Draft NBSAP (29nov16)

Pakistan
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
Government of Pakistan
2015
Pakistan – NBSAP
Government of Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Prime Minister’s Message
Pakistan possesses a wide variety of ecosystems and habitats that extendfrom theArabian Sea in the southto the
second highest peak in the world, K-2. The diverse topography and climatic conditions manifest themselves in a wide
range of ecosystems,four of which havebeen included in global 200 significantecosystems for global biodiversity. In
fact,four ecosystems of Pakistan are even included in the Global 200.Majority of the landscape in the country has no
land use plan in place and no one agency is directly responsible for their ecological conservation.It is clear that state
agencies need to do a more effectivejob of managing the lands under their control as ecosystems continue to
degrade and biodiversity continues to be lost across the country. The same is true for agricultural lands, where a
good deal of productivity has been lost because ofunsustainable farming practices.
The worsening health of ecosystems and reductionintheirservices are significant causesforalarm, as thesepose
threatsnot only to the livelihoods of the poor and marginalized communities who depend on them,but also to
agriculture and dams for hydropower, theutility of which would be greatly compromised. It is neither feasible nor
desirable for the government to manage vast natural habitats; thus, institutions and local communities must be
strengthened and actively involved in the sustainable management of these lands.
Pakistan is among the toptencountries most vulnerable to climate change;hugedamage tolife and property as a result
ofrecent floods. Pakistan is also home to a large number of wild crops, which together with other threatened plant and
animal species are at current risk of extinction due to changes in habitat conditions. All these priority areas need to be
effectively managed. In addition to the loss of natural resources, a numberof crops and farm animals have
disappeared in Pakistanbecause ofthe introduction of high yield crop varieties.
Although high yield crop varieties have helped the country to feed its rapidly growing population,their use has come at
tremendous cost, including increased incidences of cancer and other diseases because ofthe excessive use of
agrochemicals. It is critical to preserve traditional crop varieties and breeds of farm animals in Pakistan. In addition,
we need to develop, test, and promote sustainable agricultural practices including the improved deficiency of water-
use, minimal use of agro-chemicals, and the preferential application ofenvironmentally friendly alternatives.
Pakistan has always shown strong commitment to the cause of sustainable development. Indeed, a National
Conservation Strategy was prepared in 1992 before this was required by theUnited Nation‟s Convention on Biological
Diversity (UN-CBD). In addition, anumber of similar strategies wereprepared in the provinces, even in many districts
across the country. It is of note that Pakistan has been at the forefront of the global community in signing and ratifying
environment related treaties. However, financial limitations far exceed the political will of the country, leading to
unsatisfactory progress on the Biodiversity Action Plan, 2000.
The revision process for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) has taken stock of the situation,
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and provided a new vision, objectives, strategies and targets to meet the conservation challenges of the 21 century,
as well as make significant contributions toward achieving the UN-CBD strategic goals and Aichi Biodiversity Targets
(ABTs). I am especially pleased with the process for the revision of NBSAP and preparation of Provincial BSAPs at
sub-national level in history of UN-CBD. Active participation of the provinces, which will be major players for its
implementation will ensure buy in of the stakeholders and all line departments and ministries. While the Ministry of
Climate Change will have a central role in coordination and providing leadership for its implementation, active
participation of all other Ministries, provincial governments, and stakeholders will be essential for meeting the
objectives of the NBSAP. While the government will try its best to increase allocations for biodiversity, affluent nations
and multilaterals will have to come forward to meet the full financial needs of the revised National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Acknowledgements
The stakeholders and key resource personnelwho contributed to thisrevision of the National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan are too many to mention individually. However, the team that drafted the
NBSAP gratefully acknowledges the support and cooperation of all those who spared time to participate
in consultative meetings, group discussions, individual meetings, and reviews of the draft. Our special
thanks are due to Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General of Forests for providing guidance and a
number of useful technical inputs during the process.
Special thanks are due to senior policy makers and planners in the provinces, civil society organizations,
and professionals who took a keen interest in provincial and regional consultations. The provincial offices
of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and provincial BSAP facilitators played a key
role in organizing consultations and meetings. The IUCN office in Islamabad played a pivotal role in
providing logistical support for travel and meetings.
