ISLAMABAD: Protecting migratory birds is vital for Pakistan as these species play a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting agriculture through pest control and pollination, and signalling broader environmental changes.

This was stated by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination in a press statement in the context of the World Migratory Bird Day.

The spokesperson, Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, said Pakistan joined the global community in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) on May 10, highlighting its unwavering commitment to protecting migratory bird species and their habitats from growing threats. As part of a worldwide awareness and advocacy campaign, events and educational activities were launched across various regions of Pakistan to mark the year’s first WMBD peak.

The official said this year’s theme, “Shared spaces: creating bird-friendly cities and communities,” emphasises for all the government, non-governmental stakeholders and communities the unprecedented significance of transforming the country’s urban and suburban environments into safe havens for migratory birds. It also underscores the need for collective efforts - from policymakers to the general public - to ensure sustainable urban development that prioritises ecological balance and biodiversity, the climate change ministry media spokesperson remarked.

He said that with over two-thirds of the country’s bird species being migratory, Pakistan served as a critical stopover and breeding ground along major migratory routes. However, their conservation was not only a national ecological responsibility but also a commitment under international treaties like the UN Convention on Migratory Species.

“By preserving their habitats and ensuring safe passage, the federal and provincial government organisations are taking all-out measures to safeguards the country’s biodiversity, upholding the country’s global environmental obligations and promoting sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism and community engagement,” Mr Shaikh remarked.

He said, “Pakistan is home to a rich diversity of migratory birds, with nearly 70pc of the country’s 668 bird species undertaking seasonal journeys. As stewards of these shared skies, we all stakeholders concerned including wildlife rights activists, policymakers, members of civil society organisations, communities and academia must take action to protect these birds and ensure that our cities grow in harmony with nature.”

Highlighting various risks being faced by the migratory birds, he pointed out that rapid urban expansion, the proliferation of glass buildings, habitat degradation, and light pollution pose severe risks to migratory birds, often leading to fatal collisions and disorientation during flight. The day draws urgent attention to these challenges and calls for bird-friendly urban planning practices such as using bird-safe glass, managing night-time lighting, preserving wetlands, planting native vegetation, and enforcing bans on illegal hunting, the ministry official added.

There is the need for creating public awareness at all levels about the unprecedented importance of the migratory birds being vital indicators of ecosystem health and that their presence reflected the condition of natural habitats like wetlands, forests, rivers and grasslands.

Besides, birds contribute to essential ecological functions such as pollination, seed dispersal, insect control and nutrient cycling, the official said.

He said while birds were sensitive to climate and environmental change, they also served as early warning systems for issues like habitat degradation, pollution, or changing weather patterns - allowing for timely policy responses.

He emphasised Pakistan’s active participation in international conservation efforts as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2025