2: Critically Threatened Ecosystems in Pakistan
ECOSYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS
Extensive mangroves
SIGNIFICANCE
Rich avian and
THREATS
Reduced freshwater
14
2.3.
ECOSYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS
SIGNIFICANCE
THREATS
Indus delta
and coastal
wetlands
and mudflats
Inadequate protected
area coverage
marine fauna
Diverse mangrove
habitat
Marine turtle
habitat
flow from diversions

upstream
Cutting mangroves for
fuelwood
Drainage of coastal
wetlands
Indus river
and
wetlands
Extensive wetlands
Migratory flyway
of global
importance
Habitat for Indus
river dolphin
Water
diversion/drainage
Agricultural
intensification
Toxic pollutants
Chagai
desert
A desert of great
antiquity
Many endemic
and unique
species
Proposed mining
Hunting parties from
the Gulf
Balochistan
juniper
forest
Huge and ancient

junipers
Largest remaining
juniper forest in
the world
Unique flora and
fauna
Fuelwood cutting &

overgrazing
Habitat fragmentation
Chilghoza
forest
(Suleiman
Range)
Rock outcrops with

shallow mountain
soils
Important wildlife
habitat for several
species at risk
Fuelwood cutting &

overgrazing
Illegal hunting
Balochistan
subtropical
forests
Mid-altitude forests
with sparse canopy
but rich associated
flora
Very few areas

now remain
Important wildlife
habitat
Fuelwood cutting &

overgrazing
Balochistan
rivers
Not connected with

the Indus River
System
Unique aquatic
fauna and flora
with high levels of
endemism
Water
diversion/drainage
Overfishing
Tropical
deciduous
forests
(Himalayan
foothills)
Extend from the

Margalla Hills NP east
to Azad Kashmir
Perhaps the most

floristically rich
ecosystems of
Pakistan
Fuelwood cutting &

overgrazing
Moist and
dry
temperate
Himalayan
forests
Important forest tracts

now becoming
increasingly
fragmented
Global hotspot for

avian diversity;
important wildlife
habitat
Commercial logging
Fuelwood cutting &
overgrazing
1
0
TransHimalayan
alps and
plateaux
Spectacular mountain
scenery
Unique flora and

fauna; center of
endemism
Fuelwood cutting &

overgrazing
Illegal hunting
Unregulated tourism
Habitat fragmentation
DIRECT CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN PAKISTAN

The current losses of biodiversity have both direct and indirect (root) causes. The direct
causes include activities resulting in the loss and degradation of habitats, overexploitation of plant and animal species, agricultural intensification, pollution, invasion by
15
introduced species, and climate change.

Activities Causing Habitat Loss
Loss of habitats is the principal cause of the present high rate of global extinctions, and
poses a severe threat in all biomes (UNEP 1995). There is no 'safe', non-trivial level of
habitat loss which would not increase the risk of extinction of some species. No network
of carefully selected reserves would suffice to protect all species. Changes in habitat
quality, while less extreme than habitat loss, affect plant and animal populations. For
many species, the consequences of even subtle changes in habitat quality can be
confidently predicted from existing knowledge of their habitat requirements. Habitat
fragmentation increases the risk of extinction by isolating small pockets of previously
more connected populations. Small, isolated populations are more vulnerable to the loss
of genetic variability, and run a greater risk of extinction.
Deforestation
The principal direct cause of deforestation is the consumption of fuelwood and timber.
This consumption has already been detailed in relation to trends in forest loss,
fragmentation, and degradation (see 2.2).
Grazing and fodder collection
The principal direct cause of degradation of Pakistan's rangelands and forests is the
rapidly increasing domestic livestock population. Between 1945 and 1986, numbers of
cattle almost doubled, while the numbers of buffaloes, sheep and goats more than tripled
(GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992). Overall livestock numbers continue to increase at a rate of 2%
per year. While much of this increase has been fed by the production of fodder within
irrigated areas, persistent over-grazing has reduced forage production in Pakistan's
rangelands to one-third the potential (a loss of almost 50 million tonnes per year), and in
some areas to as low as 15% of potential forage production (GOP/JRC 1992). The
problem is particularly acute in Balochistan.
Soil erosion
Both wind and water erosion are exacerbated by a reduction in vegetation cover resulting
from agricultural activities and overstocking. Water erosion is not only a particular
problem of the Northern Areas and NWFP, but it also affects the agro-ecosystems of the
Barani lands (eg. the Potwar plateau) and the Suleiman Rod Kohi (GOP/JRC 1992) e.g.
about 11 million ha of Pakistan are affected by water erosion and the consequent mass
wastage of soil. Water erosion results in increasing sedimentation of wetlands and
resulting habitat degradation.
While wind erosion is not a major problem as water erosion, some two million ha of
Pakistan (of which 1.5 million ha are in the Punjab) are experiencing moderate to severe
wind erosion. The light soils of the Potwar Plateau, and the sandy soils of the Thal and
Cholistan deserts, are particularly vulnerable. The sandy deserts of Thal, Cholistan,
Thar, and Chagai-Kharan suffer from the linked problem of shifting sand dunes. In
Balochistan, falling water-tables due to the excessive pumping of water are causing a
loss of vegetation cover and accelerated erosion. The loss of soil through water and
wind erosion implies the loss of soil organisms, plant diversity, and the population of
animals these plants support.
Water diversion and drainage
The diversion of water for irrigation, and the drainage of wetlands, are major causes of
wetland habitat degradation in Pakistan. The mean quantity of water entering the Indus
basin in Pakistan is 137.2 million acre-feet (MAF), of which 104 MAF are diverted at the
16
canal heads. Thus, 75% of the water entering the Indus basin in Pakistan is now diverted
and only 25% reaches the Indus Delta and the Arabian Sea (GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992).
Further major diversions are planned (e.g. the Ghazi Barotha project). Many small but
valuable wetlands created by seepage or overspill from the massive irrigation system in
the Punjab are threatened by drainage for agricultural land use. Others are threatened
by the discharge of saline water into the wetland, or by falling ground water levels due to
drainage programmes.
Activities Causing Species or Population Loss
Globally, many extinctions have resulted from human over-exploitation for food through
hunting and collection. The search for precious commodities and for zoo specimens,
medicinal plants, etc., has also impinged on some populations and obliterated others.
Hunting and trapping
Many bird and animal species are experiencing population declines in Pakistan due to
illegal hunting for sport, meat, trade and even persecution. There is a strong tradition of
hunting in Pakistan, and the impact of hunting has increased with the spread of modern
guns and greater mobility. Virtually all large mammals have declined in number and had
their range reduced as a result. A list of species thought to be declining due to
unregulated human use is given in Table 3.
Fishing
Marine catches have steadily increased, and further catch increases are not possible
without depleting stocks (Mallon 1991). However, the valuable shrimp fishery has begun
to show signs of over-exploitation: the number of boats has risen rapidly; there is a
tendency to fish in shallower waters; and there is an increased proportion of young
shrimp in the catch (Amjad 1996). Concern has also been expressed about the
incidental take of marine turtles by commercial shrimp trawlers using mechanised nets.
The introduction of new technology and bigger fishing trawlers have also increased the
tendency to over-exploit the fishery resource.
No data are available for native freshwater fish stock levels, but over-fishing is thought to
threaten native fish species in some rivers (e.g. in Balochistan) and inland wetlands (e.g.
Khinjar Lake).
Table 3: Human Use of Wildlife in Pakistan. Most of the species included are believed
to be declining partially (or wholly) due to this use.
Human Uses
Species Affected
Illegal hunting
Most ungulates, game birds, and waterfowl
Persecution (in response to livestock

and crop losses)
All predators (including brown and black bear, grey

wolf, snow leopard, common leopard and leopard
cat) as well as rhesus macaque.
Falconry
Saker, lagger and peregrine falcons
Domestication
Cranes, rhesus macaque, parrots, bears (dancing

and baiting)
Medicinal purposes
Rhesus macaque, bears, musk deer, dolphins,

pelicans, and lizards
Decoration
Most felids and mustelids (for fur); ungulates (for

trophies); crocodiles and snakes (for skins); turtles
(for shells and oil); and monal pheasant (for
17
Human Uses
Species Affected
feathers).
Over-exploitation of plants
Pakistan is rich in medicinal plant resources due to its varied climatic and edaphic
factors. Of the almost 6000 species of vascular plants reported to occur in Pakistan,
about 1000 species have been recognized to possess phyto-chemical properties.
Between 350-400 species are traded in different drug markets of the country and are
used by leading manufacturing units of Unani and Homeopathic medicines. Besides, a
number of medicinal plants and their derivatives required by pharmaceutical industries
are also imported under a liberal import policy of the Government for those drug plants
whose cultivation is not feasible in the country. Furthermore, about 40,000 - 50,000
tabibs (practitioner of Greco-Arabic medicine), vaids (practitioner of Ayurvedic and folkmedicine) and a number of un-registered practitioners scattered in rural and remote hilly
areas use more than 200 drug plants in traditional and folk-medicines as household
remedies for several diseases.
In recent years, there has been a consistent growth in the demand for plant-based drugs
and several plant products from a variety of species. This has given rise to large scale
collection and habitat degradation. It has resulted in the scarcity of a number of valuable
medicinal plant species and their wide range of chemical diversity is diminishing with the
present scale of selective extraction from natural habitats (R. M. Ashfaque, pers. comm.).
Agricultural Intensification
Irrigation causes degradation of agro-ecosystems when it results in increasing salinity,
sodicity, and waterlogging. This is an extremely serious problem in agro-ecosystems,
but has limited direct impact on natural ecosystems. Salinity and sodicity affect 2.1
million ha in Sindh and 2.6 million ha in the Punjab (GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992). Most of the
soils affected are of low agricultural potential, but nonetheless, almost 10% of Class I
and II soils are affected. WAPDA classify all areas with a water table within 1.5 m of the
surface as 'disastrous zones' and put this area at 5.3 million ha, against a total gross
canal command area of 16.4 million ha. The NCS gives a much lower 'disaster area' of
200,000 ha, defined as the area for which the water table lies within 1 m of the surface.
The principal cause of loss of crop genetic diversity in Pakistan, is the development and
increasing introduction and spread of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of crops. These
HYVs respond better to water and fertilizer, but has posed a tremendous genetic threat
to indigenous land races and primitive cultivars which were selected and maintained by
exploiting heterosis by Pakistan's farmers. The genetic erosion is well pronounced in
wheat, rice, sorghum, sugarcanes, and vegetables.
Though cross-breeding can lead to relatively rapid gains in productivity, it also increases
the rate of loss of genetic purity if the parental stock is not maintained. Some 75-80% of
Pakistan's domestic livestock are cross-breeds. There is an immediate need to monitor
this situation by conducting scientific surveys.
The agricultural use of pesticides and fertilisers has increased rapidly in recent years.
Pesticide use in Pakistan increased seven-fold in quantity between 1981 and 1992, from
915 million tonnes to 6,865 million tonnes (active ingredient), of which 80% were
organophosphates (Baloch 1995). Direct mortality of wildlife, especially birds, has been
frequently reported following the use of organophosphates. Pesticides destroy the
natural biotic balance in agricultural soils and reduce the diversity and abundance of
invertebrate fauna with a knock-on effect at higher trophic levels. The increasing
presence of pesticides in agricultural run-off results in both acute and chronic effects in
aquatic fauna and in fish-eating birds. It is estimated that 25% of all pesticides used in
18
Pakistan end up in the sea (M. F. Ahmad, pers. comm.).

The use of fertilisers grew at over 7% per year during the Sixth Five Year Plan
(GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992). Excessive use of nitrogenous fertilisers leads to eutrophication
of water channels and wetlands, the spread of aquatic vegetation, and reduced aquatic
diversity; Khurshid (1991) cites Haleji, Drigh and Patisar Lakes as examples. Effect of
hazardous chemical pesticides, fertilizers and those present in industrial effluents on
biological diversity, especially on microbial populations and varieties, is well established.
Preservation and quantification of the microbial population as a bench mark to see the
effect of these chemicals is essential.
Pollution
Pollutants can have direct negative impacts on ecosystems and may reduce or eliminate
populations of sensitive species as contamination reverberates along the food chain.
Globally, soil microbes have suffered from pollution as industry sheds heavy metals and
irrigated agriculture brings on salinisation. The excessive use of man-made chemicals,
such as pesticides (synthesized to kill insects, diseases and weeds), is not only a direct
threat to biodiversity but can also be toxic to human health through direct exposure or as
residues in food and drinking water. Marine pollution (particularly from oil) has defiled
many estuaries and coastal seas throughout the world.
In Pakistan, pollution is a growing problem particularly in urban areas and water courses
(both freshwater and marine). The discharge of sewage effluent and industrial waste into
aquatic and marine ecosystems in Pakistan is rapidly growing. The organic load of
sewage depletes oxygen levels in water and so reduces the diversity of animal and plant
life. Fish catches are reduced as a result of effluents added to the streams/natural
waters. Major cities dispose of largely untreated sewage into irrigation systems, streams
and rivers; Lahore alone discharges 240 million gallons of sewage per day mainly into
the River Ravi (GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992). The resultant loss of fish and contamination of
potential drinking water has considerable economic and health impacts on people in
Pakistan.
Industrial pollution is particularly severe in the large industrial centre of Karachi with a
population of over 12 million people. About 80% of the total wastewater remains
untreated and is discharged into the sea through sewers and rivers (mainly Lyari and
Malir). Many creeks and coastal waters in the Karachi areas exhibit eutrophication due to
high levels of organic pollution. The characteristic smell of hydrogen sulphide in parts of
the city is a sign of the intense bacterial activity from the presence of organic wastes.
Most coastal pollution is concentrated in Karachi Harbour where an estimated 90,000
tons of oil products from vessels and port terminals are dumped every year. Extremely
high levels of toxic heavy metals such as mercury have been documented, especially in
the coastal waters and sea floor near Karachi. These are likely to have both acute and
chronic toxic impacts on human beings, marine biodiversity, and fish-eating birds. The
impacts of these pollutants on the commercial fin-fish and shrimp fisheries are unknown,
but likely to be significant.
Introduced (Invasive) Species
Introduced, or alien invasive, species can have a significant negative impact on global
biodiversity. This form of bio-pollution has increased in recent years as the global
economy is spreading more creatures around - in ship ballast water, in containers and
even in commodities. Introduced species are responsible for many recorded species
extinctions, especially on islands, and are second only to habitat loss as a global cause
of extinction (Simberloff 1995). In Lake Victoria (Africa) for example, the introduction of
the Nile perch, a voracious predator, eliminated about 200 native fish species in the
largest single vertebrate extinction ever recorded (Bright 1998).
19
The introduction of exotic species can also be done on purpose by natural resource
managers most often to increase commercial production in agriculture, livestock, and
forestry. In countries such as South Africa, Chile, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden and
Finland, a majority of commercially planted forest tree species are introduced. This has
resulted in higher production of woody biomass than would otherwise have been
possible using only native tree species.
The effects of exotic species on the native fauna and flora of Pakistan have not been
well documented. In attempts to meet the increasing demands of a rapidly growing
human population, fast growing exotics have been introduced to alleviate shortages in
timber, fodder, and fuelwood. Prominent tree species include Eucalyptus, hybrid poplar
and Paulownia planted on farmlands and irrigated plantations. While these species do
not appear to have threatened indigenous vegetation so far, the introduction of Robinia,
Ailanthus, and Eucalyptus in the sub-tropical chir pine zone may pose threats to natural
habitats in the future (R.M. Ashfaque, pers. comm.).
Many primitive land races/cultivars and wild relatives of agricultural crops (such as
wheat, rice, pulses, sugar cane, and cotton) have suffered from genetic erosion due to
introduction of high yielding varieties of these crops, habitat degradation and the
excessive use of pesticides and herbicides (U.K. Baloch, pers. comm.). As the genetic
traits of local species are lost, the ability to adapt to local environments and climates, and
to tolerate diseases is greatly reduced.
Extreme care is required in the selection of species to be introduced to minimize any
impacts on native species. Introductions should be considered only if absolutely
necessary and should be accompanied by strategies to assess the magnitude of any
threats to indigenous species. Where practical, indigenous flora and fauna should be
restored to reduce loss of native biodiversity.
Global Climate Change
Average global temperature has been rising for more than a century, either as a result of
natural fluctuation or the build-up of greenhouse gases. Climate change is likely to
reduce biodiversity, and the goods and services that ecosystems supply in Pakistan by:
- increasing desertification in arid and semi-arid areas;
- flooding of the Indus Delta by rising sea waters with a consequent reduction
in mangrove cover, and the loss of sandy beaches;
- increasing summer flooding in monsoon-affected areas;
- the retreat of glaciers and an upwards shift in ecological zones in the
Himalaya-Hindu Kush-Karakorum;
- the desiccation and die-back of forests;
- reduced agricultural production; and
- changes in marine fisheries.
2.4
INDIRECT (ROOT) CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN PAKISTAN