Thisrevision of the NBSAP would not have been possible without the financial support of the Global
Environment Facility, the administrative support of the Ministry of Climate Change, and the personal
interest of the Director Biodiversity.
THE NBSAP TEAM
Mr. Javed Ahmed, Biodiversity Consultant, IUCN Pakistan
Mr. Naeem Ashraf, Director Biodiversity, MOCC
Malik Ghulam Sarwar, Coordinator NBSAP, MOCC
Ms. ParveenEjaz, Deputy Director Biodiversity, MOCC
Dr. RizwanIrshad, Deputy Director, MOCC
Mr. Rafi ulHaq, Sindh BSAP Consultant, IUCN Pakistan
Dr. Abdul Aleem, Punjab BSAP Consultant, IUCN-Pakistan
Mr. Haider Raza, GB-BSAP Consultant, IUCN Pakistan
Mr. Ali Imran, Balochistan BSAP Consultant, IUCN Pakistan
Dr. Aurangzeb Khan, AJK-BSAP Consultant,IUCN Pakistan
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Pakistan – NBSAP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prime Minister‟s message ............................................................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................ ii
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. vi
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ viii
I.INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................1
1. Context ..................................................................................................................................................................1
2. Values of biodiversity and ecosystem services and their contribution to human well-being ..................................1
3. Causes and consequences of biodiversity loss .....................................................................................................2
3. 1. Population Growth .........................................................................................................................................2
3. 2. Land Use - Degradation and Desertification ..................................................................................................3
3. 3. Deforestation .................................................................................................................................................4
3. 4. Open Access Resources ...............................................................................................................................5
3. 5. Grazing ..........................................................................................................................................................5
3. 6. Unsustainable Fishing ...................................................................................................................................5
3. 7. Promotion of High Yielding Varieties and Exotic Breeds ...............................................................................6
3. 8. Heavy Use of Agrochemicals ........................................................................................................................6
3. 9. Pollution.........................................................................................................................................................6
3. 10. Global Climate Change ...............................................................................................................................7
4. National constitutional, legal and institutional framework .......................................................................................7
4.1. Biodiversity Legal Framework ........................................................................................................................7
4. 2.Provincial Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Laws ............................................................................................8
4. 3.Biodiversity Policy Framework ........................................................................................................................8
4.4. International Conventions and Agreements ....................................................................................................9
a) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) .....................................................................................................9
b) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) ......................................................................9
4. 5. Poverty Reduction Strategies ........................................................................................................................9
4. 6. Institutional Framework .................................................................................................................................9
5. Lessons learned from the earlier NBSAP(s) and the process of developing the updated NBSAP....................... 10
5.1. Progress on Implementation of Biodiversity Action Plan 2000 ..................................................................... 10
5. 2.Biodiversity Scenarios .................................................................................................................................. 10
5.3. Processes for development of BAP and NBSAP. ......................................................................................... 11
II. NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN................................................................................ 12
6. Vision ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
7. Goals ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
8. Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................ 12
9. Strategies and Actions ......................................................................................................................................... 13
10. Biodiversity Awareness ...................................................................................................................................... 13
10. 1 Context ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
10. 2. Issues and Trends ..................................................................................................................................... 13
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Pakistan – NBSAP
10. 3. Strategies and Actions............................................................................................................................... 14

11. Gender, Poverty and Biodiversity Nexus ........................................................................................................... 15
11. 1. Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
12. Mainstreaming Biodiversity in National Planning and Policy Processes ............................................................ 15
12. 1. Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
13. Terrestrial Ecosystems, Habitats, and Species.................................................................................................. 16
13. 1. Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 16
13. 2.Issues and Trends ...................................................................................................................................... 17
