APP
\nPESHAWAR
\nWith enlarging forest cover by billions trees afforstration project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, arrival\u2019s frequency of migratory birds has increased manifolds in Pakistan besides providing a natural habitat to rare wildlife species.
\n\u201cThe arrival of Houbara Bustard, a precious migratory bird, has increased in Pakistan from Central Asian Republics (CARs) including Mongolia, Siberia due to availability of large variety of flora plants, insects and weeds in Khyber Pakthunkhwa,\u2019 Syed Ishtaiq Urmar, Provincial Minister for Environment, Forests and Wildlife Department told APP here Sunday.
\nBillion trees afforstration project (BTAP), a flagship project of PTI Govt has immensely helped in increasing of KP\u2019s forest covered area from 20.3pc in 2013 to record 26.6pc in 2017, broadening habitats for wildlife conservation and increasing ratio in arrival of the migratory birds in the country, he said.
\n\u201cHoubara can\u2019t stay in severe coldness and Pakistan\u2019s climate is ideally suitable for them especially during winter season,\u201d he said, adding all arid areas in Pakistan including DI Khan, DG Khan, Rahimyar Khan are Houbara\u2019s winter habitats where sufficient flora, insects and weeds are now available for its breading.
\nHoubara is very sensitive and it does not use the route again if they sense any danger on their way during the first journey. In case Houbra\u2019s looses its mate, the endangered specie takes three to five years to find a new one.
\nThe population travels in groups having a chieftain and once they looses their chieftain, the deputy guides the group to reach its destination.
\nIshtiq Urmar said Govt has adopted a comprehensive strategy to conserve and protect wildlife and migratory birds and under this plan five more national parks are being established at Kumrat, Anso Lake, Satara Nand in Manshera and Palas Kohistan.
\nSix national parks at Saiful Mulk Manshera, Nathia Gali, Ayubia, Lalusir and Chitral Gol were established with main focus on wildlife conservation.
\nHe said Govt has adopted zero tolerance against illegal hunting, poaching and trapping of wildlife animals and migratory birds including the endangered Asian Houbara and falcons.
\n\u201cI have set free seven falcons at Pakistan Forests Institute after it were recovered from an alleged smuggler at Bacha Khan International Airport on Wednesday last besides imposition of Rs3lakh fine,\u201d he maintained.
\nHe said a ban has been imposed on illegal hunting of wildlife animals and strict would be taken against elements involved in its illegal hunting and trade.
\nThe Minister said new forest at Ghari Chandan at Peshawar has been raised that would help in protection and conservation of wildlife and migratory birds.
\nHe said over 600,000 hectares of forests had been restored in KP during last five years.
\nThe Minister said Peshawar Zoo is being strengthened and all precious animals like Zebra, Zarafa, tigers and loins were brought to the facility, saying efforts are afoot to bring elephants from a foreign country to the zoo.
\nHe offered technical expertise to provinces including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan for plantation of 10 billion saplings under \u2018Plant for Pakistan\u2019 project in next five years in the country.
\nThe Minister said BTAP are being extended to recently merged tribal districts to achieve target of planting additional one billion saplings in Khyber Pakthunkhwa under Plant for Pakistan.
\nHe said 40-years old curriculum of Pakistan Forests Institute at Peshawar has been updated with modern requirements and two years extensive professional education training to trainee forest officers of all provinces and AJK are being provided at PFI.
\nThe environmental tribunal has been established at Peshawar to take up cases of environmental and population related cases, saying operation against unlawful crushing machines, marble factories and brick kilns will commence soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
APP PESHAWAR With enlarging forest cover by billions trees afforstration project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, arrival\u2019s frequency of migratory birds has increased manifolds in Pakistan besides providing a natural habitat to rare wildlife species. \u201cThe arrival of Houbara Bustard, a precious migratory bird, has increased in Pakistan from Central Asian Republics (CARs) including Mongolia, Siberia […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-34995","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n