The direct mechanisms of biodiversity loss described above are not the root of the
problem. As the Global Biodiversity Strategy points out, the roots of the crisis are not
'out there' in the forest or the rangelands, but embedded in the way we live. The Global
Biodiversity Strategy identifies six fundamental causes of biodiversity loss:
-
the unsustainably high rate of human population growth and consumption;

economic systems that fail to value the environment and its resources;
inequity in the ownership, management and flow of benefits from both the use
and conservation of biological resources;
deficiencies in knowledge and its application;
20
legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable exploitation; and

the steadily narrowing spectrum of traded products from agriculture, forestry
and fisheries.
While these causes are common to most countries, the relative importance of each
cause, and the particular ways in which each is manifest, are particular to each country
and will be discussed for Pakistan below.
Increasing Demand for Natural Resources
Population growth
Though people are without doubt the most valuable resource in Pakistan, uncontrolled
growth in their numbers puts undue pressures on all other national resources.
Unrestrained population growth cannot continue without irreversible changes in
Pakistan's ecosystems, with dire consequences for the people themselves (GOP/JRCIUCN 1992). Pakistan's population grew from 31 million in 1951 to 110 million in 1991
and is estimated to be about 130.6 million today based on the 1998 census (National
Institute of Population Studies data). With a growth rate of 2.6%, among the highest in
Asia, Pakistan's population is expected to reach 200 million by the year 2010. The
proximate cause of this growth is a high fertility rate, about 5.3 living children per woman.
A corollary is a youthful age structure (about 45% of the population is under the age of
15), creating the potential for further rapid growth. The use of contraceptives among
married women have doubled, from 12% in 1991 to 24% in 1998 (Hakim et al. 1998).
Increasing natural resource consumption
While per capita consumption of natural resources in Pakistan is much lower than in
developed countries, the combination of population growth and growth in real economic
demand means a doubling of the demand for natural resources every 12 years. We
have already seen how the consumption of woody biomass for fuel and timber is
reducing the total growing stock at the alarming rate of 4% per year (GOP 1992). As an
energy-poor country, Pakistan has few alternatives, and these alternatives also pose
potential threats to biodiversity. The burning of animal wastes reduces soil biodiversity
by depriving soils of much-needed organic matter. The development of hydro-electric
power threatens considerable adverse impacts on biodiversity, unless siting alternatives
and mitigating measures are addressed early in the planning stage. The impact of these
growing energy demands on biodiversity will be particularly acute where higher
population densities and/or large-scale energy demands coincide with areas of high
biodiversity.
Low primary productivity
Increasing natural resource consumption is exacerbated in Pakistan by low primary
productivity in agriculture, rangelands, forestry, and fisheries. Increased productivity in
agriculture, animal husbandry, silviculture, and pisciculture would reduce pressures on
natural resources.
The low productivity of Pakistan's rangelands resulting from overstocking has already
been discussed. While there is very little scope for increasing the area of agricultural
land in Pakistan (almost all cultivable land is already cultivated), productivity per hectare
is among the lowest in the world (GOP/JRC-IUCN 1992). There are three main
contributing factors to this low productivity: limited availability of water; poor land and
crop management; and soil degradation. Because of the limited availability of water
under current water management regimes, only one-third of the available land suitable
for double-cropping is actually double-cropped. Low yields result from many factors,
including: soil deficiencies; inadequate seed-bed preparation in clay soils; limited
application of modern cropping techniques; the system of absentee landlords;
21
fragmentation of land holdings; poor access to capital for expansion and improvement;
poor level of new technology transfer to farmers; and, lack of advice concerning the use
and timing of farm inputs. Application of fertilizers and pesticides (for increased
production of food to feed increasing populations) has adversely affected soil microbial
population in the crop fields. Applying naturally occurring microbes for increased
production could be one solution to the diminishing microbial population in the
ecosystems. Many of the most harmful pesticides have now been banned in Pakistan
through recent amendments to the Pesticide Ordinance, 1971.
The scope for increased forest productivity, in particular through increased farm forestry,
is substantial. The main reasons given by farmers for not growing trees are lack of water
and land, while a shortage of advice and support to farmers are also identified as
constraints (GOP 1992). However, many marginal lands, including waterlogged and
slightly saline lands, have potential for plantation.
Forest productivity in irrigated forest plantations can be increased though additional
inputs in the form of better irrigation water management, regular tending operations and
timely felling and regeneration works. In the sub-mountainous forest and range areas,
scientific grazing management based on participatory principles could effectively
increase range productivity. Watersheds in the mountainous areas could be protected
and productivity increased by regulating the yield from the forest areas and applying
modern planting/regeneration techniques where possible. Wildlife production and
harvesting on a scientific basis and with the participation of local communities could also
increase the overall productivity of natural areas. There is also substantial scope for
increasing production of fish in Pakistan, particularly in fish ponds.
The Economic Causes of Biodiversity Loss
The main economic cause of the erosion of biodiversity is that there is an underlying
disparity between private versus social costs and benefits of biodiversity use and
conservation. Private costs and benefits refer to those losses and gains as perceived by
the immediate user of the environment: the farmer, the industrialist, the consumer.
Social costs and benefits refer to losses and gains that accrue to society as a whole.
Social and private interests often do not coincide: what is good for the individual may
impose costs on the rest of society - so-called 'externalities'. Sometimes, what is good
for society as a whole is also good for the individual, but no institutions exist for the
individual to capture this 'global value'. So, from the perspective of the individual, it pays
to exploit biodiversity. But from the point of view of society as a whole, it often pays to
seek ways of sustainably utilising that biodiversity and, on many occasions, it pays to
protect it in some outright fashion. 'Society' in this respect can be the local society, the
province, the nation, or the world as a whole. The main factors in this divergence
between private and social interests are market failure, and intervention failure. These
are exacerbated by weak property regimes, high discount rates, and the globalization of
the world economy (McNeely 1988).
Market failure
Freely functioning markets are based on narrow self-interest. The upstream polluter has
no incentive to account for the costs he imposes on a downstream user of the river. The
downstream 'externality' is being ignored by the upstream polluter. This failure arises
from the free functioning of the market place (Pearce and Moran 1994).
'Local market failures' of this kind are evident in the 'pollution' of many kinds of 'resource
streams' in Pakistan. For example, the so-called 'timber mafia' exploiting the Himalayan
forests do not need to concern themselves with the downstream siltation they are
causing, or the species they are depleting; once they have logged 'their' forest, they will
leave, and the nation will have to pay for the siltation of reservoirs and the reduction of
biological diversity. Similarly, the industrial effluents discharged in streams, natural
22
waters and canals lead to losses of biodiversity and productivity, especially in fish
catches. For example, the fish catch from River Ravi and its tributaries has been reduced
by 5,000 tonnes annually. Decisions are often taken to exploit natural resources in
Pakistan without taking full account of the social costs of habitat losses or extinction.
Conversely, the social benefits of conserving biodiversity are rarely taken into account.
Further, conventional methods of measuring national income in Pakistan (such as per
capita GNP) do not recognise the drawing down of the stock of natural capital, and
instead consider the depletion of national resources, i.e. the loss of national wealth, as
net income.
Many conservation activities yield 'global benefits. If, for example, biodiversity is
conserved in Pakistan's Himalayan forests, it yields a benefit to people in other countries,
both because they simply want it, and because they provide potentially important goods
(e.g. medicinal properties of plants) and biogeochemical services (eg. carbon
sequestration). But if Pakistan receives no financial or other resources to pay the
'incremental cost' of these 'global external benefits', it will have less incentive to look after
these biological resources. This has been called 'global market failure' (Pearce and
Moran 1994). This failure arises not from the functioning of the free market, but from the
fact that the markets are not there at all. They are 'missing markets'. When these global
missing markets coincide with local market failure and with intervention failure, as is the
case in relation to Pakistan's most important and unique ecosystems, they do much to
explain why biodiversity is disappearing.
Intervention failure
Governments have a habit of intervening in markets. They may do so with the best of
intentions. Indeed, they often intervene to remove the main elements of the externality
caused by market behaviour. This is exactly what environmental regulation does.
Unfortunately, a great many other interventions are contrary to the interests of
biodiversity, even where those interventions appear to serve some social purpose
(Pearce and Moran 1994).
The principal form of intervention failure is 'sub-optimal pricing' - for example, of timber,
agricultural products, water and energy. Underpricing is often deliberate, with the
intention of promoting greater use and thus contributing to national development. In
Pakistan, for example, irrigation water is underpriced (Pearce and Moran 1994), leading
to overuse, wastage, and the consequent degradation of aquatic habitats and agroecosystems. Energy is similarly underpriced to stimulate development, leading to
policies that obscure the environmental costs of energy production - whether based on
fossil fuels or hydro power (Banuri 1997).
Weak ownership
Market and intervention failures are exacerbated by the weak ownership regimes
characteristic of much of Pakistan's remaining natural habitats. A large proportion of
Pakistan's forests, rangelands, wetlands and coastal waters are open access resources,
or are ineffectively controlled under crumbling common property regimes, the centralised
state or absentee landlords. Exploitation is allocated to those who pay most for the
rights, not to those who most value the resource (McNeely 1988). The costs of
protecting species and ecosystems from exploitation can be prohibitive for owners, be
they government, communities or individuals, who often lack sufficient resources and
capacity to enforce regulations or other restrictions (McNeely 1988).
There is a growing tendency for multinational firms to take biological and genetic
materials as well as knowledge from indigenous cultural groups for their own study and
exploitation without acknowledging their sources. Many instances have surfaced recently
where multinationals have secured patents and intellectual property rights for the
commercial distribution of medicines and genetic materials derived from indigenous flora
23
and fauna. (A. H. Cheema, pers. comm.). National legislation is needed to check this
biopiracy; to regulate bioprospecting; and to protect sovereign property rights.
High discount rates
Market and intervention failures are also exacerbated by uncertainty linked, for example,
to changing patterns of labour, policies and prices. In an uncertain future, the time
horizon of people shrinks, and the discount rate increases. The discount rate is the
percent by which we prefer current consumption over future consumption. A higher
discount rate means that future consumption has less value, and therefore that people
would prefer immediate benefits rather than greater delayed benefits. Where high
discount rates coincide with low biological growth rates - as, for example, in the juniper
forests and chilgoza forests of Balochistan - the economic activity is devoted entirely to
immediate interests at the expense of future generations. A high discount rate is
presumably a factor in the deforestation caused by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Globalisation of the world economy
Finally, market and intervention failures are exacerbated by various trends in the global
economy. These include: the growth in international trade; the associated GATT
agreement and establishment of the WTO; the internalisation of finance; the growing
volume of inter-country financial flows; and the growing indebtedness of developing
countries. These trends are influencing governments and economic agents to behave in
ways that are highly destructive to the social and natural environment in general and to
biodiversity in particular.
International trade has been growing at a rate much higher than global income. This
affects biodiversity in many ways. First, by increasing international competition, it
exposes Pakistan's industries to bankruptcy and induces government to provide hidden
subsidies, such as cheap electricity, free water and lax pollution control standards, i.e., it
exacerbates intervention failure. Second, it shifts production from subsistence towards
commercial products, and thus reduces the concern of the producers for the long-term
sustainability of resource use. Third, it encourages government leaders to pursue high
trade and growth at the expense of all other benefits. Fourth, it diverts attention from the
primary products derived from natural and agro-ecosystems, towards the production of
secondary and tertiary goods and services. The recent GATT agreement, with the
establishment of the WTO, restricts governments from using trade policies to protect the
environment. The CBD Secretariat is developing cooperation with the WTO Committee
on Trade and Environment to include the CBDs views on processes that have an impact
on biodiversity (IUCN 1996 - 5Y).
Since the 1970s, there has been an even more dramatic growth in international financial
flows. This further reduces the policy effectiveness and policy autonomy of the
government. The government cannot use capital controls, interest rate policies or
discriminatory practices to protect natural resources, as these would invite market
retaliation in the form of damaging financial outflows.
Equally significant has been the growth in foreign debt. Though Pakistan has been far
more restrained in terms of exposure to foreign debt than, for example, many Latin
American countries, debt levels had risen to over 50% of national income by the 1990s.
This has been matched by a similar growth in domestic debt, increased budgetary
deficits and a general reduction in the solvency level of government.
The consequences of all these changes are that: (1) the government of Pakistan has far
less room for manoeuvre today than two or three decades ago; (2) there is strong
pressure on producers to compete in international markets and earn foreign exchange;
and (3) conventional forms of cash subsidies have become impossible, and subsidies in
kind have become difficult. Consequently, the only way of subsidising local producers is
24
to obscure and hide environmental costs. This is creating increasing pressures on

natural resources and so on biodiversity.
Inequity in Ownership and Management of Biological Resources
In Pakistan, a weakening of customary community responsibilities for the use of natural
resources can be attributed to several causes. With development, new sources of
income have weakened reliance on local biodiversity resources, eroding the need and
concern for sustainable use of these resources. This concern has been further eroded
by the dis-empowerment of local communities, for example, by state intervention in the
management of community forests. Increasing uncertainty (due, for example, to
changing prices and inconsistent government policies) discourages a long-term view of
resource use. And the free market, with its associated economic incentives, encourages
a competitive race for natural resources at the expense of traditional sharing (SDPI
1995).
25
Chapter 3
PRINCIPLES, GOALS AND BROAD AIMS
The national goals and aims for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Pakistan
should first and foremost relate to the specific problems affecting biodiversity in Pakistan. The
needs of the people and their activities must be reconciled with the maintenance of biodiversity.
Most often, successful conservation is achieved by changing human attitudes and use regimes
and by promoting collaborative management. Conservation must be carried out with the
cooperation of government, NGOs and local people. For this to happen, there is a need to agree
upon a set of guiding principles, goals, and broad aims.
The principles that could provide guidance to Pakistans efforts to conserve and manage its
biodiversity include the following:
3.1
Every form of life is unique and warrants respect from humanity.