14. Forest Ecosystems ............................................................................................................................................ 19
14. 1. Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 20
14. 2. Issue and Trends ....................................................................................................................................... 20
15. Inland Wetland Ecosystems............................................................................................................................... 22
15.1. Context ....................................................................................................................................................... 22
15. 2.Issue and Trends ........................................................................................................................................ 24
16.Coastal and Marine Ecosystems ........................................................................................................................ 26
16. 1.Context ....................................................................................................................................................... 26
16. 2.Issues and Trends ...................................................................................................................................... 27
17. Sustainable Agriculture and Agrobiodiversity..................................................................................................... 29
17. 1.Context ....................................................................................................................................................... 29
18. Sustainable Production and Consumption ......................................................................................................... 32
18.1. Context ....................................................................................................................................................... 32
18. 2.Trends and Issues ...................................................................................................................................... 32
19. Biosafety – Emerging Issues and Challenges.................................................................................................... 34
III. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION ...................................................................................... 38
20. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 38
21. Implementation of NBSAP ................................................................................................................................. 38
22. Communication and Outreach Strategy ............................................................................................................. 38
23. Plan for Resource Mobilization .......................................................................................................................... 39
24. National Coordination Mechanisms ................................................................................................................... 39
25. Clearing-House Mechanism............................................................................................................................... 39
26.Monitoring and Evaluation .................................................................................................................................. 40
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IV. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................................... 41
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Terrestrial ecosystems of Pakistan included in Global 200 Eco-Regions ....................................................... 16

Table 2:The change in area of different forest types 1992-2004 .................................................................................. 20
Table 3:Wetland ecosystems of Pakistan included in Global 200 Eco-regions ............................................................ 23
Table 4.Global 200 eco-regions represented in Pakistan ............................................................................................. 27
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Map of Pakistan (Source: Survey of Pakistan) .............................................................................................. xv

Figure 2:Population growth in Pakistan 1960 -2010 .......................................................................................................2
Figure 3: National PSDP and allocations for the Ministry of Climate Change (Source: GiZ, 2009) ................................ 3
Figure 4:Major land uses in Pakistan ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 5:Wind and Water Erosion in Pakistan 1998 and 2007 .......................................................................................4
Figure 6:Changes in Forest cover in Pakistan 1990 - 2010 ...........................................................................................4
Figure 7:Numbers of goat, sheep and camels in Pakistan 1990 - 2014 .........................................................................5
Figure 8:Progress on implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan of 2000 ............................................................. 10
Figure 9: Level of various threats in different forest types (FCPF RFP, MoCC, 2012) ................................................. 21
Figure 10: Map of Pakistan showing major wetlands ................................................................................................... 24
Figure 11: Map showing Arabian Sea. ......................................................................................................................... 27
LIST OF ANNEXES
Annex1:Matrix showing NBSAP targets and indicators for monitoring. ........................................................................ 43

Annex 2:Mammalian species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP. .............................................. 61
Annex 3:Bird species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP. .......................................................... 63
Annex 4:Reptile and amphibian species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP. ................. 65
Annex 5:Fish species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP. .......................................................... 66
Annex 6: Marine species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP. ..................................................... 67
Annex 7:Plant species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP. ......................................................... 68
Annex 8:List of Protected Areas (National Parks) in need of effective management plans. ......................................... 69
Annex 9:Ramsar Sites in Pakistan. .............................................................................................................................. 70
