KARACHI: Highlighting challenges and threats humans and the biodiversity face due to climate change, experts at a conference on Friday called for collaborative efforts at the global level to conserve the diversity of plant species which they described as the most precious asset for future.

They were speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day international conference organised by the Pakistan Botanical Society (PBS) at KU’s Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre.

Titled ‘Climate Change and Phytodiversity: Challenges and Opportunities’, the conference was attended by several scientists including Dr Miguel Clüsener-Godt, senior programme officer chief, Unesco Ecological Science and Biodiversity Section, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, and former KU vice chancellor Prof Syed Irtifaq Ali.

The experts said habitats and ecosystems were under tremendous pressure due to climate change risking the survival of vulnerable species while some had already been lost due to environmental degradation caused by human activities.

Dr Benno Boer, ecological science adviser, Africa/Science Specialist Ethiopia, Unesco, said increased heatwaves, intense drought, high frequency of storms and floods, melting glaciers and warming of oceans had threatened not only animal and plant life but also wreaking havoc on communities and their livelihoods.

“There is a dire need to conserve ecosystems and natural habitats, to reduce dependency on fossil fuels,” he said.

PBS president and KU vice chancellor Prof Mohammad Qaiser said the world was experiencing global warming. The average temperature had increased by 0.7 degree Celsius since the beginning of the 20th century and it could further go up to 1.6-4.3 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

“Habitats and ecosystems already degraded by human activities now face immense pressure due to climate change and there is a need for collaborative conservation efforts,” he said.

“There will be an acute shortage of freshwater in the years to come and we need to be more alert as Pakistan is among the 12 countries which are hard hit by climate change and is witnessing unpredictable rainfall, changes in the weather pattern and extended drought in some parts of Sindh,” said Prof Qaiser.

He said the country had seen devastating floods during the last decade with an unprecedented heatwave that claimed the life of over 1,300 people in Karachi. The situation, he added, could be tackled with right policies as Pakistan had great potential and its landscape had a lot to offer.

“No other country in the world of its size has so much variation in topography. We have some of the highest peaks of the world, snow caps, deserts and plains. Pakistan’s altitude varies from 0 meter from 8611 meters. All this variation is reflected in our flora also. At present, 6,500 vascular plant species have been recorded from Pakistan and about seven to eight per cent of its flora is endemic,’ he said.

He said the PBS was the oldest leading scientific society of Pakistan that started its research and academic activities in 1968 and produced two publications of the Pakistan Journal of Botany the following year.

Prof Anjum Perveen, director of the Centre for Plant Conservation, the KU, welcomed the guests and said such events provided an excellent platform to exchange ideas and disseminate knowledge.

Dr Miguel Clüsener-Godt thanked the KU administration for inviting him to speak on the campus. Pakistan, he said, was one of the founding and most active members of Unesco.

Pakistan Science Foundation chairman Prof Mohammad Ashraf also spoke.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.