Biodiversity is a key indicator of the health of the environment in which we live. We
depend on biodiversity for a vast array of goods and services, and should, therefore,
accord priority to its conservation, management and sustainable use.
Conservation of biodiversity is a common concern to all citizens of Pakistan. While
governments are accountable for its conservation and management, all Pakistanis have
stewardship responsibility for the countrys natural heritage.
Biodiversity conservation is an investment that can yield substantial benefits; ensuring a
larger market share of benefits to local communities can reduce biodiversity losses.
All sectors that influence biodiversity should help plan its conservation.
Biodiversity management actions must be based on sound ecological principles,
scientifically valid information, and local knowledge.
Natural resources cannot be sustainably managed exclusively by communities or
governments. The government must recognize the interests and rights of the local
communities, while the communities must recognize that such management is part of a
larger political and environmental framework.
THE GOAL OF THE BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
In becoming a signatory to the CBD, Pakistan has endorsed the global priority accorded
to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Through this Biodiversity Action Plan,
Pakistan will evolve its own strategy for containing the erosion of biological diversity and
ensuring its conservation for the benefit of present and future generations.
The overall goal of the Biodiversity Action Plan is, therefore:
To promote the conservation and sustainable use of Pakistans biodiversity, and
the equitable sharing of benefits arising therefrom, for the well-being and security
of the nation.
3.2
BROAD AIMS OF THE BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
Because most actions for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are
closely interlinked, it is difficult to find a satisfactory way of classifying actions within a few
broad categories. The Global Biodiversity Strategy (WRI/IUCN/UNEP 1992), the most
advanced global strategy for biodiversity conservation, classifies actions under five broad
headings. The system of classification adopted by the GBS is not internally consistent,
in that three of the objectives are defined by level of action (local, national, and
international), while the other two are defined by type of action ('to apply the tools and
technologies', and 'to build human capacity', for conserving biodiversity). Despite this
26
inconsistency, the GBS approach has its advantages. The use of levels of action helps
to indicate by whom actions must be taken, and so goes some way towards the next step
of identifying specific agencies to take forward specific actions. It is appropriate to
highlight the 'tools and technologies' (which include, for example, protected areas and
species recovery plans) as these must surely be central to any biodiversity strategy.
Similarly, it is appropriate to highlight 'building human capacity' as this is vital to all other
actions.
The major aims of the BAP can therefore be stated as:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
To create a policy framework that fosters the sustainable use of

biological resources and the maintenance of biodiversity;
To strengthen and promote National Biodiversity Conservation
Programmes and develop international and regional cooperation;
To create conditions and incentives for biodiversity conservation at the
local community level;
To strengthen and apply more broadly the tools and technologies for
conserving biodiversity; and
To strengthen human knowledge, will and capacity to conserve
biodiversity.
The specific objectives and actions that will be required to meet these broad aims are
described in the following sections, which have been organized according to the principal
articles of the Convention.
27
Chapter 4
PROPOSALS FOR ACTION
4.1
PLANNING AND POLICIES

Identifying the Issues
Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity requires parties to develop national
strategies, plans or programmes for conservation and sustainable use, and to integrate
these into other relevant sectoral plans. This requirement is partially met by the current
Biodiversity Action Plan for Pakistan.
Integration with the national and provincial conservation strategies
The National Conservation Strategy was adopted as national policy in 1993 and has
been accepted by the World Bank as the National Environmental Action Plan. As
expected, since it addresses the broad spectrum of issues relating to the environment,
the goals of the NCS are expressed in broad terms: conservation of natural resources,
sustainable development and improved efficiency in the use and management of
resources. There are 14 core programmes in the NCS, and though one of them deals
with conserving biodiversity and many of the other touch on biodiversity related issues,
they are clearly inadequate to address in a deeper and more comprehensive way the
issues relating to the depletion of biodiversity in Pakistan. The BAP will fill this void and
give direction and set out an action programme for conserving the nations biodiversity.
The Eighth Five Year Plan identifies the need to develop provincial conservation
strategies to carry forward the NCS into implementation. The Sarhad Provincial
Conservation Strategy has been completed and others (Balochistan, Northern Areas) are
in preparation. Though the SPCS is rather more specific than the NCS about actions
needed, with a chapter devoted to 'biological diversity, parks and protected areas', it too
does not comprehensively address the requirements of the Convention. Indeed, the
SPCS refers to the current national biodiversity action planning process and the need to
develop a similar provincial Biodiversity Action Plan. At a more local level, the
preparation of district conservation strategies has commenced in Chitral and Abbotabad,
and these are expected to provide ground-level support to the BAP.
Integration with sectoral policies and plans
Existing sectoral policies and plans in Pakistan most pertinent to the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity are those relating to wildlife, forestry, fisheries and
agriculture.
At the federal level, the formulation and coordination of wildlife policy and plans have
been, since 1974, the responsibility of the National Council for Conservation of Wildlife
(NCCW). At the provincial level, wildlife policy and planning are the responsibility of the
provincial wildlife departments and/or the Wildlife Management Boards, wherever they
exist. Pakistan's existing wildlife policies and plans tend to place heavy emphasis on
fauna to the exclusion of flora, and on game animals as opposed to non-game species.
They relate almost exclusively to the establishment of protected areas, and taking and
trade controls for listed species. Many of the more comprehensive requirements of the
CBD are therefore not addressed. A new national Wildlife Policy has been drafted by
GOP and circulated to provinces for their comments. This policy is more comprehensive
in that wildlife is defined to include all wild species and their habitats; however, it does
not include domesticated fauna or flora, or genetic material.
28
Other sectoral policies dealing with biological resources tend to address biodiversity as a
marginal issue. The Forestry Sector Master Plan (GOP 1992) formulates programmes
for soil conservation and watershed development, wood production, ecosystems and
biodiversity, and institutional strengthening. While all these programmes are of
relevance to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, the specific provisions for
ecosystems and biodiversity are limited in scope and scale to: replanting 75,000 ha of
mangroves in the Indus Delta and the associated planting of 5,000 ha of fuelwood
plantations; protecting 20,000 ha of juniper forest and 5,000 ha of chilgoza forest in
Balochistan; and unspecified actions to survey and protect species and ecosystems.
The total financial allocation for these programmes was under Rs.350 million for the five
year period 1993-1997. These technical and financial provisions are clearly inadequate,
and there is a critical need to raise the priority given to biodiversity issues in forest
policies and plans. A Forestry Sector (Forest, Watershed, Rangeland and Wildlife)
Policy of Pakistan has been prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Local Government
and Rural Development for Cabinet approval.
Agricultural policy, as reflected in the Eighth Five Year Plan, addresses a number of
issues relevant to the CBD, including increasing primary production, reducing land
degradation, improving irrigation and drainage, improving soil management, and
expanding integrated pest management; however, it does adequately address the issue
of biodiversity per se. Fisheries policy, as reflected in the same plan, focuses on
aquaculture and makes no reference to the conservation of indigenous aquatic
biodiversity.
Integration with national development plans
The main planning instruments in Pakistan are the Perspective Plan, Five Year Plan and
Annual Development Plan. Prior to Cabinet approval of the NCS in 1992, these plans
gave scant attention to environmental issues in general, and even less to biodiversity in
particular. However, the influence of the NCS is clearly seen in the Eighth Five Year
Plan (1993-1998), which identifies the environment as a 'critical issue'. Conservation of
natural resources and protection of the environment are clearly identified as plan
objectives. The plan prioritises the development of a coherent legislative framework,
institutional strengthening, and the promotion of environmental awareness. Mention is
made of the expansion and management of protected areas, ex-situ measures for plant
conservation, and 'action' for the preservation of endangered species.
The total provision for NCS-related environment projects is Rs 21.585 billion, of which Rs
1.624 billion is allocated for 29 (unspecified) schemes for 'conserving biodiversity'. A
further Rs 95.195 billion is allocated for environment related programmes but a
substantial study would be required to assess the relevance of these to biodiversity
conservation. Despite these provisions, the Eighth Five Year Plan remains weak on the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and falls far short of addressing in a
comprehensive manner the full scope of the CBD. It is critical to ensure the integration
of the provisions of the current Biodiversity Action Plan into the Ninth Five Year Plan and
into both national and provincial Annual Development Plans.
OBJECTIVES AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Objective 1: Adopt appropriate policies and plans that promote the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity and integrate biodiversity
conservation measures into sectoral plans and programmes.
Action 1.1
Secure high level and multi-sectoral support for its implementation.
Action 1.2
Prepare and adopt the new Wildlife (or Biodiversity) Policy, at both the
provincial and federal levels.
29
Action 1.3
4.2
Institutionalise the biodiversity strategy process initiated by the current

BAP, at both the national, provincial and local levels.
1.3.1
This process should complement the National and Provincial

Conservation Strategies. It should also be both iterative and
cyclical, involving the preparation, periodic review and
development of a country strategy and action plan to address the
provisions of the CBD. It should ensure broad, multi-sectoral
involvement as well as wide participation from all sectors of
society.
1.3.2
Promote coordination among the institutions involved in

conservation of biodiversity at federal and provincial levels.
Action 1.4
Integrate biodiversity considerations into the Perspective Plans, Five

Year Plans and Annual Development Programmes (ADPs), and into
relevant sectoral plans, particularly those for wildlife, forestry, fisheries
and agriculture.
Action 1.5
Promote the preparation of provincial conservation strategies with strong

elements of biodiversity conservation and cross-reference to Five Year
Plans and provincial ADPs.
LEGISLATION
Legislative support is required for the implementation of many of the articles of the CBD.
Although the term biological diversity is new and therefore does not find expression in
much of the existing legislation, Pakistan has a wide range of laws relating to the
conservation of the different components of biodiversity (forests, fisheries, wildlife etc). A
review of existing legislation is provided in Annex 2. What is required is to review the
relevant existing laws, to relate them to the CBD, and where necessary to amend them
or to enact new laws.
The first piece of legislation targeting environmental conservation as a whole was the
Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance of 1983. This has very recently been
replaced by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997. The relevance of this Act
to biodiversity conservation is primarily through the screening process (for proposed
projects) which it introduces. In the implementation of the provisions of this Act in relation
to biodiversity conservation, it is important to ensure that IEEs and EIAs adequately
address the relevant issues and that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the
required skills to evaluate these reports in relation to the conservation of biodiversity in
Pakistan.
The legislative framework for the conservation of wildlife consists of the various
provincial Acts and Ordinances. These laws provide for the establishment of Provincial
Wildlife Management Boards with the responsibility for the formulation of policy and the
supervision of activities relating to the conservation and management of wildlife. In
practice, boards have not been set up in some provinces, and even where they have
been set up, they are largely ineffective.
With regard to the conservation of species, a serious weakness in the law is that it deals
excessively with animal species and no provision is made for the protection of threatened
and endangered plant species. The existing laws attempt to control the hunting of
designated game animals, but most of these regulatory measures have proved difficult to
enforce. Some rules have been framed under the existing laws to protect a few selected
30
species (falcons, cranes); the need for introducing additional control measures for other
key threatened species should be examined.
Under the existing wildlife law in Pakistan, there are three categories of Protected Areas:
National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Game Reserves. Current thinking on Protected
Area management is that, to be effective, the communities living alongside the area
should have a hand in management and should derive some benefits from the area.
None of the existing categories of protected areas make allowance for participatory
management by communities. A draft Model Wildlife Law empowering local
communities to participate in joint wildlife management with governments has been
prepared and is currently under review by provincial governments.
The Forest Acts and other related legislation of the provincial government deal primarily
with the exploitation of the forests. In practice, there is no clear jurisdiction over the
forests, and different government agencies use this resource for their purposes through
the mandates provided by their own pieces of legislation. Conservation of forest
biodiversity therefore goes by default.
In 1993, the Federal Government adopted the policy (through a long term Master Plan)
to recognize, safeguard and manage animal and plant diversity in forest areas under the
conservation area and working plan systems. The Ecosystem and Biodiversity Action
Programme formulated under the Master Plan includes schemes for the rehabilitation of
mangrove forests of the Indus Delta, preservation and protection of the juniper and
chilgoza pine forests in Baluchistan, protection of all endemic and endangered species
of flora and fauna and ecosystems through designated conservation areas and scientific
management of these areas. The Plan also recommends updating provincial forest
legislation to promote, amongst other things, the conservation of natural forest
ecosystems and suggests a model law for this purpose. It, therefore, assumes that the
groundwork has been laid for an effective programme for the conservation of forest
biodiversity outside the protected area system. It is now necessary to move into action,
particularly at the provincial level.
Fisheries constitute an important component of Pakistan biodiversity. The Federal
Government is responsible for marine fisheries beyond the provincial jurisdiction limits of
12 miles from the coast. Freshwater and estuarine fisheries come under provincial
jurisdiction. The existing laws prohibit the capture of certain species of fish below a
prescribed size and the use of poison or explosives, regulate fishing craft and fishing
gear, and empower the government to designate any water body as a sanctuary. These
measures, both in terms of coverage and enforcement, are inadequate for affording
protection to Pakistans aquatic biodiversity and failure to address the issues would
eventually lead to a serious erosion of the resource base on which the fisheries industry
rests.
Considerable potential for the conservation of biodiversity exists at the local government
level. The functions delegated to local government coincide with many aspects of
biodiversity conservation and these could promote a window of opportunity for the
implementation of conservation measures at the local level.
Objective 2: Develop an Effective Legal Framework for the Implementation of the
CBD and Related Conventions
Action 2.1
Review the 1973 Constitution to make the conservation and sustainable

use of biological diversity the concern of the state and the citizen.
Action 2.2
Review all relevant existing legislation in Pakistan against the obligations

under the CBD and other biodiversity-related conventions to determine
31
the need for amendments and/or new legislation to meet these

obligations.
2.2.1
As part of this process:

--
existing legislation should be reviewed to identify

deficiencies and other shortcomings in relation to
biodiversity conservation in Pakistan and to define clearly
the jurisdictional limits of different law enforcement
agencies;
--
local government laws should be amended to provide for

greater community level participation in activities
supporting biodiversity;
--
the laws relating to communal ownership and access to

biological resources should be reviewed and revised so
as to protect and encourage customary natural resource
management systems;
--
detailed supporting rules and regulations for legislation

implementing the objectives of the CBD should be framed
in order to provide clear guidelines and effective
implementation.
Action 2.3
Ensure that the draft Model Wildlife Law currently under review embodies
conservation measures suggested for adoption by the CBD and other
related conventions.
Action 2.4
Update and rationalise legislation on endangered and exploited flora and

fauna in Pakistan, in line with the CBD and according to the specific
requirements of Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention),
and other relevant conventions mentioned in Annexure 2 of this
document. Enhance penalties for violations and introduce a system of
rewards for compliance.
Action 2.5
Ensure, as far as possible, that reforms in the forestry sector are

integrated with reforms in the wildlife sector and that new forestry laws
are also framed fully within the context of the CBD and other international
conventions.
Action 2.6
Finalise detailed rules, regulations, and guidelines for the implementation

of IEE/EIA under the Environmental Protection Act, 1997 paying due
regard to the need for addressing matters relating to the conservation of
biodiversity.
Action 2.7
Develop access legislation as a matter of priority to comply with Article 15

(genetic resources), Article 16 (technology) and Article 19 (handling of
biotechnology and distribution of its benefits) (see Section 4.11).
Action 2.8
Develop guidelines/regulatory measures with regard to biosafety relating

to the development, use, transport and import of Living Modified
Organisms (LMOS).
Objective 3: Enhance the Enforcement of Biodiversity-related Laws

32
4.3
Action 3.1
Improve the effectiveness of existing legal mechanisms by creating

greater awareness of conservation regulations and enhancing the
capacity of law enforcement agencies (including the departments of
wildlife, police, customs and quarantine). This should include the
provision of training to relevant officers in identifying the species listed in
CITES Appendices I and II.
Action 3.2
Recognize the right of citizens, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)

and NGOs to challenge administrative decisions which they believe have
been taken in violation of conservation law.
Action 3.3
Take immediate remedial measures to protect species that are presently

being subject to illegal trade.
Action 3.4
Take all necessary measures to fulfil the commitments of the agreements

already signed under related International Conventions.
IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING

Two of the objectives of the CBD relate to the conservation of biological diversity and the
sustainable use of the components of biological diversity. In order to target conservation
and sustainable use measures, each country party has to have a clear idea of the
ecosystem, species, and genomes that are under threat through overuse, habitat
degradation, and spread of invasive species. Annex 1 of CBD gives guidelines to the
parties on identifying the component of biodiversity which should be the target of
attention. They are described as:
1)
2)
3)
Ecosystems and habitats: containing high diversity, large numbers of

endemic or threatened species, or wilderness; required by migratory species;
of social, economic, cultural or scientific importance; or, which are
representative, unique or associated with key evolutionary or other biological
processes;
Species and communities which are: threatened; wild relatives of
domesticated or cultivated species; of medicinal, agricultural or other economic
value; of social, scientific or cultural importance; or of importance for research
into the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, such as
indicator species; and
Described genomes and genes of social, scientific or economic importance.
Article 7 goes on to stress the need for monitoring changes in the components of
biological diversity which are under threat and identifying processes or activities that
continues to cause adverse impacts on biodiversity, so that effective remedial measures
could be taken through the other Articles of the Convention.
In Pakistan, information about the component of biodiversity is very incomplete; at best,
only a provisional identification can be made of the components of biological diversity
requiring special conservation measures. There is no biodiversity information and
monitoring centre to maintain, store, and organise data or to analyse, evaluate and
disseminate data in a usable form. Data derived from the identification and monitoring of
biological diversity, and of activities having or likely to have adverse impacts on biological
diversity, are scattered among a large number of organisations. Data on the flora of
Pakistan, for example, are held by the National Herbarium and the University of Karachi
(Department of Botany). Additional data are available with botanical departments in
other universities and museums, provincial forest departments, companies collecting and
trading in medicinal plants, natural resources projects, and overseas herbaria and
botanical gardens with collections from Pakistan.
33
Similarly, Pakistan has a number of different institutions working on particular biodiversity

topics. Many of these institutions hold valuable collections. However, the capacity of
these institutions to organise, analyse, evaluate and disseminate data requires
strengthening. Although Pakistan has a pool of excellent taxonomists, their numbers are
insufficient to address the tasks at hand. As a result, the scientific accuracy of
biodiversity-related publications has sometimes been problematic; the botanical
checklists contained in forest working plans, for example, are often in error. Similarly,
published checklists of birds often contain doubtful records. There is also a tendency to
publish 'new' species without observing standard procedures.
It is first necessary to collate and authenticate the available data on biological diversity in
Pakistan. This should be followed up by a biodiversity assessment that would identify the
ecosystems, species, and genomes for which special conservation measures are
needed. Simultaneously significant gaps in the data should be identified and remedial
action taken.
Objective 4: Expand and Improve the Information Base on the Biodiversity of
Pakistan
Action 4.1
Appoint a national centre (or several provincial centres) to coordinate

biodiversity identification and monitoring activities.
4.1.1
Action 4.2
The centre could:

--
strengthen other institutions or organizations invoved in

biodiversity work;
--
provide guidance on the design and maintenance of

national and provincial inventories;
--
coordinate existing and new specimen collections;
--
promote standardization of data collection and storage to

ensure the comparability and transferability of information
among databases;
--
provide support for local initiatives in database

establishment and networking;
--
create and manage meta-databases;
--
disseminate information on biodiversity to policy makers,

natural resource managers, educators, and other parties;
--
implement Actions 4.2 to 4.6 below.
Identify national priorities for biodiversity conservation, including

threatened ecosystems and species, hot spots, and zones of endemism
(in accordance with Annex 1 of the Convention).
4.2.1
This should include:

--
the use of existing data (scientific papers, species lists,

museum collections, etc.), to update species distribution,
status, and taxonomy;
34
--
the use of satellite imagery to develop a definitive map of

the remaining natural and semi-natural ecological zones
of Pakistan;
--
the identification of key information gaps; and
--
the implementation of additional surveys and research

studies as required.
Action 4.3
Create a National Red Data List of threatened flora and fauna.
Action 4.4
Advance knowledge of indigenous microflora for use in biodiversity

conservation.
Action 4.5
Store and catalogue information in computerized databases, to be

maintained by custodian agencies.
Action 4.6
Foster the sharing of information on biodiversity among research

institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. The
incorporation of traditional (local) knowledge with science has great
potential for strengthening the information base on biodiversity.
Objective 5: Develop and Institutionalize Systems to Monitor Key Elements of

Biodiversity
4.4
Action 5.1
Develop and institutionalize regular resource monitoring by the agencies

responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
in Pakistan. Particular attention should be accorded to monitoring the
status of protected areas and the components of biodiversity identified in
Annex 1 of the Convention. Monitoring should also be carried out with the
active participation of local communities.
Action 5.2
Provide periodic assessments (e.g. through a State of the Environment

report) of key elements of biodiversity and indicators of progress/failure,
including resources allocated by government towards biodiversity
conservation.
IN-SITU CONSERVATION
The Convention on Biological Diversity recognises in-situ conservation as the
primary approach to biodiversity conservation (Article 8). Of particular
importance is the balance to be struck between conservation measures within
protected areas (PAs) and measures beyond PAs in the wider countryside.
It is generally recognized that activities which occur in areas adjacent to protected areas
may be critical to the viability of the protected areas themselves. Adjacent communities
ultimately control the protected area to the extent that if the local population is negatively
affected by the protected area, then this area may be destined to fail. However, if local
people are involved in the management of protected areas and other forms of
development compatible with the goals of the protected area are promoted in adjacent
areas, then the protected areas long-term viability is likely to be enhanced.
The majority of Pakistans protected areas were created in the 1970s, and paid
insufficient attention to ecological criteria and the requirements of local communities.
Today, many of the PAs are too small and isolated to be effective. Most ecological zones
35
are not adequately represented within the protected area system, including a majority of
the critically threatened ecosystems identified in this plan (Table 2). For example, there
are no marine PAs, very few coastal PAs, and no formal designation to protect the
remaining juniper forests in Balochistan.
There is also considerable regional disparity in the distribution of PAs across Pakistan.
For example, whilst over 16 % of Punjab is protected as one of three PA categories
(National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary or Game Reserve), about 6% of NWFP and less than
6% of Balochistan is formally protected (Table 4). This is unfortunate, since these are the
regions where most of Pakistans remaining biodiversity is concentrated.
Table 4: Summary of Protected Areas in Pakistan (based on NCCW data)
Region/
Province
National
Parks
Wildlife
Sanctuaries
Game
Reserves
Un
Classified
Total
PAs
Total Area
Conserved
(ha)
% of Total
Land Area
Protected
Azad Jammu
Kashmir
51,998
3.91
Balochistan
15
31
1,837,704
5.29
Punjab
37
19
58
3,315,803
16.14
NWFP
38
52
470,675
6.30
Sindh
35
14
54
1,307,575
9.27
Federal
Territory
94,186
100
Northern
Areas
5*
18
2,092,180
2.97
Totals
14
99
96
16
225
9,170,121
10.40
a. One of the Wildlife Sanctuary in Balochistan has been redesignated as Game Reserve in 1998.
b. Two of the Wildlife Sancturies in Northern Areas have been redesignated as Controlled Hunting Areas in October 1998
By definition, a Wildlife Sanctuary offers greater protection than a National Park, while a
Game Reserve affords no protection to habitat but merely regulates hunting. As a result,
the value of Game Reserve for long-term conservation of biodiversity is very limited. If
only National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are taken into account, then Pakistan lags
behind many other Asian countries (including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan) in terms of
the percentage of national land area which has been designated for conservation.
The three categories of PAs used in Pakistan are too limited for contemporary needs.
Most of the remaining unprotected areas of biodiversity significance are currently used
and managed by local communities in one way or another. The best way to protect these
areas will be through the establishment of collaborative management regimes. However,
the existing wildlife legislation in Pakistan does not provide for a protected area category
in which sustainable use and community involvement can take place (along the lines of
IUCN Category VI: Managed Resource Protected Area).
Finally, there are a number of important gaps and needs relating to the management of
protected areas in Pakistan. First, existing wildlife laws do not provide an adequate
framework for management. The laws give authority for protected area management to
the provincial wildlife departments, but give no authority to these departments over the
management of adjacent areas. Consequently, development activities in areas adjacent
to protected areas often conflict with biodiversity conservation. Second, provincial
wildlife departments lack the capacity to carry out their functions effectively, and in
particular, suffer from a shortage of suitably trained personnel.
Third, most protected areas in Pakistan lack comprehensive management plans, and
where plans do exist, they are not fully implemented. There is also a tendency to regard
36
management plans as blueprints rather than adaptive strategies requiring constant

updating. In recent years, some efforts have been taken to redress this situation, and
plans have been developed for the Margalla Hills National Park (Federal Territory) and
Khunjerab National Park (Northern Areas). WWF-Pakistan is also currently working on
plans for the Kirthar National Park in Sindh and the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park in
Balochistan.
Fourth, and perhaps most critically, local communities rarely have any role in the
management of protected areas in Pakistan. Little progress has been made on
instituting collaborative management regimes for protected areas (Borrini-Feyerabend,
1996). Few efforts have been directed at raising public education and awareness in
areas adjacent to protected areas, providing environmentally sound and sustainable
development assistance to local communities, or formulating appropriate packages of
incentives and disincentives. Consequently, local communities either continue to
disregard protected area provisions leading to degradation of the protected area or,
where those provisions are enforced against local communities' interests, conflicts have
arisen. The conflict between local communities and park authorities in the Khunjerab
National Park, arising from the loss of grazing rights, is well known. An attempt has been
made to resolve and manage the conflict at Khunjerab, but deep-rooted problems
remain.
Objective 6: Strengthen the Protected Areas System in Pakistan and Its
Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation
Action 6.1
Ensure that legislation providing for protected areas includes:

--
objective criteria for the selection of protected areas;
--
an updated and rationalised system of protected area

categories with reference to the international
categorization system developed by IUCN, and provide
for the establishment of private and community protected
areas;
--
provisions for collaborative management systems

involving government authorities, NGOs and local
communities; and
--
mandatory preparation and implementation of iterative

management plans.
Action 6.2
Carry out a thorough protected areas system review to identify existing

gaps. On the basis of the review, prepare a protected areas system plan
for Pakistan.
Action 6.3
Expand Pakistan's protected area system

representativeness, viability, and connectivity.
6.3.1
to
improve
its
Expand Pakistan's protected area system to ensure

representation of all terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine
ecological zones. Priority should be accorded to the critically
threatened ecosystems identified in Table 2, marine and coastal
ecosystems, and other insufficiently represented ecological zones
identified by the system plan. Particular attention should also be
accorded to expanding the protected area systems in
Balochistan, NWFP, and southeastern Pakistan.
37
Action 6.4
6.3.2
Expand the PA system to ensure protection for all nationally and

internationally threatened species of fauna and flora, and other
components of biodiversity identified in Annex 1 of the
Convention.
6.3.3
Re-define protected area boundaries based on species-area and

species-perimeter considerations, and establish corridors and
'stepping-stones' to optimise the viability and connectivity of
Pakistan's protected areas.
6.3.4
Identify priority areas for international designation under the

World Heritage Convention, the UNESCO Man and Biosphere
Programme, and the Ramsar Convention. In particular: take
measures to promote the designation of the Central Karakorum
National Park as a World Heritage Site; initiate a feasibility study
to assess the potential of the Indus Delta as a Biosphere
Reserve; and adjust and expand the list of designated Ramsar
sites according to the revised criteria adopted at Montreux in
1990.
6.3.5
Explore the potential for establishing trans-frontier peace parks

with neighbouring countries.
6.3.6
Take interim measures to ensure that new sites being considered

for PA status are not damaged by development activities.
6.3.7
Encourage private individuals, corporations, and NGOs to

establish nature conservation areas under private/
charitable/corporate ownership.
Enhance the management of existing protected areas.

6.4.1
Develop collaborative management regimes for selected PAs and

adjacent areas. Collaborative management regimes should
involve the protected area authority, relevant government
departments, research institutions, NGOs, and local communities.
6.4.2
Build the management capacity of the protected area authorities

through the provision of funding, equipment, staff, and training.
Particular emphasis should be placed on developing capacity in
approaches to collaborative management.
6.4.3
Encourage collaboration between government departments

(especially Forest and Wildlife/Parks) and research institutions in
order to strengthen their capabilities in protected area
management.
6.4.4
Decentralize and place more management responsibility in the

hands of provincial, local, and community authorities, including
NGOs and the private sector. Monitor and evaluate different
management models to determine which management structures
are most appropriate for individual protected areas.
6.4.5
Ensure that priority protected areas (for conservation) are soundly

managed. Effective management should include:
--
resource inventories and management-oriented research;

38
--
socio-economic surveys of communities living in and

adjacent to the protected area;
--
boundary revisions and finalisation in consultation with

local communities;
--
boundary marking;
--
the development and implementation of management

plans;
--
specific activities for the recovery of threatened species;
--
the development of educational facilities (in high use

zones);
--
the implementation of appropriate buffer zone activities

and collaborative management regimes.
--
strengthening management regimes of the priority

protected areas identified by the Biodiversity Working
Group, in connection with the World Bank/GEF-funded
Protected Areas Management Project.
6.4.6
Ensure that management plans specify the personnel, resource,

and training needs of each protected area and how these needs
are to be met. These estimates can then be expanded into an
estimation of personnel requirements for the whole protected
area system, leading to specifications for a national training
programme at all levels to strengthen management capabilities.
6.4.7
Zone protected areas (as appropriate to their management

category) to accommodate a range of uses (from intensive use to
no use). Take special measures to protect the land tenure and
traditional harvesting rights of local people, where such actions
are compatible with the management objectives of the protected
area.
Action 6.5
Restore degraded ecosystems within protected areas and in adjacent

lands and corridors.
Action 6.6
Take measures to control invasive alien species of fauna and flora, and
to prevent further introductions.
Objective 7: Conserve Biodiversity outside Protected Areas

Action 7.1
Develop regional conservation programmes to integrate conservation

activities and protected area management with regional land use
planning.
Action 7.2
Adopt agricultural, forestry, and fishery practices that will enhance the
conservation of biodiversity.
7.2.1
These might, for example, include:

--
the adoption
approaches;
of
Integrated
Pest
Management
39
Action 7.3
the provision of incentives for the use of traditional

cultivars;
--
the creation of more diverse forest plantations, using

indigenous species wherever possible;
--
the incorporation of biodiversity concerns into forest

management plans; and
--
ensuring that irrigation systems take account of the

freshwater requirements of adjacent wetlands;
Enhance the capacity of local communities and NGOs to conserve,

manage, and sustainably use biodiversity.
7.3.1
4.5
--
This could include:

--
providing technical assistance and training to local

communities;
--
enhancing local awareness of, and commitment to,

biodiversity conservation and sustainable use; and
--
building bridges between government and communities to

foster joint management of biodiversity.
Action 7.4
Ensure that protected areas and adjacent buffer zones are treated as a
single planning unit. Of particular importance in this regard, is to support
implementation of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plan
for the entire coast of Pakistan.
Action 7.5
Ensure that activities in natural areas outside protected areas are

governed by management plans that pay adequate attention to the
conservation of biodiversity; identify the most appropriate management
authority for buffer zone areas.
Action 7.6
Ensure that development personnel, land-use planners, aid agencies

and the national and provincial planning authorities have access to
information about biodiversity. This should include information about the
location of biological hot spots and rare and endangered species.
Action 7.7
Promote the conservation of biodiversity on military bases and other land

owned or managed by the defence agencies.
EX-SITU CONSERVATION
The Convention on Biological Diversity specifically recommends that ex-situ measures
be adopted to support in-situ conservation programmes. These measures have most
extensively been applied to conserve cultivated and domesticated species, employing
techniques such as seed banks, field gene banks, in-vitro storage, and captive breeding
measures. Other groups in need of ex-situ conservation measures include: threatened
species, wild relatives of cultivated plants and domesticated animals; medicinal plants;
plant crops of local and regional importance; ornamental plant species; tree species; and
micro organisms. Ex-situ conservation is complementary to the rehabilitation and
restoration of degraded ecosystems, and promoting the recovery of threatened species;
40
the ultimate purpose of these ex-situ conservation measures is to re-introduce wild

species into the wild.
Ex-situ conservation facilities provide excellent opportunities for researchers to study
plants, animals, and micro-organisms in controlled conditions, and to improve collection,
storage and regeneration techniques. Ex-situ facilities can also be used for germplasm
evaluation, as centres for documentation and information systems, and for providing
information on genetic resources on a commercial basis.
Captive breeding of wild animals can be used to restore endangered species
populations. It is important to increase populations as quickly as possible and reintroduce the animals back to their original habitat, to minimise genetic erosion. Plants
can also be re-introduced to their natural areas of occurrence. Such re-introductions
should, however, be carried out in such a way that other indigenous species are not
harmed or adversely affected. Similarly, care must be taken while collecting
material/animals for ex-situ conservation not to endanger other native species and
genetic resources. The regulation and management of such transactions requires
accurate information to determine the impact of collection on populations and
ecosystems. The establishment of a National Microbial Culture Collection would be
essential for the preservation and use of the rich microbial diversity present in Pakistan.
Ex-situ conservation should preferably be undertaken in the country from which the
biological resources and genetic materials have originated. In Pakistan, institutions
involved in ex-situ conservation of biodiversity include: the National Agricultural
Research Center (NARC), the Plant Genetics Resource Institute, and the Animal
Sciences Research Institute. Microbiological collections are held at the Nuclear Institute
for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic
Engineering (NIBGE), the Ayub Agricultural Research Institue (AARI) and the Karachi
and Islamabad Universities. There are also a number of botanical gardens, zoos, captive
collections, wildlife parks, and breeding centres as well as private collections of wildlife
species. However, there is little coordination or integration among these institutions,
particularly with respect to identifying conservation priorities in Pakistan. Many of these
facilities also require significant strengthening, if they are to make an effective
contribution to biodiversity conservation.
Objective 8: Strengthen Ex-situ Programmes and Their Contribution to
Biodiversity Conservation
Action 8.1
Develop a national policy on ex-situ conservation.
Action 8.2
Compile a directory of existing ex-situ conservation initiatives, including

herbaria, livestock breed farms, genome banks, germplasm collections,
plant breeding centres, zoological gardens and private collections.
Action 8.3
Evaluate the scope and effectiveness of existing programmes at

conserving key components of Pakistans biodiversity.
Action 8.4
Identify priority species and genetic resources in need of further ex-situ

conservation efforts. This should include an assessment of the need for
captive breeding programmes for commercially valuable, threatened
species of indigenous wild fauna and medicinal plants.
Action 8.5
Strengthen the capacity and scope of ex-situ conservation programmes

through the provision of additional funding, equipment, and training.
Action 8.6
Promote integration of ex-situ conservation efforts among institutions.