Annex 10: Ecosystems and Habitats Identified for Filling Gaps in the Protected Area System. ................................... 71
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List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
ABTs Aichi Biodiversity Targets

AJK State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
BAP Biodiversity Action Plan
BRC BioResource Research Centre
BWG Biodiversity Working Group
CAF Central Asian Flyway
CBD Convention on Biological Diversity
CBI City Biodiversity Index
CCVI Climate Change Vulnerability Index
CDR Carbon Dioxide Removal
CHM Clearing House Mechanism
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
CMS Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
CoP Conference of Parties
CRI Climate Risk Index
DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EPA Environmental Protection Act
ENERCON National Energy Conservation Center
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas
FSMP Forestry Sector Master Plan
GB Gilgit-Baltistan
GBO Global Biodiversity Outlook
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GEF Global Environment Facility
GIS Global Information System
GMO Genetically Modified Organism
GM Genetically Modified
HYVs High Yield Varieties
IBC Institutional Biosafety Committee
ITPGRFA International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature
KP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
LMO Living Modified Organism
MAPs Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
Mha Million hectares
MoCC Ministry of Climate Change
NBC National Biosafety Committee
NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plan
NCS National Conservation Strategy
NEQS National Environmental Quality Standards
NIM National Institute of Management
NRM Natural Resource Management
NSPP National School of Public Policy
NSDS National Sustainable Development Strategy
NTFPs Non-timber Forest Products
NWCS National Wetland Conservation Strategy
PA Protected Area
PARC Pakistan Agriculture Research Council
PBS Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
PEPA Pakistan Environment Protection Act
PIPS Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies
PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
PSCI Pakistan Sustainable Cotton Initiative
REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
SBP Statistical Bureau of Pakistan
SCP Sustainable Consumption and Production
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SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

SO2 SulferDioxide
SRM Sunlight Reflection Methods
STAR System for Transparent Allocation of Resources
TEV Total Economic Value
UN United Nations
UNEP United Nations Environment Program
UNFCCC The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
WAPDA Water and Power Development Authority
WCS World Conservation Strategy
WRI World Resource Institute
WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development
WWF World Wildlife Fund
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Context
A global review beingconducted in 2010 revealed that there is a continuous decrease in biodiversity across the world;
therebyecosystems aredegrading andundermining human well-being. Pakistan, like many other countries in the
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world, is losing biodiversityas result of a range of direct and indirect causes. TheCoP to theCBDin its 10 meeting held
in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, October 2010, adopted a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 with 20 targets which
came to be known as “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” (ABTs).In compliance, theprevious BAP of 2000 is revisedhere with
the stated intention of implementing ABTs in Pakistan.In order to create greater ownership of the revised NBSAP, all
the stakeholders were approached through consultative meetings in provincial and regional capitals at Karachi,
Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit. In addition, meetings were held with policy makers and
planners in the provinces and regions. The provinces and other federating units were provided technical support to
prepare their own Provincial Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (PBSAPs), and thus, the revised NBSAP is a sum
total of provincial and regional biodiversity strategies and action plans plus added with some national level actions.
The draft of revised NBSAP was widely shared with all the stakeholders and finally presented at a national meeting in
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Islamabad on November 5 , 2015at which point the representatives of all the provinces, Azad Jammu and
Kashmir(AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)unconditionally endorsed the revised NBSAP.
2. The Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
The rapid growth inhuman populations and the resultant increase in use of wood for fuel, timber, forage, non-timber
forest products, and trade in wild fauna, coupled with expanding agriculture on marginal lands,have caused land
degradation, desertification, loss of habitat, and endangeredthe survival of many wild species. Majority of the land
area in Pakistan is not under direct management which is a leading cause of ecosystems degradation due mainly to
deforestation and over grazing.Consequently, these areas are proneto water and wind erosion, depletion of soil
fertility, water logging, and increased salinity.Resource degradation is further exacerbated due tothe increasing
scarcity of water, frequent droughts, and the mismanagement of land and water resources. Loss of habitats and their
fragmentation poses a serious threat to biodiversity in all biomes, and consequently many populations of species are
now confined to isolated small pockets. In addition, the over-harvesting of fishery resources and use of inappropriate
gear has resulted in lossestoaquatic biodiversity.
Crop genetic diversity in Pakistan is low because of the use of high-yield varieties (HYVs). This genetic erosion is
pronounced in wheat, rice, cotton, sorghum, sugarcane and vegetables, and at the same time, between 75% and
80% of Pakistan's domestic livestock are cross-bred leading to gradual lossin the genetic diversity. Consequently, the
ability of these livestock breeds to adapt to climate change and to tolerate diseases is being greatly reduced, while
the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers has disturbed the agro-ecosystem,affected non-target and
environment-friendly organisms (including many bird species),induced pest resistance and resurgence, and caused ill
effects to the health of the population.
Pollution is a growing problem in Pakistan and discharge of sewage and industrial effluents into aquatic and marine
ecosystems is a major threat to biodiversity. The discharge of untreated sewage into irrigation systems, streams, and
rivershas polluted land and water in downstream areas of major rivers, and led to increasesin numerous water-borne
diseases.
