TIMERGARA, Dec 13: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday stressed the need for sustainable development of biodiversity due to its growing importance in life.

The wildlife department of Lower Dir organised the seminar at the divisional forest officer’s office in Balambat where schoolchildren, teachers, community members and people were in attendance.

The speakers, including divisional forest officer (wildlife) Dir Mohammad Hussain, environmentalist Jehangir Khan and forestry expert Samam Pasha, informed participants about importance of biodiversity and the need for its sustainable development and proper management.

Mr Hussain said the seminar was organised to make people aware of biodiversity and its importance.

“Proper management of biodiversity can bring economic benefits through sport hunting, trade and tourism,” he said, adding that genetic diversity could enable researchers to develop improved variety of animals and plants for human needs. He said biodiversity ensured good health of the earth.

Mr Hussain said a species of bats used to eat mosquitoes carrying dengue virus but its disappearance in Punjab led to death of many people.

He said wildlife attracted policymakers, planners and administrators to far-flung and least developed areas and exposed them to local problems resulting in initiation of development work there.

The DFO said the government and its wildlife department had been establishing protected areas, breeding centres and game reservoirs in different parts of the province for biodiversity development.

Speakers of the seminar said students, teachers and the people could play a vital role in sustainable development of biodiversity and that it was the time for experts to inform the people about their role for the purpose.

They said many species of animals and plants had been fast disappearing due to the authorities’ negligence and therefore, corrective measures should be taken without delay.

ACCIDENT: A man died and another suffered wounds after their van plunged into a ravine in Zaro Shah Maidan on Tuesday.

Locals and police identified the deceased as Fazal Hussain and the wounded as Gulab Sher. They blamed the accident on the driver’s recklessness and said the speeding van heading from Sar Lara Samar Bagh to Timergara went out of Saeedullah’s control and skidded off the road.

The driver, according to them, remained unhurt and fled after the accident.

Later, the Lal Qila police registered a case against the driver but failed to arrest him until the last reports came in.—Correspondent