41
4.6
Action 8.7
Ensure that institutions involved in captive breeding of rare species set

aside resources for rehabilitation schemes and for protection of natural
habitats of those species.
Action 8.8
Initiate measures to ensure that the collection of genetic resources from

the wild does not endanger the survival of remaining wild populations.
SUSTAINABLE USE
The CBD recognizes the need for countries to use their indigenous biological resources
for socio-economic development, and, in fact, key sectors of the economy of Pakistan
(such as agriculture, fisheries, and forestry) are dependent on the use of biological
resources. While recognizing the need to use resources, the CBD requires parties to
ensure that the use of biological resources does not deplete the countrys biological
diversity.
The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity is specifically established
in Article 10 of the Convention which inter alia requires parties to integrate consideration
of the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources into national decision
making and to adopt measures relating to the use of biological resource to avoid or
minimize adverse impacts on biological diversity.
Being one of the objectives of the Convention, the sustainable use of biodiversity figures
prominently in other Articles of the Convention, besides Article 10. For example, in the
Article on in situ conservation (Article 8), such conservation is never meant to be carried
out by excluding use of the resource. Article 8(c) states: Regulate or manage biological
resources important for the conservation of biological diversity whether within or outside
protected areas, with a view to ensuring their conservation and sustainable use.
In practice, in Pakistan as in many other developing countries, conservation of biological
diversity is traditionally considered to be the exclusive role of organizations such as the
Wildlife Department, Forestry Department, and Zoological/Botanical gardens.
Institutions that use biological resources (e.g. the agriculture and fisheries sectors) have
paid little attention to aspects of depletion of biological diversity and of the resources
base. Clearly, there is a need for integrating sustainable use considerations into national
decision making in different sectors of the economy. The adoption of the BAP should
remedy this problem.
The CBD requests parties to respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovation and
practices of indigenous and local communities for the conservation and sustainable use
of biological diversity. In Pakistan, traditional natural resource management systems
have declined with the advent of state-controlled protected areas and the creation of
centralized management agencies. Although many rural communities have developed
specialized, area-specific systems of use and conservation, few of these systems - or the
customary rights and traditions which comprise them - are recognized by current laws.
As a result, many traditional activities have become illegal and are now sources of
conflict between the authorities and local communities. A new approach is clearly
needed in which local people are no longer considered to be the problem but, rather, part
of the solution. A number of recent, innovative projects (e.g. the UNDP/GEF funded
project, Maintaining Biodiversity with Rural Community Development) are now testing
this approach in Pakistan. The results to date have been encouraging, and demonstrate
that local communities can be effective custodians and managers of biological
resources, once an appropriate, enabling framework (e.g., policy reform, technical
assistance) has been created.
42
Among the factors which can help to promote sustainability of use regimes at the species
and ecosystem levels are the following:
Social/Policy Factors
-defined ownership to land and resources;
-effective information exchange between users, decision-makers, and the
public.
Economic Factors
-adequate income/incentives for communities to sustain conservation of the
resource;
-reinvestment of income earned into the conservation of the resource.
Biological Factors
-establishing the biological basis for use (i.e. status, trend, and biological
requirements);
-setting objectives for the size of the target population.
Management Inputs
-training;
-monitoring.
As a general rule, sustainability has been accorded insufficient emphasis within those
sectors which use biological resources. There is a need to strengthen the regulation and
management of Pakistans resource utilisation programmes, taking into consideration the
criteria and factors outlined above.
Objective 9:
Develop a Policy and Legal Framework to Encourage Sustainable

Use of Biological Resources
Action 9.1
With the adoption of the BAP, formulate policies in the different

resource sectors which would promote the sustainable use of biological
resources (see also Actions 2.2 and 2.3).
Action 9.2
Review, and where necessary, revise existing laws to ensure that an

effective legal framework is in place which: promotes sustainable use;
establishes clear rules on jurisdiction and responsibilities among
agencies and permitted users; and clarifies rights of ownership to
biological resources (see also Action 2.3).
Action 9.3
Introduce legal measures requiring the development of management

plans for harvested species (see also Action 2.3).
Objective 10:
Establish, Monitor, and Regulate Sustainable Use Limits of

Selected Biological Resources
Action 10.1
Enhance capacity of government agencies, research institutions,

NGOs, and local communities to determine and monitor harvest levels
of biological resources.
Action 10.2
Develop criteria for sustainable use and prioritize the types of uses
(local subsistence versus commercial) that will be allowed in different
areas.
Action 10.3
Ensure that biological resources are harvested according to

scientifically-sound management plans.
43
4.7
Action 10.4
Take measures to reduce the incidental take of non-target species

(e.g., the incidental take of marine turtles in the commercial shrimp
fishery).
Objective 11:
Protect and Encourage

Management Systems
Action 11.1
Review and revise the laws relating to ownership and access to natural
resources (e.g., tenure rights to fuelwood, fodder, wildlife, and trees), to
recognise community property rights and traditional natural resource
management systems (see also Action 2.2).
Action 11.2
Evaluate traditional systems of harvesting biological resources

(terrestrial and marine)and disseminate information on practices which
promote the sustainable harvesting of these resources.
Action 11.3
Use traditional land tenure arrangements as a basis for planning and

implementing conservation projects that promote sustainable use of
biological resources.
Action 11.4
Promote community-based conservation projects in which sustainable

use of natural resources can be demonstrated (e.g. the UNDP/GEFfunded project Maintaining Biodiversity in Pakistan with Rural
Community Development.).
Objective 12:
Develop Mechanisms to Incorporate Biodiversity Values Into

National Accounting and Decision Making at Different Levels
Action 12.1
Develop, document, and adopt standardised methodologies for

economic valuation of biodiversity, tailored to the requirements of
individual decision-making agencies.
Action 12.2
Initiate measures to green the system of national accounts.
Objective 13:
Strengthen Inter-sectoral and Federal/Provincial Coordination in

Biodiversity Conservation and Management
Action 13.1
Create inter-sectoral steering committees at both the federal and

provincial levels to oversee the implementation of the BAP (see
Chapter 6 on Implementation Measures).
Community-based
Biodiversity
INCENTIVE MEASURES
Article 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity requires that incentives be adopted to
promote conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; the Convention
stresses that these incentives should be economically and socially sound.
Incentives are measures which promote desired practices and behaviour, and may be
direct (e.g., the provision of grants or subsidies) or indirect (e.g. tax exemptions).
Disincentives, such as fines or pollution charges, are used to discourage practices which
deplete biodiversity or lead to unsustainable use. Perverse incentives are measures
which have been taken to promote other social objectives, but which have a negative
impact on biodiversity; for example, many countries provide grants or tax breaks for land
clearance and the replacement of local crop varieties by HYVs - activities which can
severely reduce biodiversity.
44
The integrated use of incentives and disincentives is a particularly powerful means of

promoting conservation and sustainable utilisation, and is being accorded increasing
attention by many governments. Pakistan, however, has made relatively little use of this
approach to date. Because the benefits of biodiversity are not widely understood or
accounted for, very few incentives have been instituted to encourage conservation or
sustainable use; similarly, appropriate disincentives are scarce and weakly enforced.
Perverse incentives are also widespread, particularly in the agricultural sector; irrigation
subsidies, for example, encourage the wastage of water, and contribute to the
degradation of freshwater and coastal ecosystems.
An additional cause of biodiversity depletion in Pakistan is the disproportionate
distribution of costs and benefits associated with the conservation and use of biological
resources. Those who benefit from the exploitation of biodiversity do not bear the
proportional costs of biodiversity depletion; rather, they pass on many costs to other
segments of society which do not have an equal share in the benefits. At the local level,
for example, communities often bear the ecological costs of unsustainable resource use
practices carried out by external organisations, but receive few of the benefits. At the
national level, there is no pricing and valuation system for biodiversity; as a result, the
government does not determine and, therefore, does not charge for, the real costs of
biodiversity use.
The appropriation of natural resources by the state and the subsequent development of
centralized structures have also deterred communities from taking an interest in the longterm sustainability of their natural resources. This has had detrimental effects on
biodiversity conservation in Pakistan.
Objective 14:
Create an Integrated System of Incentives and Disincentives at the

National and Local Level to Encourage the Conservation and
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
Action 14.1
Introduce a system of direct incentives to promote the conservation

and sustainable use of biodiversity that could include:
--
the provision of subsidies to encourage farmers to retain local

cultivars and crop varieties, and to adopt practices such as
Integrated Pest Management, agro-forestry, and multi-species
cropping;
--
the provision of subsidies to encourage land owners to manage

their properties in ways which are sensitive to biodiversity, or to
refrain from changing existing land-uses;
--
the provision of grants for the protection of threatened species or

habitats, and the restoration of degraded lands;
--
the development of programmes to ensure that local communities

receive direct benefits from biodiversity, e.g., through sustainable
use activities;
--
incentives to encourage ex-situ propagation/breeding

programmes for traded species of wild plants and animals, in
order to reduce the drain on wild populations; and
--
the provision of incentives for staff (particularly field staff) working

in institutions dealing with biodiversity. Possibilities include:
45
upgrading employees to regular functional staff; the provision of

extra training opportunities; and public recognition for outstanding
service.
Action 14.2
Action 14.3
4.8
Introduce a system of indirect incentives to promote the conservation

and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity that could include:
--
fiscal incentive measures, such as tax exemptions or

deductions for the conservation of particular habitats or species;
tax reductions for the importation of equipment used in
conservation programmes; and tax deductions for donations to
conservation NGOs;
--
service-oriented incentives, designed to link community

development programmes with the conservation of biodiversity.
For example, communities living adjacent to protected areas
could be accorded priority for public education programmes and
technical assistance in agriculture, forestry, and other fields.
--
social incentive measures, designed to improve quality of life.

These include measures such as clarification of land tenure and
the creation of new institutions to manage biodiversity.
Introduce a system of disincentives to discourage unsustainable

utilisation and practices which deplete biodiversity. These could
include:
--
increasing the size of fines for the violation of conservation laws;
--
revising the tax schedule to penalise undesirable land-use

practices;
--
using fiscal disincentives (e.g, pollution and effluent charges) for

activities which are damaging to biodiversity. This could also
include the use of a polluter pays policy, requiring developers to
take measures to mitigate the environmental damage caused by
their activities; and
--
promoting and strengthening traditional customs and practices

which serve as disincentives to unsustainable use.
Objective 15:
Identify Perverse Incentives and Minimize their Impacts on

Biodiversity
Action 15.1
Carry out a comprehensive review of GoP programmes and policies, to

identify perverse incentives and suggest measures to ameliorate their
impacts.
RESEARCH AND TRAINING

Article 12 of CBD focuses on the need for research and training, recognising the special
needs of developing countries in this regard.
Much is yet to be learned about biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The study
and management of the interactions between people and biological resources requires
training in both the social and biological sciences and forms the basis for the multi46
disciplinary field of conservation biology.

In Pakistan, current opportunities for training professionals in the area of conservation
biology are very limited. There are institutions offering strong programmes in forestry and
agriculture, but there are no degree programmes in wildlife management, biosystematics, biodiversity conservation or community-based conservation of natural
resources.
A shortage of funding and lack of trained staff have also limited the amount of research
on the identification, conservation, and sustainable use of biological diversity in Pakistan.
There is little integration of research among institutions and disciplines, and very limited
use of traditional knowledge in defining management programs.
Objective 16:
Strengthen Research on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of

Biodiversity, Particularly Indigenous Species under Threat
Action 16.1
Evaluate, institutionalize, and strengthen current programmes of

research on native biodiversity.
Action 16.2
Identify gaps and initiate new research programmes in priority areas.

