Development versus managing ecosystems: what will Pakistan do?
Goal 15: Life on land
• Over the next 25-30 years, more than 60pc of Pakistanis will live in urban or peri-urban settings
• Conserving natural resources and ensuring long-term sustainability should feature high in development planning
• Pakistan should focus on going green as a mission far beyond any government action
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 focuses on protecting, restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and biodiversity loss. This goal is aimed at all eco-systems. As such, it is highly relevant for Pakistan, which has extremely diverse ecologies spread over 12 district agro-ecological zones. From its highly glaciated mountains to its Indus Basin System, cradled in the civilizations of Taxila, Harappa and Mohenjodaro, life expands to its deserts: Thal, Cholistan, Tharparkar and vast Kharan Dasht. Its biodiversity of both flora and fauna is diverse and unique.
However, regrettably its forest resources are extremely meagre, a mere 4pc. Despite recent attempts and widespread pleas to reverse this situation, the scenario remains worrisome for policymakers. Mass, man-made destruction of forests by the organised timber mafia presents a gloomy picture. To add, greed and irresponsibility of a special interest group has robbed Pakistan of its natural tree wealth. The direct impacts on agriculture are daunting because, with little farm forestry, soil health suffers and, with rising global warming, many farms without trees become uninhabitable for life on land. To preserve agriculture for a continued food supply, sensible actions aimed at drawing a balance between sustainable versus overburdened land use will be required.