LAHORE
\nEcosystem degradation through depletion of natural resources like water, air, soil and habitat is bringing about destructive effects on the environment endangering biodiversity, wildlife and food security.
\nWith the rising population and availability of meagre resources to excel in this domain, the environmental issues continued to aggravate over the years. Massive tree cutting resulting in floods, using agricultural land for housing societies and ill-planned cities and towns have further aggravated the situation.
\nTherefore, the natural resources that provide the basis of \u201cour existence are massively under pressure as we witness the water table going down rapidly and agricultural land shrinking due to unruly construction\u201d.
\nAccording to recent World Bank findings, climate change-related disasters have affected over 75 million Pakistanis during the last three decades in terms of agriculture and bio-diversity damages incurring estimated losses of over $ 29 billion (roughly $ 1 billion per annum).
\nAs Pakistan is a signatory to numerous international agreements and protocols, there was a dire need to focus on this area diligently.
\nTherefore, the present government efficiently pleaded the case of developing nations at the Conference of Parties (CoP-27) held in Egypt this November and sailed through successfully in getting created multi-billion funds to cope with climate change challenges.
\n\u201cAgriculture and bio-diversity play a critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),\u201d said Asad Imran, Director Sustainable Agriculture and Food Programme at WWF. \u201cEco-degradation and climate change are issues of our major concern as Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries to these phenomena.\u201d
\nHe said climate change was also a major threat to our food security as it was seriously affecting agriculture, forests, and fisheries. \u201cIncreasing sea level is another threat that may submerge many parts of coastal areas in Sindh province badly affecting Indus delta and highly productive cropping areas.\u201d He said modern agriculture was characterized by input-intensive practices with enhanced usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. \u201cThis tendency has also badly affected our land\u2019s natural fertility and contaminated groundwater.\u201d
\nTo avert these damages, Asad Imran pleaded to use organic fertilizers and develop insects\u2019 resistant seed varieties. \u201cEcological degradation may lead us to food insecurity by reducing agricultural productivity.\u201d
\nLikewise, bio-diversity has significant value for humanity at all levels because of its role in ecosystem services. In future, it is expected to cause a major loss of some species and changes in genetic biodiversity.
\n\u201cIt is affecting our lifeline \u2013 the water resource- as we see the water table going down and reducing canal water availability for irrigation,\u201d Imran said. \u201cIt may also alter our agriculture output including the seasonality of crops\u2019 quality and productivity, caused by plant diseases and pest attacks.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its report on the world\u2019s biodiversity has warned all countries that all species supporting the food systems and sustaining people, would not be recovered if lost once.
\nIt stated that out of some 6,000 plant species cultivated for food and contributing to global food output, only nine species account for 66 percent of total crop production.
\n\u201cEco-degradation is affecting our overall crop productivity. Even one-degree increase in temperature directly affects productivity and South Asian countries are the worst affected,\u201d said noted environmentalist Dr Mahmood Khalid Qamar.
\n\u201cDespite being rich in natural resources, Pakistan is still a victim to environmental degradation and we need immediate measures to avert its damages,\u201d he said.
\nSince 32 per cent of our population lives in urban areas and if the current growth rate of urbanization continues, the country\u2019s urban population will surpass its rural population within the upcoming decade.
\n\u201cOur green cover is rapidly vanishing. Massive tree-cutting results in land erosion and aggravates floods as we recently witnessed,\u201d said Javeria Qais, a climate expert at the University of Central Punjab (UCP).
\n\u201cRecurrence of recent flood phenomenon may again damage our most needed crops like maize, sugarcane, cotton and rice. This may land us in serious trouble in terms of food security,\u201d Javeria said.
\nAs Pakistan expressed gratitude for creating the \u201cLoss and Damage Fund\u201d for climate justice, Punjab Secretary Environment Usman Ali Khan has urged collective efforts to cope with environmental and climate change challenges.
\nHe said the Punjab government has chalked out strict measures to control eco-degradation and environmental issues including action against smoke-emitting vehicles and industrial units.
\n\u201cIngenuine industrial activities resulting in the emission of poisonous gases and effluent cannot be supported as it steadily leads to eco-degradation,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a need for advanced and pollution-free technologies to avert further eco-degradation.\u201d
\nHe said, on directions of the Punjab government, the environmental monitoring teams have been deployed at Ring Road localities including Sagian, Babu Sabu, and Thokar Niaz Baig entry points for action against smoke-emitting vehicles.
\n\u201cTherefore is no ban on entry into the city by vehicles carrying construction goods. However, the transporters must get their vehicles cleared from the environment monitoring units as pollution free.\u201d
\nQuoting an example of the worst bio-degradation, Khan referred to fruit trees like guava, mulberry and mango that were declining at a fast pace in the suburbs of Lahore and other big cities.
\nKeeping in view this situation, there is a dire need for collective efforts by all stakeholders to protect biodiversity for a secure future for coming generations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Ecosystem degradation through depletion of natural resources like water, air, soil and habitat is bringing about destructive effects on the environment endangering biodiversity, wildlife and food security. With the rising population and availability of meagre resources to excel in this domain, the environmental issues continued to aggravate over the years. Massive tree cutting resulting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-297761","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n