ISLAMABAD: The World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF) on Tuesday said chemicals banned in the USA and Europe were being sold in developing countries such as Pakistan causing extinction to animal species and contaminating both soil and groundwater.

“Diclofenic used in cattle has killed 90pc vulture population in Pakistan and it is just one example of chemicals killing wild animals.

“The other example is excessive sprays of chemicals on crops that damage soil and eventually contaminate the aquifer. By contaminating groundwater we are poisoning ourselves rapidly, not slowly,” said Rab Nawaz, senior director programmes WWF-Pakistan.

He was speaking at the launch of “The Living Planet index WWF science-based report 2018” that shows staggering extent of human impact on the planet.

Launched after every two years, the report indicates that the global populations of vertebrate species have, on an average, declined in size by 60pc in just over 40 years.

“Humanity and the way it feeds, fuels and finances societies and economies is pushing nature and the services that power and sustain people to the brink,” says the report.

It presents a sobering picture of the impact of human activity on the world’s wildlife, forests, oceans, rivers and climate, underlining the rapidly closing window for action and the urgent need for the global community to collectively rethink and redefine how we value, protect and restore nature.

“Pakistan is faced with many challenges and opportunities when it comes to environment and wildlife.

“If we do not change the way we value our natural surroundings, we are going to lose these species and ecosystems forever.” Mr Nawaz added: “Pakistan is no different; we are losing our unique habitats and wildlife at an alarming rate.

“However, we still have some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes. We, as a nation, have to come up with solutions that ensure these landscapes stay for future generation whist supporting the communities and the wildlife that share them.”

He emphasised conserving and protecting water sources, and gave the example of Karachi where 20 million people did not have access to clean drinking water.

Pakistan’s entire economy is based on environment, on land and on water.

“If we do not have these, fi sh in the seas and pollinators, our systems will collapse. Pakistan is signatory to several international commitments but, unfortunately, environment degradation continues on a downward trend,” the official said, giving the example of a recent under-investigation oil spill that destroyed thousands of kilometres of coastline.

He also said the air in Lahore was more polluted than the air in China and India.

“This is fifth consecutive year Lahore will be covered in smog caused by the crop burning in India. Today, Lahore is at top with regard to lowest air quality,” he said.

“We are trying at every level from farmers to the chief justice to get the message across that if you ignore environment, you ignore the future.”

Mr Nawaz said the report presented a comprehensive overview of the state of our natural world, 20 years after the flagship report was first published.

Through indicators such as the Living Planet Index (LPI), provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Species Habitat Index (SHI), the IUCN Red List Index (RLI) and the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) as well as Planetary Boundaries and the Ecological Footprint, the report paints a singular disturbing picture: human activity is pushing the planet’s natural systems that support life on Earth to the edge.

“Human activity undermining nature’s ability to support humanity,” he said, adding the report highlights that over recent decades human activity has also severely impacted the habitats and natural resources wildlife and humanity depend on such as oceans, forests, coral reefs, wetlands and mangroves.

The Living Planet report also focuses on the importance and value of nature to people’s health and well-being and that of our societies and economies. Globally, nature provides services worth around $125 trillion a year while also helping ensure the supply of fresh air, clean water, food, energy, medicines and other products and materials.

The report specifically looks at the importance of pollinators which are responsible for $235-577 billion in crop production per year, and how a changing climate, intensive agricutural practices, invasive species and emerging diseases have impacted their abundance, diversity and health.

WWF called on the citizens, businesses and governments to mobilise and deliver on a comprehensive framework agreement for nature and people one that galvanises public and private action to protect and restore global biodiversity and nature and bend the curve on the devastating trends highlighted in report.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2018