16.2.1
Initiate new (or enhance existing) research programmes

in priority areas related to the conservation, management,
and sustainable use of biodiversity. Topics identified
during the course of BAP formulation included:
Identification, Distribution, and Status of Pakistans
Biodiversity: Location of biological hotspots and other
sites of conservation importance; the composition,
distribution, and status of non-woody and non-vascular
flora, invertebrate fauna, micro-organisms, marine fauna
(particularly marine mammals), and flora;
Ecology and Ecosystem Functions: The biology and
ecology of threatened species; the impact of introduced
exotic species; ecosystem dynamics of wetlands, forests
and mountains;
Status,
Human/Natural Resource Interactions:
abundance, and population trends of traded species (this
information is required for active participation in CITES);
the use of forest resources other than timber and
fuelwood; traditional knowledge and the use of indigenous
plant species for medicine and food; the benefits and
risks associated with the application of modern
biotechnology; the costs and benefits of conserving
natural resources (economic valuation studies); ex-situ
breeding/cultivation of economically important species;
scale of the incidental catch of marine turtles by the
shrimp fishery; the impact of Pakistans international debt
on biodiversity and natural resource utilization.
Action 16.3
Draft, enact, and implement legally binding regulations to ensure that

research on any component of indigenous biodiversity carried out by
non-nationals of Pakistan is only done on the basis of an agreement
with a local institution and in close collaboration with Pakistani
scientists, and that the outcome of such research, including
information and type specimen that are generated, is made available to
47
Pakistani scientists and institutions. Access to the genetic material

should be free of charge for the country of origin (see also Action 2.2).
4.9
Objective 17:
Strengthen Human Capacity in Biodiversity Conservation and

Management
Action 17.1
Assess current capacity and the biodiversity-related training needs of

natural resource managers, conservation professionals and other
concerned staff, and the extent to which these are currently being
fulfilled.
Action 17.2
Design and implement in-service training courses to address immediate

gaps and priority requirements.
Action 17.3
Enhance existing training programmes in natural resource

management, through the provision of funding, staff, and equipment.
Explore opportunities for twinning arrangements with institutions in
other countries (universities, botanical gardens, national park
authorities, etc).
Action 17.4
Develop at least one university degree programme in biodiversity and

conservation biology particularity as it relates to community-based
management of natural resources. Promote the integration of
biodiversity themes into other, tertiary-level courses and programmes.
Action 17.5
Create at least one vocational diploma-level course to train protected

area managers.
Action 17.6
Promote, through grants and other means, post-graduate specialization

in biodiversity-related fields, e.g. taxonomy.
Action 17.7
Strengthen the capabilities of NGOs and community institutions to play

an effective role in the conservation and management of biodiversity; in
particular, initiate training programmes with umbrella NGOs which
have large networks of Community-Based Organisations and VOs.
Action 17.8
Integrate biodiversity concerns into the training curricula of rural

development and extension staff, particularly in the fields of agriculture,
forestry, and fisheries.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Pakistan has already developed an overall strategy for environmental education and
awareness under the National Conservation Strategy; more detailed plans are contained
in the provincial conservation strategies (e.g. SPCS, BCS, NACS). However, the
Biodiversity Action Plan needs to ensure that the particular needs of biodiversity are not
marginalized in a more general greening of public education and awareness.
In the formal education systems, teacher training is perhaps the weakest area. Problems
include quantity (not enough trained), quality (training has been seriously neglected),
deployment (reluctance to serve in rural areas), and supervision (lack thereof). Although
organizations such as IUCN, WWF, and PMNH have been working to incorporate
environmental education into in-service teacher training, most courses still do not reflect
environmental concerns.
Given the low literacy rates in Pakistan, informal education (particularly that not based on
48
the written word) will remain a vital component of any strategy for environmental
education and awareness. The challenge lies in finding ways to reach this majority that
largely resides in rural areas.
Transmitting new information on biodiversity is not necessarily the most effective means
of achieving education. Fostering appreciation for traditional knowledge on biodiversity,
its local uses and management can be equally effective. Helping communities to
document their knowledge raises community awareness of the importance and values of
biodiversity.
Another potential tool for awareness raising is the development of interpretive facilities in
and around protected areas and ex-situ conservation sites (such as zoos and botanical
gardens). With more resources, much better use could be made of the educational
opportunities which these sites provide.
Objective 18:
Develop a Comprehensive Strategy for Public Education and

Awareness
Action 18.1
Develop a strategy on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

within the framework of the environmental education and
communication programmes of the NCS and provincial conservation
strategies, and incorporate the specific actions described in the
following sections.
Objective 19:
Use the Formal Education System to Increase Awareness about

Biodiversity and the Need for Its Conservation
Action 19.1
Develop national curricula which emphasise biodiversity's contributions

to local and national welfare, emphasise biodiversity's contributions to
the health of ecosystems, and tie ecological, economic, and social
themes together.
19.1.1
At the primary level, build opportunities into the curricula

for interaction with the local natural environment.
19.1.2
At the secondary level, incorporate biodiversity themes

into the curricula of all relevant subjects, including the
natural sciences, Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat, maths and
languages.
19.1.3
At the tertiary level, strengthen biodiversity themes in

existing courses. Create at least one degree or Masterslevel course in Pakistan which focuses on the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
19.1.4
For teacher training: integrate biodiversity themes into

environmental education units for all pre- and in-service
teacher training courses and B.Ed. courses. Provide
training in the use of practical, field-oriented methods of
teaching biodiversity.
19.1.5
For administrators, managers, and the armed forces:

integrate relevant biodiversity themes into the curricula of
courses at institutions for the in-service training of public
administrators, private sector executives, and the armed
forces.
49
19.1.6
Support initiatives linking environmental education with

basic literacy and development programmes (e.g. through
the AIOU basic functional literacy programme).
19.1.7
Use orientation courses for teachers to create awareness

of biodiversity and the CBD.
Action 19.2
As far as possible, develop local curricula directly relevant to students'

local ecological, cultural and economic environment, to supplement the
national curricula, and develop co-curricula activities on biodiversity
issues of immediate local concern; in particular, develop pilot local
curricula for schools in and around protected areas or areas of
particular importance for biodiversity.
Action 19.3
Develop course materials relevant to the conservation and sustainable

use of biodiversity. In particular: revise school textbooks according to
the proposed curricula revisions; and develop course materials relevant
to local curricula, and co-curricula activities.
Action 19.4
Encourage public-private partnerships in curricula development, the

development of co- and extra-curricular activities, and the development
of course materials, including partnerships between educational and
environmental authorities, between the government and NGOs, and
between public and private schools, and international collaboration.
Objective 20:
Use Informal Channels to Increase Awareness about Biodiversity

and the Need for Its Conservation
Action 20.1
Develop and promote a comprehensive informal biodiversity education

programme, tailored to the particular key audiences and ecological
conditions of Pakistan.
Action 20.2
Develop more focused campaigns designed with a particular goal in

mind, such as working with a local community adjacent to a protected
area to foster local knowledge relating to the protected area, and
promote understanding of the need for the protected area.
Action 20.3
Encourage the role of the media and in particular of radio, through the
establishment of information clearinghouses.
Action 20.4
Make better use of traditional channels; identify key audiences and the
most effective traditional channels for each audience. These might
include customary community institutions and meeting places.
Action 20.5
Document the local knowledge, cultural, and religious bases of

biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in Pakistan.
Action 20.6
Exploit the opportunity to link biodiversity themes with community

assistance programmes, including primary health care programmes,
primary education programmes and agricultural and forestry extension
programmes. Integrate biodiversity concerns into the training curricula
for rural development extension workers.
Action 20.7
Encourage the growth of membership groups, including NGOs, school

clubs, and outdoor groups, involved in the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity.
50
4.10
Action 20.8
Develop biodiversity interpretive facilities, including field centres, at

selected protected areas and interpretive programmes in all botanical
gardens, zoos, herbaria, genebanks, natural history museums, etc.
Action 20.9
Develop locally relevant resource materials on the conservation and

sustainable use of biodiversity for the use of agencies developing
informal education programmes.
Action 20.10
Develop affordable, popular, accessible, and comprehensive field

guides to the birds, animals, and flora of Pakistan.
Action 20.11
Encourage public-private partnerships in the above activities, including

partnerships between educational and environmental authorities,
between the government and NGOs, and international collaboration.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Article 14 of the CBD requires parties to introduce appropriate Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) procedures for projects, programmes, and policies that may have
significant adverse impacts on biodiversity.
EIA is most commonly used as a tool at the project level, to identify the environmental
effects of a proposed project and to plan ways of reducing negative impacts. Most
projects are typically designed in a series of stages, involving needs identification, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, appraisal, and approval. In many cases, EIAs have been
undertaken very late in this design process, when it has become too expensive to redesign or halt the project - even if significant negative impacts have been identified
(Glowka et al. 1994). To be most effective, EIAs need to be initiated at an early stage in
project development and include adequate means for public participation in the review of
potential effects of the development on human health, property, and local livelihoods.
EIA has now been made mandatory for all development projects in Pakistan. The
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (1997) provides that:
1)
No proponent of a project shall commence construction or operation unless the

proponent has filed with the Federal Agency an Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE) or, where the project is likely to cause an adverse
environmental effect, an Environmental Impact Assessment.
2)
The Federal Agency shall:

i)
review the IEE and recommend the approval of the project, or require
submission of an EIA by the proponent;
51
ii)
3)
review the EIA, with public participation where it may deem appropriate,
and recommend that the project be approved subject to such conditions
as it may deem fit to impose, or rejected in the interest of such
modifications as may be stipulated, or rejected in the interest of
environmental objectives.
The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply to such categories of
projects and in such manner as may be prescribed.
A particular strength of the 1997 Act is that it specifically includes damage to biodiversity
in its definition of adverse environmental effect.
4.11
Objective 21:
Institutionalize and Strengthen EIA Procedures for Projects,

Programmes, and Policies.
Action 21.1
Finalise detailed rules, regulations and guidelines for the

implementation of IEE/EIA under the 1997 Act, to include a checklist of
processes and activities which have or are likely to have significant
adverse impacts on biodiversity (e.g., major power and road-building
projects).
Action 21.2
Strengthen institutional capacity to evaluate the environmental impacts

of development activities, especially in relation to biodiversity. Particular
emphasis should be placed on training Environmental Protection
Agency and Federal/Provincial Planning and Developing Departments
staff in biodiversity issues and ensuring EIAs are also referred to
relevant natural resource management institutions for review.
Action 21.3
Encourage effective public participation in the EIA process. This should

include public review of EIA reports and access to information on
planned development projects. Data should be made freely available to
local communities and NGOs concerning planned development
projects impacting on biotic resources in their areas, so that they may
play an active and informed role in their own development.
Action 21.4
Expand the concept of Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) to

address the environmental impacts of programmes and policies (e.g.,
the National Drainage Programme; agricultural policies which promote
the production of mono-cultural export crops).
Action 21.5
Review the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) with due

consideration to potential impacts on specific ecosystems (e.g., the
effects of sewage discharge and industrial effluents on aquatic
ecosystems).
ACCESS ISSUES
The CBD is the first international convention which acknowledges a states sovereign
rights over the genetic resources within its jurisdiction and the resulting authority to
regulate and control access to these resources (Article 15). However, the degree and
extent to which the state could exercise this right has to be determined by national law.
Parties to the Convention are also required to: promote the fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the use of genetic resources and the development of
biotechnologies (Articles 15 and 19); and to facilitate access to, and transfer of,
52
technology, including biotechnology (Article 16).

Genetic resources have been developed and used since the dawn of civilization in
Pakistan. Although the use of some traditional genetic materials has declined over time
as new, high-yielding varieties have been introduced, there is still considerable potential
for further development of native genetic resources. For example, there are hundreds of
species of wild plants found in different parts of Pakistan which can be used for
medicinal purposes. At present, their use is limited to local remedies and homeopathic
medicines. Some genetic resources from Pakistan have been characterized and
parented in developed countries. Access to these resources for use and research in the
country of origin is essential.
There are several research institutions in Pakistan that focus on genetic resources and
biotechnology, including the Genetic Research Institute at the Pakistan Agriculture
Research Council (PARC), the Agriculture Biotechnology Institute at NARC, the Nuclear
Institute for Agriculture and Biology in Faisalabad, and the National Institute for
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), also in Faisalabad. However, these
institutions operate in a policy vacuum in relation to the conservation and use of genetic
resources. There is also limited scope for focusing on biological resources that are not of
commercial value.
Objective 22:
Develop Policies and Laws to Regulate Access to Genetic

Resources and Promote the Equitable Sharing of Benefits
between Resource Owners and Users.
Action 22.1
Collate baseline data relating to genetic resources and on current

practices of access to such resources for academic and commercial
purposes.
Action 22.2
Prepare an existing legal and institutional profile relating to the import,

export, and use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Action 22.3
Formulate a national policy and strategy on genetic resources and

access issues through the participation of stakeholders (government
agencies, industry, scientific community, ex-situ conservation facilities,
relevant NGOs, CBOs and private individuals).
Action 22.4
Develop an action plan for implementation of priority actions through

assigning responsibilities and identifying institutional development
needs and designate and appropriate authority to oversee and
implement the policy and relevant laws.
Action 22.5
Develop legislation in support of the national policy.

22.5.1
This revised legal framework should:

--
provide explicit recognition of Pakistans

sovereign right over its biological resources,
including genetic resources;
--
effectively control and regulate access to genetic

resources, including bioprospecting, the import
and export of all genetic resources (including
micro-organisms and living modified organisms),
and the use of biotechnology in developing
genetically engineered organisms;
53
4.12
--
provide for the recognition and protection of

indigenous knowledge (through the use of petty
patents or similar mechanisms), irrespective of
time limitations;
--
establish a clear system for the fair and equitable

distribution of benefits derived from the use of
genetic resources;
--
formulate legislation for release of Living Modified

Organisms (LMOs) into the environment which
includes, proper Environment Impact Assessment
for biosafety of LMOs and living organisms
imported from other ecological zones;
Action 22.6
In developing the legal framework described above, assess the

desirability of harmonizing new access legislation with similar legislation
being developed in other countries in south and south-east Asia (e.g.,
Malaysia), in order to create a common, regional approach to these
issues.
Action 22.7
Countries having similar ecological zones

e.g., South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC countries) should
harmonize policy for import, export, and use of genetic resources from
the region as a whole.
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
The knowledge and experience about environmental problems and their solutions are
unequally and poorly distributed around the globe. In particular, there is an information
gap between developed and developing countries which must be bridged. A provision on
exchanging information has now become a standard addition to international
environmental and conservation agreements. Article 17 of CBD urges Parties to take
into account the special needs of developing countries and include repatriation of
information, where feasible.
Much original and unique information about species and ecosystems in developing
countries is held by museums and other research institutions in developed countries, yet
this information is often very difficult to access by the country where those specimens
were collected. The Convention encourages the holders of such information, largely in
the developed countries, to take measures to ensure that the information held is shared
with the countries where it originated (Glowka et al. 1994).
Pakistan is data-deficient in many respects. As previously noted under Section 4.3,
information about the biodiversity of Pakistan is presently scattered among a wide range
of institutions, and current capacity to collect, store, analyse, and disseminate
information is limited. A considerable number of actions will need to be undertaken,
therefore, if Pakistan is to fulfill its commitments under this article of the Convention.
Objective 23:
Strengthen Information Management Systems on the Biodiversity

of Pakistan
Action 23.1
Establish a national information clearinghouse on biodiversity.
54
23.1.1
The national clearinghouse could:

--
create and manage meta-databases on

biodiversity information in Pakistan and abroad;
--
promote standardization of data formats;
--
develop guidelines to assist custodial institutions

to formulate individual information access policies
for in-country and external users;
--
improve collaboration and information exchange

among agencies that collect information relevant
to conservation of biodiversity (e.g., sectoral
agencies, Bureau of Statistics);
--
maintain information on all projects promoting

conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in
Pakistan; and
--
assist in matching information users with sources

of biodiversity information.
These functions could be fulfilled by the national centre

recommended in Action 5.1.
4.13
Action 23.2
Establish contact with institutions outside Pakistan (e.g., the British

Museum of Natural History) to obtain information about those
collections of Pakistani origin which are currently being held abroad.
Action 23.3
Enhance the capacity of relevant national and provincial institutions to

collect, store, analyse, and supply information on biodiversity, through
the provision of funding, equipment, staff, and training.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Article 20 of the CBD requires each Party to provide financial support, in accordance with
its capabilities, for the national activities which will be undertaken to implement the
Convention. Article 20 also commits the developed nations to provide new and
additional financial resources to assist developing countries with their biodiversity
conservation and management programmes. These funds are currently being channelled
through the GEF.
The successful implementation of Pakistans Biodiversity Action Plan will require a
significant financial investment. It is important to emphasise, however, that many of the
recommendations contained within the Plan can be implemented through policy and
legal changes (e.g., the use of incentives and the removal of perverse incentives, as
discussed in Section 4.7), and do not require large expenditures. Similarly, ongoing
development activities and existing government programmes can be made more
sensitive to biodiversity concerns, often at relatively little cost (e.g., through better use of
EIA procedures). It is not necessary, therefore, to await the arrival of new funding before
commencing implementation of the Plan.
For those measures which do require new funding, possible sources could include: the
development of innovative funding mechanisms; bilateral/multi-lateral aid for stand-
55
alone, biodiversity projects; debt-for-nature swaps; partnerships with the private sector;
and the GEF itself. In fact, GEF needs to recognize and financially support the needs of
developing countries to implement their national biodiversity action plans.
Finally, it should be emphasised that funds spent on biodiversity conservation and
management are not unrecoverable expenditures; rather, they are investments in
Pakistans future ecological, economic, and social security - investments which will yield
substantial benefits at virtually all levels and sectors of society. Present economic tools
and measurements, such as the national income accounts, fail to recognise or accord a
value to these benefits.
Objective 24:
Develop National Funding Mechanisms to Support Priority

