MITHI, April 3: Participants of a seminar on ‘Deforestation in Tharparkar’ on Thursday stressed the need for a fool-proof mechanism to preserve and protect the natural resources and endangered species of the Thar region.

Speaking on the occasion, Tanvir Arif, chief executive of the Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment, deplored the unabated and organized poaching and hunting of rare species in the Thar and Parkar areas, saying that it was creating an ecological imbalance.

He said that the illegal cutting of cutting of trees was also destabilising the local environment for the past couple of years.

Mr Arif contended that while the survival of both the people and their livestock was dependent on rain and natural foliage, but ironically the natural beauty of the region was threatened by deforestation at the hands of the vested interests.

Some of the valuable trees and shrubs, he said, which were vital for the livelihood of the local people, were reportedly wiped out.

He said that Guglan, a local tree, was at the verge of extinction because of the extravagant application of chemicals to extract a gum-like substance, locally called Gugar, from its trunk and branches. This substance, he said, was sold at very lucrative rates.

Stressing the need to adopt moderation as well as an appropriate method for extracting the gum-like substance from the Guglan tree, Mr Arif said it might create a local environmental imbalance.

Later, MPA Arbab Haji Abdullah recalled that in the days, when the Panchayat system was enforced in Thar, nobody dared to cut a tree or kill an animal without permission.

Violators, he said, were fined by the prominent local landowners.

He regretted that the system was no longer enforced, consequently the natural beauty and resources of the region were facing extinction.

Mr Abdullah urged the people, the district administration and other concerned authorities to initiate efforts for the sustainable growth of natural resources and protection of the natural habitat of the endangered species.

Participants of the seminar also demanded of the government to declare the Karoonjhar Hills area in Nagarparkar a national park to save the local biodiversity.

They also called on the authorities declare the entire Thar area a wildlife sanctuary, allowing no one to hunt or trap besides imposing a ban on hunting of rare species.