RAWALPINDI: Desertification is affecting the livelihoods of 900 million people across the globe and represents a third of worldwide threats to biodiversity said Ignacio Artaza, UNDP country director on Thursday.

Mr Artaza was speaking at a seminar on ‘Combating Desertification in Pakistan’ which was organised by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS AAUR) in collaboration with Sustainable Land Management Programme (SLMP).

The event was held in connection with World Day to Combat Desertification, which is observed June 17 each year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. Because it fell in Ramazan this year, the day is being observed in July in Pakistan.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr Artaza emphasised on the need for mainstreaming efforts for sustainable land management to combat desertification. He acknowledged the efforts being made by the Ministry of Climate Change and appreciated SLMP for its measures for combating desertification in all four provinces. He said the UNDP was also playing a meaningful role through its programs and partnerships in Pakistan.

“UNDP’s Environment and Climate Change Unit has been making pragmatic efforts to address the overall effects of climate change in Pakistan and specifically desertification through the SLM program,” he said.

PMAS AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmed highlighted the role the university was playing for a better climate and emphasised that such collaborative activities must be strengthened and taken forward for fighting desertification in Pakistan.

Desertification and land degradation is a key challenge for the socio-economic development of Pakistan, he said, and emphasised on promoting practices such as hydroponics and rainwater harvesting to address food insecurity and water scarcity.

“Rainwater harvesting is the best way to meet agricultural needs and also improves the quality and quantity of produce,” he added.

SLMP-II representative Ishrat Ali said the Ministry of Climate Change was aware of the threats posed by desertification, land degradation and drought to environmental sustainability and appreciates the value of policy, projects and programs for combating desertification, land degradation and drought.

“SLMP is working on developing integrated sustainable land management policies, land use plans and district and village levels and on ground interventions that aim for effective environmental management for combating desertification, land degradation and drought in Pakistan,” he said.

National Program Coordinator SLMP-II Hamid Marwat told the seminar about World Desertification Day and about SLMP’s approaches and interventions for better land management in Pakistan. He said the implementation of the program will bring considerable financial benefits for poor dry land communities through sustainable management of land resources.

An awareness walk and a tree planting campaign was also held at PMAS AAUR.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2017