STAFF REPORT ISB: WWF Pakistan has urged the need for the protection and conservation of wildlife in Pakistan, which is most vulnerable to global warming.
“Wildlife is an important resource with economic, cultural and recreational value to humans, and is also an integral part of biodiversity of Pakistan. Global warming and climate change is forcing wildlife to change its behaviours, he said, adding that for instance, many birds are nesting, breeding, and migrating earlier as spring arrives sooner than before,” said WWF Pakistan Senior Director chapter and environmental expert Dr Ejaz Ahmad.
He said that scientists predict that a 1.5C global temperature rise may see 25 percent of the Earths animals and plants disappear; a 3C rise may see 30 percent disappear.
He said that Pakistans wildlife includes 668 species of birds, 195 species of mammals and 192 species of reptiles. He said that for protection and conservation of these species and their habitat, a network of protected areas, are already in place working under the provincial wildlife protection laws.
He said that huge amount of energy is being consumed across globe, resulting in global warming. This extra energy is like force-feeding and changing the global climate system.
He said that rising sea levels threaten entire nations on low-lying islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Dr Ijaz further said that it is a good omen that the government of Pakistan is conducting vulnerability assessments and recommending management strategies for some of the most important species.