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Pakistan ranks 16 on the Climate Change Vulnerability Index , and is among the most affected country as a result of
climate change in 2014. It is estimated that more than tenmillion people have been affected in Pakistan over the last
twoyears directly by climate-related disasters, and the country‟s economy has been crippled by devastating and
repetitive floods overthe last decade, especially the floods of 2010, 2011, and 2014. These events have emerged as
the biggest catastrophes in the history of thecountry, while the ongoing impacts of climate change on the natural flora
and fauna remains largely unknown.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Policy, Planning, and InstitutionalIssues:The value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, their contribution to the
national economy, and their potential to alleviate poverty have not been assessedand so these factors could not be
integrated into the national and local planning and development process. Consequently, the environment sector,
including climate change, biodiversity, forestry, and wildlife receives very low priority when it comes to resource
allocation.A similar situation prevails for other natural resource sectors including, agriculture, livestock,and
fisheries.Becausethe benefits from biodiversity goods and ecosystem services would far exceed the costs of
protection, conserving them, and renderingtheirsustainable use, there is an urgent need for a national policy for the
conservationand sustainable use of biodiversity.
3. National Constitutional and Legal Frameworks
The provinces and other federated units of Pakistan have enacted provincial laws for the management of the
environment, forests, wildlife, and fisheries, and the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2012
(CITES Act) extends across the whole country. A further bill facilitating access to genetic resources and their
derivatives for environmentally friendly usageas well as theequitable sharing of benefits derived from them is being
drafted and is likely to be enacted in the near future, whilethe Government of Pakistan had ratified the Nagoya
Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. This bill in particular meetslegislative requirements under the
NagoyaProtocols and International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
4. National Policy Framework
The Pakistan‟s National Conservation Strategy (NCS) was formulated in 1992,the first policy framework to
encompassbiodiversity and conservation. Subsequently, in 2000, a comprehensive Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
was prepared, and later, in 2005, The National Environment Policy was adopted to provide an overarching framework
for addressing environmental issues likethe pollution of freshwater and coastal waters, air pollution, lack of proper
waste management, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, desertification, natural disasters, and climate change. More
recently, adraft „National Sustainable Development Strategy‟ (NSDS) was developed that envisions „to evolve a just
and harmonious society in the country through promotion of a vibrant and equitable economic growth without
overexploitation of natural resources with fair distribution of development dividends among all stakeholders; in
particular to the marginalized, poor and vulnerable part of the society and to future generations‟.
The National Climate Change Policy (2012) has theoverall goal, „to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed in
the economically and socially vulnerable sectors of the economy and to steer Pakistan towards climate resilient
development‟. One of the major objectives of thispolicy is the conservation of natural resources and long-term
sustainability attainedvia a number of concrete measures encompassingforestry, biodiversity, and other vulnerable
ecosystems.
5. Institutional Framework
The Forestry Wing of the Ministry of Climate Change is the national focal point for the CBD. Within this framework,
the Directorate of Biodiversity is responsible for coordination with the CBD Secretariat, with national, provincial,
regional, and local government agencies, and with other stakeholders in Pakistan.The provincial governments as well
as those ofAJK, Gilgit-Baltistan(GB), and FATA, have departments charged with the management of forests, wildlife,
fisheries, environment, agriculture, and livestock.Provincial environmental departments provide guidelines to carry out
environmental impact assessments (EIAs for all economic development projects.
Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) hosts the national Plant Genetic Resource Center, while provincial
governments have established field research stations for the in-situ conservation of important varieties and land races
of crops, vegetables, and breeds of major indigenous livestock. Environmental and biodiversity-related research is
being conducted in academia across the country and higher degrees are offered in biological sciences. The principles
of biodiversity conservation are integrated in the curricula, while wildlife and biodiversity are offered as special
courses in many universities. However, the in-situ conservation potential of zoological and botanical gardens arenot
being fully utilized.It is clear to strengthen the inter-departmental cooperation there is need to merge wildlife, forest,
and environment department to a single Nature Conservation Department.
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Nevertheless, International and National conservation organizations like the IUCNPakistan, the WWF Pakistan and
the BRC Islamabad have played a significant roles in creating awareness, building capacity, developing policy, and in
the joint implementation of a new generation of biodiversity conservation projects.
