Policy Quiz

FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY RAWALPINDI
Course : Environmental Policy and Law

Assignment: 1
Submitted by: Mahnoor Fatima
Reg No: 2022 B. ENV-029
Submitted to: Dr. Rabia Shabbir
National and International Agreements on Biodiversity
Conservation
Biodiversity: It refers to the variety of plants, animals and microorganism that live in earth and
essential for ecosystem balance.
Significance: Biodiversity is very essential as an environmental resource . It helps to maintain
the healthy ecosystem and balance nutrient cycle and contributes to climate regulation.
Conservation of biodiversity is crucial for healthy environment and sustainable future.
Conservation of biodiversity is crucial to the sustainability of sectors as diverse as energy,
agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, industry, health, tourism, commerce, irrigation etc.
Biodiversity Exploitation:
 Deforestation Tropical rainforests are particularly rich in biodiversity and are being
destroyed
 Habitat loss through pervasive, incremental encroachment such as that caused by urban
sprawl
 Pollution such as that associated with widespread pesticide use and overuse of fertilizer.
which are 6 and 12 times greater than they were before 1961 respectively. It is estimated
that half of the species at risk are threatened by agriculture Water use in some of the
largest water catchments in the world where dams and irrigation reduce water flows
 Hunting and the over-exploitation of species such as in wild capture fisheries but also
for wildlife trade Spread of invasive species
Biodiversity is declining due to human activities and the degradation of natural habitats.. A
systematic study of the Siran area in the Hazara division, revealed a 52% decline in forest
resources between 1967 and 1992. Similar trends have been observed in some other forest areas
of the country, to the extent that it is now feared that Pakistan is experiencing the world’s second
highest rate of deforestation. In particular, the mangrove forests of the Indus delta, which
constitute the largest arid zone mangrove forests in the world, are now quickly disappearing. In
the last 20 years, mangrove cover has been halved from 2,600 square kilometers in the late 1970s
to 1,300 square kilometers in the mid-1990s. This destruction is leading to the wholesale
disappearance of trees, shrubs and ground flora, together with the vertebrate and invertebrate
fauna they normally support. According to Pakistan’s third national report, 20 mammal species,
25 bird species, 6 types of reptiles, 5 types of fish and 8 marine mollusks are presently
threatened.
Policy initiatives for the Conservation of Biodiversity:

1. Convention on Biological Diversity: Pakistan signed the convention (CBD) in 1992 and
ratified in 1994. Before this initiative, recognizing the significance of conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity, the national conservation strategy was drafted (1991) and
later adopted as national policy in 1992.
 Objectives: the objectives of this plan are as follows:
(1) Review progress for Pakistan on the strategic plan 2010-2020 and Aichi
biodiversity targets.
(2) Establish national targets in line with Aichi biodiversity targets and sustainable
development goals - national biodiversity strategies and actions plan
(3) Provide recommendations to integrate Pakistan’s obligations under CBD into its
national development and sectoral planning frameworks
(4) Provide a framework for implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation of
the national biodiversity strategies and actions plan.
(5) Provide a framework for development of provincial biodiversity action plans
2. Biodiversity Action Plan (2000): The 2000 bap was approved by the PEPA and thus
adopted as the first comprehensive strategic action plan for the country wide conservation
of biodiversity. Pakistan’s bap provides a brief assessment of the status and trend of the
nation’s biodiversity, outlines strategic goals and objectives, and identifies a plan of
action that includes coordination arrangements and implementation measures. It has 13
components, corresponding to specific articles of the CBD, 25 objectives and proposed 9
182 actions of which 31 were to be immediately undertaken within a year, 81 within five
years, and 25 within ten years
3. National forest policy 1962: The national forest policy 1962 (like the forest policy of
1955) was formulated entirely by representatives from federal and provincial
governments to prmote biodiversity conservation.
Objectives:
 Shifting population out of the hills, acquisition of rights of tree removal and grazing from
public forests.
 Compulsory growing of a minimum number of trees on private lands.
 Encouraging farm forestry by the agriculture department through research
 Imposing a tax on highly eroded private lands.
 To boost forest production, it encouraged fast-growing species and shortened rotations
 Generation of revenue and maximization of yield from the forest.
4. Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Program (TBTTP): 2019 The program focuses on enhancement
of the forest cover by adding 3.29 billion indigenous plants through afforestation,
reforestation and regeneration over next four years to curb the impacts of climate change.
 Objectives
Conservation and enhancement of natural forests through assisted natural regeneration, road
and canal side plantation rehabilitation and re-stocking of historical plantations, restoration
and improvement of scrub forests increase in existing cover of mangrove forests, watershed
and soil conservation in hilly and river catchment areas (reserved as well as community
forests) rehabilitation of guzara and protected forests protection and augmentation of dry
temperate forests.
5. The Green Pakistan Program: The Green Pakistan programme (GPP) is a
comprehensive environmental initiative that aims to address a wide range of
environmental challenges facing Pakistan. By integrating various environmental
initiatives under a coherent strategy, the GPP seeks to maximize its impact and
effectiveness in achieving environmental conservation and sustainability goals. However,
the success of the gpp depends on adequate funding, effective implementation of
environmental projects, and active engagement of communities in conservation efforts.
6. Wildlife Protection Act: It was passed in 1972 to protect endangered species and promote
safeguard diverse ecosystem for different species.
International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) for Biodiversity

Conservation:
A wide range of International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) have been negotiated to deal
with particular environmental concerns. In particular, some of the main international agreements
created to address biodiversity conservation. These include
 Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD),
 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES),
 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS),
 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA),
 Convention on Wetlands (also known as the Ramsar Convention),
 World Heritage Convention (WHC) and the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC)
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
The IPPC aims to protect world plant resources, including cultivated and wild plants by
preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests and promoting the appropriate measures for
their control. The convention provides the mechanisms to develop the International Standards for
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), and to help countries to implement the ISPMs and the other
obligations under the IPPC, by facilitating the national capacity development, national reporting
and dispute settlement.
Convention for the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.:
The CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention, strives to conserve terrestrial, marine, and avian
migratory species across their range. CMS parties collaborate to conserve migratory species and
their habitats by providing strict protection for the most endangered migratory species,
establishing regional multilateral agreements for the conservation and management of specific
species or categories of species, and conducting cooperative research and conservation activities
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES):
The CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does
not threaten their survival. Through its three appendices, the Convention accords varying degrees
of protection to more than 30,000 plant and animal species.
Conclusion:
Biodiversity conservation policy is essential for safeguarding ecosystems and ensuring the
sustainable use of natural resources. Effective policies must integrate scientific research,
community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration to address the complex challenges facing
biodiversity today. By promoting habitat protection, promoting sustainable practices, and
enforcing legal frameworks, we can conserve biodiversity.
Refrences:
National forests in pakistan. (n.d.-b). Traveler trails. Retrieved july 11, 2024, from
https://www.travelertrails.com/natural-resources-of-pakistan/forests-in pakistan#:~:text=importance
%20of%20forests%20in%20pakistan%201%20a%20great
Ahmed, m. (1997) natural and human threats to biodiversity in the marine ecosystem of coastal Pakistan.
Ali, s. I. & nasir, y. J. (eds.) (1990-1991) flora of pakistan, 191-193. Islamabad, karachi

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FATIMA JINNAH WOMEN UNIVERSITY RAWALPINDI

Course : Environmental Policy and Law

Policy initiatives for the Conservation of Biodiversity:

International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) for Biodiversity

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