Biodiversity Conservation and Management Programmes
Action 24.1
Re-assess national spending priorities, and consider financial reallocations from those sectors which currently receive a
disproportionate share of the national budget.
Action 24.2
Re-assess existing expenditure on biodiversity-related activities against

the priorities identified in this Biodiversity Action Plan; re-align
expenditure to address the most urgent and important priorities, as
required.
Action 24.3
Establish a task force to look into possible avenues of developing

sustainable revenues to support biodiversity.
24.3.1
Possible mechanisms might include:

--
the establishment of endowment funds to cover

recurring costs in long term conservation projects;
--
royalties from the wildlife, forestry, and fisheries

industries;
--
the return of revenues generated in parks and

reserves (e.g., from tourism) to the protected area
system and custodian communities;
--
"Adopt a Park" schemes, in which organisations

agree to support an individual reserve, often
under the banner of a flagship species (e.g.,
Marco Polo Sheep in Khunjerab);
--
partnerships with the private sector, in particular,

those companies that benefit from the exploitation
of genetic resources;
--
debt-for-nature swaps;
--
bi-lateral debt relief (in which loans are reduced,

re-structured or forgiven outright in return for
agreements to put resources into conservation
programmes);
--
charging for ecosystem services provided by

protected areas; and
56
--
special issues of postage stamps and coins.
Objective 25:
Seek Increased Bi-lateral and Multi-lateral Funding for Biodiversity

Programmes.
Action 25.1
Create an informal working group of aid agencies and donors on

biodiversity conservation and management in Pakistan.
Action 25.2
Establish a database of agency/donor development activities and

locations to identify areas of possible donor interest.
Action 25.3
Coordinate donor activities to maximize conservation efforts and

resources. Invite donor agencies to assist with priority conservation
activities in regions where they already have development
programmes.
Action 25.4
Strengthen national capacity to submit successful proposals to the

GEF, through training in project development and proposal preparation
(using the GEF format).
Action 25.5
Take steps to strengthen Pakistans voice at the CBD Conferences of

Parties.
57
Chapter 5
COORDINATING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION EFFORTS
There are many stakeholders in the biodiversity of Pakistan and to be effective, conservation
efforts must be coordinated across many sectors of society.
The Federal and Provincial Governments are the most important stakeholders with overall
responsibility for providing an adequate policy and legal framework, enforcing regulations,
building capacity and providing incentives and funds for the conservation of biodiversity. The
policies and programs of key Federal Ministries (Ministry of Environment, Local Government and
Rural Development; Food and Agriculture; Finance and, Science and Technology) and
Provincial Departments (Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries) are crucial to
the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. To help ensure commitment and
compliance to implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan across Ministries and Departments
with different (and often divergent) priorities, the strong support of the Planning and
Development Divisions is also essential. Implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan will
need to be carried out at both the Federal and Provincial levels by establishing linkages with the
Annual and Five-Year Planning cycles, and by establishing Steering Committees at both levels
(see Implementation Measures, Chapter 6).
Research Institutions are responsible for documenting elements of biodiversity in Pakistan and
for monitoring the health of ecosystems. Training Institutions play an important role in building
professional capacity in the fields of conservation and sustainable use.
As direct users of biological diversity, local communities have an important role in resource
conservation and use. The active involvement of communities in the management of wild
species and ecosystems, where communities become the custodians and beneficiaries of
biodiversity, may be the most promising approach to halt further loss of biodiversity in Pakistan.
Non-governmental Organizations can help bridge the existing gap between government and
local communities to enhance conservation efforts. NGOs can be particularly valuable in
providing technical tools and building capacity and awareness for the environment both locally
and with government. NGOs are often well informed and can assist in monitoring
implementation of the CBD both locally and nationally.
The private sector should be made aware of the importance, and value, associated with the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The private sector has a strong influence in
developing and maintaining markets for natural resources. It is also an important stakeholder in
ensuring the equitable sharing of benefits from the use of natural resources.
Finally, the general public (both nationally and globally) has a stake in the natural heritage of
Pakistan and can influence policy and decision making affecting biodiversity. To gather sufficient
funds and support, the general public must be better sensitized to the rapid loss of biodiversity
and the need for its conservation.
58
Chapter 6
IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
Overall responsibility for implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan will fall on the Ministry of
Environment, Local Government and Rural Development, which is also the national focal point
for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Within MELGRD, it is envisioned that a Biodiversity
Secretariat (see below) will have particular responsibility for the Plan.
To oversee the implementation process, it is recommended that a Biodiversity Steering
Committee be established at the Federal level. The proposed composition of the Committee is
as follows:
Federal Biodiversity Steering Committee
Chair: Minister, (MELGRD)
Members
Secretary, (MELGRD)
Inspector General of Forests, (MELGRD)
Director General - Environment, (MELGRD)
Representative, Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Division
Representatives of Provincial Biodiversity Steering Committees (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP,
Balochistan, Northern Areas and AJK)
Representative, Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock
Representative, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)
Representative, Marine Pollution Control Board (MPCB)
Representative, Ministry of Finance
Representative, National Biosafety Committee
Representatives (2), Biodiversity Working Group
Member, Planning Commission
Director General, PEPA
Director General, PMNH
Country Representative, IUCN-P
Director General, WWF-P
Chief Executive Officer, SDPI
Representatives (2), private sector
Most implementation measures, however, will take place at the provincial level. It will, therefore,
be important to establish Provincial Steering Committees and, if possible, to merge these with
the committees which have already been established for the Provincial Conservation Strategies
(SPCS, BCS, and NACS). The suggested structure of the Provincial Steering Committees is as
follows:
Provincial Steering Committees
Chair: Minister (Forest, Fisheries and Wildlife Department)
Members
Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Development Department (as Secretary)
Secretary, Forest & Wildlife Department
Secretary, Fisheries
Secretary, Agriculture
Secretary, Livestock
Secretary, Education
59
Secretary, Local Government and Rural Development

Member, Planning & Development Department
Representative, Biodiversity Working Group (from province)
NGO Representatives (2)
Community Representatives (2)
A national level, multi-disciplinary, working group should also be established to act as a technical
body in support of the National and Provincial Steering Committees, to provide technical
guidance for implementation of the Plan, and to review progress at periodic intervals. It is
suggested that this function be performed by the Biodiversity Working Group, and that the
membership of the group be re-notified to adequately reflect the relevant stakeholders (see
Chapter 5) and also to include women. The following structure is proposed:
Biodiversity Working Group
Chair: Elected by Biodiversity Working Group (BWG)
Members
Representative, Biodiversity Secretariat (as Secretary)
Technical Experts (6), Provincial/state governments
Technical Expert, Pakistan Museum of Natural History
Technical Expert, National Agricultural Research Centre
Technical Expert, National Institute of Oceanography
Technical Expert, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Technical Expert, Pakistan Forest Institute
Technical Expert, National Council for Conservation of Wildlife
Technical Expert, Zoological Survey Department
Technical Expert, WWF-P
Technical Expert, IUCN-P
Research Scientist (2-4) from academia
In addition, it is suggested that a Biodiversity Secretariat be established in MELGRD to
coordinate the implementation of all programmes under the BAP.
Biodiversity Secretariat
As the focal point within MELGRD for implementation of the CBD on behalf of the Government of
Pakistan, a Biodiversity Secretariat will be established to take on the added responsibilities of
implementing the BAP. It is important that all individuals assigned to this Secretariat have
relevant technical experience. The Secretariat should be placed under a Director General/Joint
Secretary (Biodiversity) level position and supported by: (i) a Biodiversity Programme Officer in
charge of developing a central Clearinghouse Mechanism (CHM) for the CBD; (ii) a Biodiversity
Planning Officer to assist other government agencies, NGOs, and private sector groups in
preparing project proposals under BAP; and (iii) two Scientific Officers (Biodiversity) to provide
technical support for BAP implementation. The Programme and Planning Officers would be
Grade 19 officers while the Scientific Officers would be Grade 17/18. Given current restraints on
new government hiring, it is proposed that the Secretariat positions be filled from existing,
qualified government staff either through deputation or transfers between ministries.
An organizational chart for the proposed administrative structures is provided in Figure 3. Of
these, the Biodiversity Secretariat must become fully operational within 6 months of the adoption
of BAP by the government. The secretariat should then facilitate the establishment of the
Federal and Provincial Steering Committees, and re-notify the Biodiversity Working Group which
should commence working within the following 6 months.
The primary focus of the Biodiversity Secretariat is coordination to facilitate the timely
implementation of the BAP. The secretariat will foster scientific and technical cooperation by
promoting linkages between, and within, different sectors affecting biodiversity. The Secretariat
60
will also be responsible for developing work plans to implement BAP priority actions.
While some of the recommended actions in Chapter 4 will take considerable time and funding to
address, others can be implemented immediately and at little cost. To guide the phasing of
activities, an implementation schedule has been developed (Table 5) where recommended
actions for each BAP component are listed by the anticipated length of time required for
implementation. The phasing is described as:
immediate
short term
long term
within 1 year (at low cost)

within 5 years
within 10 years
During its first year of operation, the secretariat will begin to address the immediate priorities in
cooperation with the Biodiversity Working Group and the Federal/Provincial Steering
Committees.
Finally, the Biodiversity Action Plan should not be a once off document but, rather, an ongoing
process that is periodically monitored and updated much like the National Conservation
Strategy. The Plan should change as scientific knowledge increases, as the intellectual debate
continues on various issues related to conservation of biodiversity, and new lessons are learned.
61
Insert Organogram saved as: f:\home\common\hbukhari\bap\organo.ppt
62
Table 5.
BAP Implementation Schedule.

Numbers refer to specific actions as described in Section 4.
BAP
Component
Immediate (within 1 year)
Short term (within 5 years)
Policy/Planning
Adopt BAP (1.1)

Adopt Biodiversity
Policy (1.2)
Enact Model Wildlife

Law (2.3)
Finalize rules for PEPA
97 (2.6)
Protect species
presently subject to
illegal trade (3.3)
Legislation
Long term (within 10

years)
Promote coordination
between institutions
(1.3)
Integrate biodiversity
into sectoral plans (1.4)
and conservation
strategies (1.5)
Review existing
legislation (2.2; 2.4)
Develop access
legislation (2.7)
Develop biosafety
regulations (2.8)
Enhance enforcement
capacity (3.1)
Amend Constitution
(2.1)
Comply with
International
Conventions (3.4)
Identification/
Monitoring
Appoint biodiversity
centre(s) (4.1)
Identify conservation
priorities (4.2)
Foster information sharing
(4.6)
Create National Red Lists

(4.3)
Establish computerized
databases (4.5)
Produce State of the
Environment report (5.2)
Institutionalize resource
monitoring (5.1)
In-Situ
Conservation
Prepare PA system
review (6.2)
Identify priority areas
for international
designation (6.3.4)
Explore potential for
transboundary Peace
Parks (6.3.5)
Ex-Situ
Conservation
Sustainable
Use
Compile directory of
conservation initiatives
(8.2)
Evaluate existing
programs (8.3)
Identify priority species
and genetic resources
(8.4)
Develop criteria for SU

(10.2)
Promote community-
Develop comprehensive
PA legislation (6.1)
Prepare PA system plan
(6.2)
Enhance PA
management (6.4)
Develop regional
conservation programs
(7.1)
Enhance CBO/NGO
capacity for
conservation (7.3)
Promote buffer zone
management (7.4; 7.5)
Share biodiversity
information with
planners (7.6) and
defence agencies (7.7)
Expand PA system
(6.3)
Restore degraded
ecosystems (6.5)
Control exotic invasive
(6.6)
Modify destructive
resource practices
(7.2)
Develop national policy

(8.1)
Strengthen capacity and
scope (8.5)
Promote integration
among institutions (8.6)
Formulate policies (9.1)

Review existing laws
(9.2; 9.3; 11.1)
Enhance capacity for

monitoring (10.1)
Require management
63
BAP
Component
Incentive
Measures
based conservation
projects (11.4)
Strengthen sectoral
coordination (13.1)
Identify perverse
incentives (14.4)
Research and
Training
Identify gaps and

priorities for new
research (16.2)
Assess biodiversityrelated training needs
(17.1)
Create diploma course
for PA Managers (17.5)
Education/
Awareness
Develop public
education/ awareness
strategy (18.1)
Encourage the role of
media (20.3)
Environmental
Impact
Assessment
Finalize rules and

guidelines for PEPA
1997 (21.1)
Access Issues
Collect baseline data (22.1)

Prepare existing
legal/institutional profile
(22.2)
Develop action plan
Reduce incidental take

(10.4)
Evaluate traditional
management systems
(11.2; 11.3)

years)
plans as a basis for

SU (10.3)
Develop
methodologies for
valuation (12.1)
Initiate green
accounting (12.2)
Introduce direct/indirect
incentives (14.1; 14.2)
Introduce disincentives
(14.3)
Strengthen current
biodiversity research
(16.1)
Design and implement
in-service training (17.2)
Design opportunities for
international linkages
(17.3)
Develop degree
programs in biodiversity
and conservation biology
(17.4)
Initiate training programs
with umbrella NGOs
(17.7)
Develop relevant course

material (19.3)
Promote informal
education programs
(20.1), including focused
campaigns (20.2) and
traditional channels
(20.4)
Develop interpretive
facilities (20.8)
Develop locally relevant
resource materials
(20.9), including field
guides (20.10)
Legislate Pakistani
involvement in
research (16.3)
Promote postgraduate
specialization (17.6)
Integrate biodiversity
concerns in other
curricula (17.8)
Incorporate
biodiversity emphasis
in national and local
curricula (19.1; 19.2)
Encourage
partnerships in
curricula development
(19.4)
Document local
knowledge (20.5)
Encourage growth of
membership groups in
biodiversity
conservation (20.8)
Strengthen capacity of
EPA staff (21.2)
Encourage effective
public participation in
EIA process (21.3)
Expand the SEA
concept (21.4)
Review NEQS for
specific ecosystems
(21.5)
Formulate a national
policy (22.3)
Develop legislation
(22.5) based on a
regional approach (22.6)
64
BAP
Component
Exchange of
Information
Financial
Resources
Annex 1:
(22.4)
Harmonize regional
policies (22.7)
Establish a national
clearinghouse on
biodiversity information
(23.1)
Exchange information
with outside institutions
(23.2)
Enhance institutional
capacity to manage
information (23.3)
Establish task force to

generate funding (24.3)
Strengthen capacity to
develop GEF proposals
(25.4)
Strengthen Pakistans
voice at CBD-COP
(25.5)
Re-align expenditures
with BAP priorities (24.2)
Enhance donor interest
(25.2) and participation
(25.1; 25.3)

years)
Re-assess national
spending priorities
(24.1)
Report on Stakeholder Participation

(prepared by Saleem Ahmed Qazi)
1.
Introduction
This report gives a brief account of the process followed during the preparation of a Biodiversity
Action Plan (BAP) for Pakistan. An attempt has been made to briefly describe the various stages
during BAP preparation, to list the opportunities provided by the Project Management Team
(PMT) for participation of the public and stakeholders, and to identify the factors which have
served as constraints to participation.
The BAP Project was initiated in July 1996 as part of a PDF Block B funding grant from the
GEF/Word Bank. The focus of the funding was to prepare an investment proposal to GEF for a
Protected Area Management Project (PAMP). An additional activity was also to prepare a
national BAP for Pakistan, a schedule of activities is shown in Table 1.
Table 1: A chronology of activities during BAP preparation
Time
Activity
July 96
Project Start-up (PDF Block B Funding)

- IUCN-P selected as lead agency in collaboration with WWF-P.
- simultaneous work on PAMP
Sep. 96
First Consultative Workshop