II. PRINCIPLES, PRIORITIES AND TARGETS OF THE NBSAP
6. Biodiversity Awareness
People are often unaware of the loss of biodiversity and its consequences for their own well-being. Thus, well-
planned and targeted efforts are required to create awareness among people through mobilization of media (i.e. print,
audio, and visual), effectively introducing values of biodiversity in the curriculaand establishing co-curricular activities
and youth leadership clubs with a focus on biodiversity and environmental issues. Activities like invited lectures,
seminars, competitions, and the involvement of students and parents will also be helpful.Special short-term
coursesequipped with meaningful material to raise awareness levels can be provided for teachers as well as forjunior
and senior executives working in government and semi-government bodies, especially management groups,
judiciary, police, and even the armed forces. These measures will realize their support in the implementation
processes of environmental and biodiversity-related policies and legislations.
7.Mainstreaming Biodiversity
Biodiversity needs to be mainstreamed in national policies and plans for sustainable development.This processwill
help all sectors to recognize the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, maximize the positives, and minimize
the negative impacts of human activities. Thisrevised NBSAP shouldbe adopted as a policy instrument by the
government after approval from cabinet.Further, a Biodiversity Round Table comprising of all relevant Ministries
shouldbe established to integrate biodiversity concerns into sectoral policies and plans. An additional support group
of„opinion leaders‟,comprising policy makers and planners, will also be organized to act as a catalystviainformal
communications. The exercise will lead to the incorporation of biodiversity concerns intoprogrammes of studies in the
National School of Public Policy, the National Institute of Management, the National Defense College, and the
Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies. To demonstrate the valueof biodiversity, studies will be undertakento
demonstrate theneed for its inclusion in national accounting and reporting systems, while steps will be taken to
mobilize financial resources for a substantial increase in theeffective implementation of the NBSAP.
8. Gender, Poverty, and Biodiversity Nexus
Common property andopen access resources are being over-exploitedby landless and small landholders who rely
heavily on resources for subsistence. For example, pastoral communities in Balochistan, transhumance
Bakarwals(nomads), and people in northern Pakistan graze livestock on natural pastures or rangelands. Loss of
biodiversity increases their poverty levels and makes them more susceptible to adverse impacts of climate change.
However, it is also the case that men, women,and children use natural resources differently and therefore their
requirements need to be factored intoconservation programmes. Women and children are mostly involved inthe
collection of firewood, forage, MAPs and NTFPs. Thus,biodiversity loss and the lack of access to natural resources
near their homes means an increase in workload and economic hardships.Becausepoverty results in the degradation
of ecosystems, there is conversely an opportunity to alleviate thisby restoring the health of ecosystems. Similarly,
because the harvesting of bio-resources is a part-time activity forunemployed or under-employed manpower,
alternative activities for the workforce such as jobs or cottage industries will help save biodiversity. In view of the
above, gender and poverty considerations cut across all thematic areas of biodiversity conservation and will be
integral component of the relevant strategies and action plans.
9.Terrestrial Ecosystems, Habitats, and Species
There are 17major vegetation types in Pakistan comprisingmany endemic species of flora, fauna and the wild
relatives of crops. As noted above, two terrestrial ecosystems inPakistan wereincluded in the global 200 priority
ecosystems identified underthe Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Western Himalayan Temperate Forests and
the Tibetan Plateau Steppe.However, thesenatural ecosystems, with the exception of managed forests and national
parks, are generally not managed and consequently have become open access resources.Pakistan has createda
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large number of game reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks,encompassingapproximately 14% of national
area. However, areview of PAs conducted in 2000 revealed that many of these regions do not meet globally accepted
criteria, whilea similarstudy in 2012 identified a number ofgaps in the representation of ecological zones in the PA
system of Pakistan.
The strategies that are in place toconserve the rich biological diversity of ecosystems include: (1) Strengthening
institutional and regulatory frameworks to address the challenges of the 21st century; (2) Expansion of the protected
area network for complete ecological representation, the establishment of corridors to connect fragmented habitats,
and their effective management, (3) Empowerment of local communities to act as custodians of the habitats, and;
(4)Improve knowledge, the science base, and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status, and
trends.
10. Forest Ecosystems
There is no uniform data onforest cover in Pakistan as the official statistics used for international assessmentsemploy
different evaluation criteria. However, it is clear thatthe forested area of Pakistan has decreased from 2.75 million ha
in 1990 to 2.36 million ha in 2000, an annual decline of 1.5% (FAO 2001). TheGlobal Forest Watch initiative of the
WRI has reported that Pakistan lost 10,000 ha of forest between the years 2000 and2012, and gained less than
1,000 ha overthe same period in the form of plantations.Irrespective of differences in reports, the forestedarea of
Pakistan is relatively small and cover is shrinking due to both deforestation and degradation.
