Conserving Biodiversity:

Given the large altitudinal and climatic diversity within the NWFP, there is a wide variation in the province's agricultural capability, vegetation zonation, forest-cover types, soil and other features. Biological resources are, however, being lost to population growth and land conversion. The situation will be partly rectified with the completion of the nationwide Biodiversity Action Plan, but some major factors would still need to be addressed within the provincial framework.

Threats to Wild Animals & Plants

The principal threats to wildlife are over hunting, over fishing, pollution, and habitat destruction due to deforestation, land con- version to agriculture, soil erosion, and overgrazing. There is a general lack of aware- ness of the value of biodiversity, as well as disregard For the status of various species and of the relevant laws to protect them. The problem is compounded by the absence of basic research on wildlife populations.

Threats to biodiversity of plants include many of the same Factors as for animals. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, overgrazing, and soil erosion are the principal problems. The root cause of these is rapid population growth, the consequent demand For Food and natural resources, and poverty. Together, population growth and demands for an improved standard of living account for a doubling of the demand for natural resources every 12 years.

An expanded programme of investigation of genetic plant resources will be conducted in the context of the Biodiversity Action Plan. However, many of the root causes can only be addressed through the mechanisms described in other sections of the SPCS. While the creation of a parks and protected areas system will help protect wild vegetation communities, problems such as deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and water pollution also need to be addressed in a systematic and coordinated manner.

Biodiversity Action Plan

The Government of Pakistan's endorsement and ratification of the international Convention on Biological Diversity means that a national Biodiversity Action plan must be developed. Since implementation will be at the provincial level, Roundtable of NWFP biodiversity specialists will be established to oversee the provincial aspects of the Action plan which will include the development of a parks and protected areas system, based on representative ecosystems. It will also include measures for biodiversity conservation outside protected areas.

Parks & Protected Areas

There are no management plans in place for the existing protected areas and hardly any check on logging and poaching. Similarly, there are very few scientific research studies and little public education effort. The capacity and resources of the wildlife Department are also inadequate. Institutional strengthening activities will be undertaken and a potential protected areas plan will be developed under the framework of the SPCS.

Public Participation

Most parks and protected areas agencies, when setting out on new programmes, now emphasize public involvement in all phases. To involve people, a Sustainable Development Round Table will be established which will function as a steering committee for the entire provincial programme, and will pro- vide an equitable mandate to each interest group.
The scheme would involve the participation of local village representatives, the union councils, religious authorities, district administrators, rural support programme personnel, the military, and adventure travel companies.

Work to protect biodiversity must be built on the success of community participation approaches. Parks and protected areas can be designed not only to protect biodiversity, but also to complement and support the needs and aspirations of local communities. Co-management of parks and protected areas will therefore be the guiding principle for the SPCS.

Institution- strengthening

Utilizing the development of the biodiversity action plan and the parks and protected areas system plan as a training opportunity, a new institutional training initiative will be implemented. Additional resources will be sought to carry out this major train- ing initiative for the relevant government and non-government agencies.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

One of the best sources of biodiversity in- formation is the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous populations. But as society changes and urbanizes, much of this information is lost. An active programme to collect and use traditional and indigenous knowledge will be carried out.

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