HAVING recently observed the International Day for Biological Diversity this year, Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads.
Our country is blessed with incredible biodiversity, from the towering Himalayas and the vast Indus River system to the rich coastal mangroves and arid deserts.
Yet, the reality is sobering: biodiversity loss is accelerating due to climate change, habitat destruction, pollution and unsustainable resource use.
This loss is not only an environmental crisis but a profound social and economic challenge that directly affects millions of Pakistanis, especially those whose livelihoods depend on nature.
To confront this, Pakistan must adopt a fresh perspective, one that places local communities at the core of conservation, links biodiversity with economic development and embraces innovative, inclusive solutions.
The theme for this year’s International Day, “Be part of the Plan,” resonated deeply with Pakistan’s urgent need for inclusive conservation.
Conservation efforts, traditionally top-down and bureaucratic, have often failed to involve the very people who live alongside nature.
Yet, these communities hold the key to effective biodiversity protection.
For instance, Islamabad’s Margalla Hills National Park, a green refuge for the capital city, is under increasing pressure from urban sprawl, illegal logging and encroachment.
Protecting such ecosystems demands not only stronger policies but active local stewardship and engagement integrated into city planning.
Without this, Islamabad’s natural heritage risks being lost beneath concrete and development.
Community-based conservation (CBC) offers a compelling pathway forward.
By empowering local people to manage and protect their natural resources, CBC fosters ownership and sustainability.
Pakistan has some inspiring examples.
The Makran Coastal Conservation Project demonstrated how training local fishermen in sustainable practices led to healthier fish populations and better livelihoods.
Similarly, the Snow Leopard Conservation Program in northern Pakistan transformed pastoralists (once adversaries of the predator) into its protectors by compensating for livestock losses and promoting eco-tourism.
These examples show that conservation can be aligned with economic incentives and cultural values.
But these successes remain isolated.
Scaling CBC across Pakistan could yield tremendous benefits.
Imagine rural communities in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa actively managing forests, wetlands and wildlife corridors while earning sustainable incomes.
Beyond environmental gains, such initiatives would strengthen social cohesion, preserve indigenous knowledge and reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife.
Historically, Pakistan’s conservation policies have been disconnected from grassroots realities, dominated by centralized agencies with limited community participation.
Changing this requires innovative approaches: training youth as biodiversity ambassadors, integrating scientific research with traditional wisdom and enabling local projects through accessible funding mechanisms.
Digital technologies can be powerful enablers too.
Mobile apps that crowdsource wildlife sightings, drones for habitat monitoring and AI for tracking deforestation can democratize conservation, making every citizen a guardian of biodiversity.
In urban centres like Islamabad, biodiversity conservation can become a model of coexistence between nature and development.
Incorporating biodiversity into urban planning through green roofs, native plant gardens and rainwater harvesting systems can create habitats for pollinators and birds, improving city liveability and ecological resilience.
Public spaces such as schools, parks and even mosque gardens can be transformed into mini biodiversity hotspots, reconnecting urban residents, especially youth, to their natural environment.
This urban nature renaissance counters the alienation caused by rapid urbanization and digital lifestyles.
Education remains fundamental to building a conservation ethic.
Beyond sporadic awareness campaigns, biodiversity education should be embedded throughout Pakistan’s schooling system, using experiential learning to make the subject tangible and relevant.
Field visits, biodiversity surveys and storytelling that preserve indigenous ecological knowledge can inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
Understanding species like the Indus River Dolphin or the elusive Markhor not only enriches cultural identity but builds pride in protecting our natural heritage.
Policy reforms must also align biodiversity with broader development goals.
Pakistan’s environmental laws need updating, with increased budget allocations and incentives to stimulate private sector engagement in green initiatives.
Instruments like green bonds to fund reforestation and tax breaks for organic and sustainable agriculture can drive a nature-positive economy.
However, such reforms require effective coordination across government ministries, civil society, academia and local governments to break down silos and mobilize collective action.
Post-Biodiversity day, it is essential for Pakistan’s policymakers, youth, media and civil society to reflect on their relationship with nature.
Biodiversity is not an abstract concept reserved for national parks; it underpins everything, from the clean water we drink to the fertile soil that grows our food.
The stakes could not be higher.
The loss of biodiversity threatens the very foundations of Pakistan’s economy, health and security.
Yet, there is cause for hope.
If Pakistan commits to inclusive, innovative and community-centred conservation, guided by the spirit of “Be part of the Plan,” we can secure a thriving natural heritage for future generations.
Let us seize this moment to build a future where progress and nature coexist in harmony and where every citizen understands that protecting biodiversity is not just a duty but an opportunity to shape a sustainable and prosperous Pakistan.
—The writer is a policy analyst and researcher with a Master’s degree in Public Policy from King’s College London. (sohanisar@sdpi.org)