- 87 people attended two-day workshop
- sectoral working groups identifies issues and made recommendations for BAP
drafting
Winter 96
Based on the workshop feedback, background papers were prepared by national

experts on:
- cross-sectoral issues ( legislation, education/awareness, economic policies)
- data deficient subjects ( vertebrates/invertebrates, microbiology, genetics and
biosafety, coastal zones and marine fisheries, forests and rangelands)
65
2.
Spring/
Summer 97
BAP Draft Preparation

- compilation of background papers
- preparation of initial draft ( 300 pages +)
- revision and reduction of Draft ( 100 pages +)
Oct. 97
BAP Draft #1 distributed (200+ copies)
Nov. 97
Regional Review Workshops

- 5 locations with 175+ participants
- spirited debates
- verbal and written feedback
Dec. 97
-filling additional gaps

- preparation of consultation report
Next steps
- review, revise and prepare BAP Draft #2

- review by BWG
- revise and prepare Final BAP
- seek GoP endorsement
- submit to CBD secretariat
Steps involved in BAP Preparation

The following activities, which specifically involved various stakeholders, were carried out during
BAP preparation.
2.1.
Literature Review
Like all projects involving planning, the Biodiversity Action Plan project started with a
review of literature relevant to the Project and the concepts of biodiversity conservation
and sustainable use. Reviews were made of similar efforts undertaken elsewhere in the
world and relevance of these efforts to Pakistan was also explored.
2.2.
Development of the Framework

To develop an outline of the BAP in a participatory fashion, a two day consultative
workshop was organized in Islamabad on September 15-16, 1996. More than 160
individuals were invited to attend the workshop. The main objectives of the workshop
were:
to agree on the contents of the BAP and to develop a framework;

to identify and prioritize issues of concerns within specific areas of interest;
to identify current and planned biodiversity conservation efforts (in Pakistan);
and
to identify sources of information and expertise within each area of interest.
Thus the workshop was organized not only to develop a framework of BAP but also to
establish a contact database for increased stakeholder involvement in the project.
In total, 87 individuals from various regions of Pakistan attended the workshop.
Recognizing the fact that biodiversity is an all-encompassing concept and it is difficult to
create meaningful partitions of the participants for discussion purposes, group discussion
areas were identified based on land-use practices and resource management. With this
background, the participants were divided into discussions/work groups covering
biodiversity areas such as:
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry,

Coastal Zones and Marine Fisheries,
Biodiversity Action Plan - Annexure 2
66
Forest Trees and Economically Important Plants,

Invertebrates and Vertebrates,
Microbiology, Genetics, and Biosafety,
Wetlands, Fresh Water and Inland Fisheries, and
Wildlife and Protected Areas.
The groups formed evaluated each of these areas on the basis of a common checklist.
The seven groups worked for more than six hours and shared their respective findings in
a plenary. Feedback in the form of group presentations was supplemented with individual
observations which were received in verbal as well as in written form.
2.3.
Commissioning of Background Papers

On the basis of the findings of the consultative workshop, review of BAP-related activities
elsewhere in the world, and information regarding the Pakistan situation gathered from
other sources, 13 national experts were contracted to write background papers. These
sectoral papers covered topics such as vertebrates and invertebrates, microbiology and
genetics, marine biodiversity, legislation, education, public awareness and education,
economic policy, etc.
2.4.
Production of the First Draft

Following a succession of BAP Coordinators, information from the sectoral background
papers and other sources were compiled into a first draft BAP. The initial draft was in
excess of 300 pages and considered too lengthy to stimulate a consultative review.
Efforts were made in the fall of 1997 to conduce the draft into a more manageable format
and to focus the document on key issues and proposed actions while reducing details on
the current status of biodiversity in Pakistan. A revised and reduced first draft BAP was
distributed to over 230 individuals on 10 October 1997.
2.5.
Review at Regional Workshops

To accommodate wide participation of stakeholders in the review of the draft BAP, one
day workshops were held in 5 locations (Lahore, Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar and
Islamabad) following distribution of the draft document. The time available for review of
the nearly 100 page draft varied between two and five weeks depending on the date of
the regional workshops.
Invitations to the regional workshops were prepared from a Contact Database created
after the first workshop in Islamabad. Additional invitations were also issued after
participant lists had been reviewed by GoP and regional IUCN/WWF offices.
The regional workshops followed the same general agenda in each location starting with
an introduction to CBD and BAP followed by group discussions and presentations on the
proposed actions identified in the draft. The intent of the workshops was to reach some
level of national consensus on priority action and strategies for the future.
2.6.
Follow-up to Regional Workshops

Based on some of the concerns and issues raised at the regional workshops a 6
member committee from Islamabad was asked to review and quickly revise portions of
the draft BAP to fill some of the gaps identified.
Briefing of the Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) were held on 18 November and 15
December 1997 to provide updates on BAP preparation. All BWG members were invited
67
to the regional workshops and most members were able to attend.

3.
Opportunities for Participation

Following is a brief account of the various fora for stakeholder participation, established during
the project.
3.1.
Biodiversity Working Group

The idea of creating a forum under the auspices of the Biodiversity Unit of the Ministry of
Environment had been under consideration before the launch of the BAP/PAMP,
however it got impetus after the Project launch. Basically the idea was to have a number
of national level experts from different areas of specialization to provide advice to various
biodiversity initiatives of GoP. Initial consultations between the Project Management
Team (PMT) and the focal point of the biodiversity-related GoP-sponsored initiatives in
the MELGRD concluded that a Biodiversity coordinating Committee, which existed only
on paper could be improved by adding more appropriate experts to it and constituting the
BWG. About one month after the launch of the Project, the group was formally
constituted and an announcement to this effect was made by the focal point on August
22, 1996. As many as 22 individuals were taken on board. They included
environmentalists, foresters, specialists from wildlife, livestock, agriculture, natural
history, taxonomy, fisheries, tourism, marine sciences, zoology, biotechnology, protected
area management, and development in general. The terms of reference of the Group
included the following tasks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
3.2.
Formally review and approve the selection criteria for the selection of ten
protected areas (PA's).
Review the results of the socio-ecological survey conducted on the eleven sites
by the PMT of PAMP.
Review and approve 3-5 priority PAs.
Review the detailed needs assessment survey of the 3-5 priority PAs
undertaken by the Team Leader and his team.
Review the working of the stakeholder groups for each priority area.
Review and approve the draft investment plans for each priority area.
Review and approve the BAP.
Review the status of the Convention on Biological Diversity for recommending
action(s) on the obligations and incorporating them in the BAP.
The Project Management Team

PMT is a tripartite body including representatives of the MELGRD, IUCN-P, and WWF-P.
The PMT provided guidance to the PAMP/BAP Project staff. The Team Leader and the
BAP Coordinator provided the link between the PMT and the Project staff. The PMT met
once a month during the first few months of the Project and since then has been meeting
only on significant stages of Project development. The following individuals met during
PMT meetings to review the BAP.
Mr. Kalimullah Shirazi, Deputy Secretary and Biodiversity Focal Point, MoE
Dr. Javed Ahmed, Head Natural Resources Group, IUCN-P
Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, Deputy Director General, WWF-P
Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, Director General, WWF-P
Dr. Scott Perkin, Head Programme Support Unit, IUCN-P
Dr. A. Aleem Chaudhry/ Mr. Guy Duke, BAP Coordinator
Mr. Richard Garstang/ Mr. Kent Jingfors, Project Team Leaders, IUCN-P
Mr. Saleem Ahmad Qazi, Project Social Scientist
Mr. Usman Iftikhar, Project Economist
Ms. Khalida Haye, Project PRA Specialist
68
Mr. Ashiq Ahmed, Conservation Director, WWF-P

Mr. Najam Khursheed, Wetlands Specialist, WWF-P
4.
Constraints to Participation
While the project explored different opportunities for participation of key stakeholders in
preparing a national strategy document, such as BAP, there were 3 main constraints to ensure
effective participation. These were:
a)
Lack of information
When BAP started in 1996, there was no central registry or database listing
departments, institutions or individuals involved in biodiversity related programs. There
was lack of information sharing, or even understanding of who the primary stakeholders
would be in preparing a national strategy document on biodiversity such as BAP.
b)
Lack of interest (or incentives)

Several of the sectoral background papers were not adequately prepared. As a result,
the draft BAP focused on elements of biodiversity that had been covered well and for
which there was background information (e.g., vertebrates, plants).
During the regional workshops, it was clear that several individuals/institutions feel that
voluntary contributions of information is difficult without some form of compensation.
However, it was also pointed out that it was in the interest of every individual/institution to
ensure their particular focus of biodiversity was well represented in a document such as
BAP that could help identify future funding priorities.
c)
BWG Composition and Funding

The composition of BWG needs to be reviewedwas mainly comprised of representatives
from federal and provincial government agencies. There iswas currently no
representation by NGOs or women on the committee. Moreover,The government
membership does didnot adequately incorporated participation by all line departments
that are involved in biodiversity issues. Participation in BWG meeting is wasalso made
difficult by the lack of funding to encourage participants from out of Islamabad to attend.
5.
Individual Contributors and Members of the Biodiversity Planners Committee marked

with *)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Mr. Z.B. Mirza, CERC, Islamabad*

Dr. Anwar Naseem, COMSTECH, Islamabad*
Dr. Syed Azhar Hasan, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad *
Dr. Shahzad A. Mufti, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad*
Dr. Ashiq Hussain Cheema, NARC, Islamabad*
Mr. Rashid Anwar, NARC, Islamabad*
Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik, NIBGE, Faisalabad
Mr. Tanveer Arif, Society for Conservation & Protection of Environment, Karachi
Dr. Syed Irtifaq Ali, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi
Dr. Mohammad Nazir Bhatti, DG Fisheries, Punjab
Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro, PSO, Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad
Dr. Surayya Khatoon, Department of Botany, University of Karachi
Dr. Naseem Ghani, Karachi
Mr. Qadeer Mohammad Ali, Marine Reference Collection and Resource Center,
University of Karachi
David E. Steane, CTA, FAO Bangkok
Dr. Sarwat N. Mirza, AZRC, Quetta
69
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Dr. A. Hameed, Biological Sciences Dept., Quaid-iAzam University, Islamabad

Syed Mahmood Nasir, DFO, Dera Ghazi Khan
Prof. S. M. Saifullah, Botany Department, University of Karachi
Ms. Naila Hussain, Shirkat Gah, Lahore
Dr. Shahid Amjad, National Institute of Oceanography, Karachi
Mr. Leslie Wijesinghe, CRO, IUCN-Sri Lanka
Mr. Abeed Ullah Jan, Former Inspector General Forest, Islamabad
70
Annex 2:
Other International Biodiversity-related

Conventions to which Pakistan is a Party
Pakistan is a Party to two international conventions dealing with species: the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (adopted in Bonn, Germany in 1979 and to which
Pakistan has been a Party since 1987); and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (signed in Washington in 1973, to which Pakistan has been a
Party since 1976). Pakistan is also a party to two area-based treaties: the Convention on Wetlands of
International importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, and to which
Pakistan has been a Party since 1978); the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural
and Natural Heritage (signed at UNESCO, Paris in 1972). In addition to these treaties, Pakistan is a
Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (signed at Montego Bay in 1982),
supports the UNESCO Man and Bioshpere (MAB) programme (initiated in Paris in 1968) and has signed
(but not yet ratified) the Convention for Combatting Desertification.
Under the Bonn convention, Pakistans principal obligations are to protect certain endangered species
listed in Appendix I of the Convention and to endeavour to conclude agreements for the protection of
migratory species whose conservation status is unfavourable and of those whose conservation status
would substantially benefit from the international cooperation deriving from an agreement (De Klemm
and Shine 1993).
Under CITES, Pakistans principal obligations are to restrict the import and export of listed species.
Appendix I lists endangered species of flora and fauna in immediate danger of extinction. Appendix II
lists species not in immediate danger of extinction, but which may become so if trade restrictions are not
applied. Appendix III lists species for which cooperation between Parties is desirable for their protection.
A range of legislative measures are commended by the CITES Secretariat and IUCN for the adequate
implementation of CITES (de Klemm 1993).
The Ramsar Convention is primarily concerned with the conservation and management of wetlands
included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Davis 1994; de Klemm and Shine 1993).
Parties are also required to promote the wise use of wetlands on their territory and to take measures for
the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether they
are included in the list or not. A Wetland Fund was set up in 1990 to assist Parties to discharge their
obligations under this Convention. A range of legislative measures is required to implement the Ramsar
and the specific wetlands in particular, and for the division of jurisdiction among government agencies
for the catchment-side management of wetlands. To date, Pakistan has designated 9 wetlands as
Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention (NCCW data).
Under the World Heritage Convention, Pakistans principal obligation is to conserve and transmit to
further generations the natural and cultural heritage situated on its territory (de Klemm and Shine 1993).
The inclusion of a site on the World heritage List requires the approval of the World Heritage
Committee. A special financial mechanism, the World Heritage Fund, has been established to assist
Parties to discharge their obligation in respect of sites, with great success.
Although a number of Pakistans cultural sites have been inscribed on the World Heritage List, none of
Pakistans natural sites have yet been included. However, an application in respect of the Central
Karakorum National Park has been prepared and is under consideration of the UNESCO.
The only worldwide programme for the establishment and conservation of protected areas is the
Biosphere Reserve network which was developed under UNESCOs Man and Biosphere Programme
(de Klemm and Shine 1993). As there are no treaties or legally binding obligations governing this
network, designations of Biosphere Reserves are made on a purely voluntary basis. Proposed
designations by individuals states must, however, be approved by the MAB Coordination Committee. To
date, Pakistan has designated only one Biosphere Reserve (Lal Suhanra National Park), although a
number of other areas (e.g., the Indus Delta) would appear to be particularly well suited to this
72
management approach.
Under those provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) relating to
Biodiversity, Pakistans principal obligations relate to the conservation and exploitation of marine
species, the establishment of marine protected areas, and the prevention of marine pollution (which
includes the introduction of alien or exotic species).
Pakistan has recently signed and ratified the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Though this Convention does not directly address Biodiversity, it addresses the degradation of arid and
semi-arid rangelands. There are potential synergies between UNCCD and CBD that need to be further
explored.
73
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78

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Government of Pakistan

Biodiversity Action Plan

Prepared with support from

Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity Action Plan

Major Vegetative Zones of Pakistan ..............................................................................7

Organogram for BAP Implementation..........................................................................64

Critically Threatened Ecosystems in Pakistan .............................................................15

Human Use of Wildlife in Pakistan. Most of the species included are

Summary of Protected Areas in Pakistan (based on NCCW data) .............................37

BAP Implementation Schedule.

Biodiversity Action Plan

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

Biodiversity Action Plan

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?

Biodiversity Action Plan

The conservation of biodiversity is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. It

THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)

Biodiversity Action Plan

A BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN FOR PAKISTAN

Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity Action Plan

Figure 1: Map of Pakistan

Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity Action Plan

Figure 2: Major Vegetative Zones of Pakistan (after Roberts 1991)

Biodiversity Action Plan

Pakistan. Reviewed by M. Farooq Ahmad (ZSD)

Fahmida Iffat (ZSD)

Javed Mustaquim (KU)

Genetic Diversity of Domesticated Species

RECENT TRENDS IN PAKISTAN

Biodiversity Action Plan

fragmented and degraded as they are, appear to be rapidly disappearing.

Pakistan) have been degraded.

Ten internationally threatened reptiles occur in Pakistan (three endangered, three

Biodiversity Action Plan

flow from diversions

Huge and ancient

Fuelwood cutting &

Rock outcrops with

Fuelwood cutting &

Very few areas

Fuelwood cutting &

Not connected with

Extend from the

Perhaps the most

Fuelwood cutting &

Important forest tracts

Global hotspot for

Unique flora and

Fuelwood cutting &

DIRECT CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN PAKISTAN

Biodiversity Action Plan

introduced species, and climate change.

Most ungulates, game birds, and waterfowl

Persecution (in response to livestock

All predators (including brown and black bear, grey