Abstract
Pakistan possesses a variety of world's ecological regions due to its immense latitudinal and altitudinal variations. These regions include the coastal mangrove forests of the Arabian Sea as well as some of the highest mountains of the world, where the western Himalayas, Hindu-Kush and Karakoram ranges meet. This diversity contains diversified habitats and landscapes that support a rich biodiversity of both fauna and flora. Arid and semi-arid regions covering almost 80% of the total land area of the country possess significant portion of country's biodiversity. During the last two-three decades, a number of animal and plant species have become threatened or endangered mainly due to overexploitation and loss of natural habitat. Rapid human population growth is increasing pressure on the country's natural resource base. Increased poverty has forced rural people to exploit biodiversity at unsustainable rates. Factors like deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, salinity and water logging are posing major threats to the remaining biodiversity of the country. The continuing loss of forest habitat, with its associated fauna and flora, will have serious implications for the nation's other natural and agricultural ecosystems. Protected Areas System has been established for in-situ conservation of biodiversity in the country. Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, provides legal protection to the overall environment in Pakistan. A number of other laws do exist relating to conservation of various components of biodiversity. All efforts to reverse losses and promote diversity would be in vain without local participation. The key to protecting the biological diversity is involving local communities and obtaining support from relevant institutions in sustainable use initiatives. The Government of Pakistan recognized the value and importance of the country's valuable treasure and prepared the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) in 1992. Biodiversity conservation has been treated as an essential component in the NCS. Pakistan also became a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1994. Under the obligation of CBD, a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) has also been prepared and approved by the Government of Pakistan in 1999. The plan deals with the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in all ecological regions of Pakistan including arid and semi-arid regions. It is proposed to all the government agencies, local communities and NGOs to work together as partners in the noble task of biodiversity conservation.
