LAKKI MARWAT: The wildlife departments of Bannu and DI Khan divisions on Tuesday held seminars, walks, tree plantation activities, debate competitions and excursion trips for school and university students to mark the World Wildlife Day.

Teachers and students of the University of Science and Technology Bannu visited the Lakki Crane Conservation Centre near Kurrum bridge on the Indus Highway and planted hundreds of saplings.

The visitors showed keen interest in birds and animals at the centre and took part in a walk on the premises.

Officials say biodiversity conservation can help alleviate poverty

At the seminar, which held afterwards, Bannu DFO (wildlife) Abdul Haleem Marwat informed teachers and students about his department’s efforts and initiatives for the conservation of wildlife.

He asked students to help the department protect environment and wildlife.

“Students, especially those enrolled in universities, are effective tools to spread the message in communities about the importance and usefulness of birds and animals,” he said.

Marwat said human beings fully depended on wildlife and therefore, the mass killing of animals and birds would bring them misery.

“We are hopeful that university students will launch an effective awareness campaign for the conservation of environment. Besides they can also help us effectively check the illegal crane hunting,” he said.

The DFO asked students to select topics about environment and wildlife conservation for research.

He said protection of wildlife and its natural habitats was inevitable to overcome environmental issues.

Marwat asked female students to join wildlife and forestry fields on completion of education.

On the occasion, UST Bannu director Professor Hassan urged students to grow trees and persuade others to participate in tree plantation activities.

“The biodiversity conservation and protection of natural habitats of wildlife is the collective responsibility of citizens and students should come forward to play a pioneering role in this regard,” he said.

Professor Faizan of the botany department said students could play a vital role in wildlife conservation programmes.

He said how he could deny the importance of trees and forests when he himself studied under the shadow of a tree in village.

The teacher said the wildlife department had announced cash rewards for wildlife and environment conservation writers and that students should take advantage of the opportunity by publishing articles and features in newspapers and journals.

Teacher of biotechnology department Aaisha Ahmad said female students would work with male fellows to ensure protection of wildlife. “We are with the wildlife department to help it achieve targets,” she said.

IT department student Tahir Jamal said the holding of seminars and the organisation of excursion visits by the wildlife department would help educate communities through students about the usefulness of wildlife conservation.

He said the government should ban the trophy hunting of markhor, the national animal, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Hubara bustard in Balochistan.

“With biodiversity conservation and protection of wildlife, we can alleviate poverty and make communities prosperous,” he said.

“The activities arranged in connection with the World Wildlife Day are very useful for us as we have come to know that plants, animals and birds are very important for the existence of human beings,” said Sana Mansoor, a student of botany department.

She said students should participate in such healthy activities to enhance their knowledge about nature and environment.

Students Riffat Naz and Zahid Noor Khan of the same department said they were pleased to have an opportunity of visiting the crane conservation centre and taking part in activities meant to highlight the wildlife importance in the people’s life.

Meanwhile, the wildlife department arranged a World Wildlife Day debate competition for schoolchildren in DI Khan.

Students of government schools participated in the event and highlighted wildlife conservation in their speeches.

The prize distribution ceremony was attended among others by DFO (wildlife) Khan Malook, SDFO Ejaz Khan, range wildlife officer Khalilullah Kundi, Dr Akhtar Ali, teachers, students, and people from different walks of life.

The chief guest on the occasion, NCHD general manager Arif Khan Kundi, distributed prizes among position holders.

On the occasion, Malook said wildlife was the precious national asset and all segments of society should begin concerted efforts for the conservation of wildlife.

He underlined the need for the wise use of natural resources and said the wildlife day reminded the people of the urgent need to step up fight against the wildlife crimes.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2015

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