Strategies proposed to conserve forest biodiversity and its sustainable use include:(1) Providing an enabling
institutional and policy environment to integrate biodiversity concerns in the forestry sector; (2) Protect and restore
forest biodiversity, including ecosystem services,by following an ecosystem approach; (3) Make plantations
biodiversity friendly by increasing indigenous floral diversity; (4) Improve knowledge base by adopting scientific
research and modern technologies relating to forest biodiversity, and (5) Reform the rights and concessions of local
people.
11. Inland Water Ecosystems
Streams, rivers, natural lakes, and man-made reservoirsare not only sources of water and fish but are also
important habitats for migratory species. Across Pakistan,over 40wetland sites enjoy protected status of some kind
including 19Ramsar Sites.A number of different government agencies manage and control wetlandactivities, including
irrigation and hydropower generation which aremanaged by WAPDA and irrigation departments, while fishing and
hunting are regulated by provincial Fisheries and Wildlife Departments. These agencies have little, or no,
coordination for managing wetlands, thus existing strategies to promoteconservation andsustainable use include: (1)
Revision of policy, laws, and regulations to ensure conservation of fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as
equitable sharing of benefits; (2) Appropriate measures to prevent the spread of invasive species and their
eradication from natural waters, and; (3) Build capacity of all stakeholders to sustainably manage wetlands ensuring
equitable sharing of benefits.
12. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
The Arabian Seacontainsrich biodiversity and is included asaGlobal 200 Priority Ecosystem. However, over-fishing
has contributed to a steep decline in catches of shrimp and many fish species, and the programmes aimed at
improving the economic status of coastal communities and increasing exportspresent some of theunderlying causes
of this resource depletion. The Indus Delta is heavily polluted by a variety of industrial effluents, sewage, solid waste,
and nutrient-enriched irrigation waters, and progressive upstream diversionsareacting to increase salinity.
Some Arabian Sea beaches providenesting grounds forglobally endangered sea turtleswhich face multiple threats,
including egg and hatchling predation as well asincidental catch byfishing craft.Climate change also threatens coastal
communities in Pakistan due to their lack of resilience to cyclones. The 2012 CRI ranked Pakistan as theeight most
affected country by climate change. However, the conservation of biodiversity and improvements to the health of
ecosystems can help local communities better adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.
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Strategies proposed to sustain marine resourcesand enable adaptation to climate change include: (1) Establishment
of a network of protected areas and specific conservation measures for the recovery of species populations most in
decline; (2) Development of the capacity of coastal fishing communities to harvest marine resourcesin a sustainable
manner, and; (3) Improvementsininstitutional and regulatory frameworks to address challenges tothe conservation of
marine biodiversity, viasustainable use and the equitable sharing of benefits.
13. Sustainable Agriculture and Agrobiodiversity
Agriculture and livestock contribute 22% to the GDP of Pakistan, accounting for over 60% of exports, and employing
more than 60% of the rural labor force. About 27.6% of the area of Pakistan is cultivated, of which 75.5% is irrigated
and the remainder isused fordryland agriculture (Barani). However,irrigation practices are antiquated and the
excessive use of water had led toshortagesand contributed towater logging and salinity.Water shortages, coupled
with global warming, pose a serious threat to the food security of Pakistanas well as thelivelihoods of people
employed in this sector. Despite an impressive increase in agriculture production, Pakistan remainsa net importer of
commodities andannual imports total about US$2 billion. Conservation of pollinating insects, soil microorganisms that
add fertility and predators of crop pests has received little or no attention, and there is a heavy input of
agrochemicals, especially to irrigated areas.At the same time, the substitution of organic manure with chemical
fertilizers is adversely affecting soil textureand contaminating aquifers.
Pakistan boastsdiverse agro-climatic conditions, rich indigenous crop diversity,and around 500 of the wild relatives of
cultivated crops. Indeed, northern and western Pakistan comprise one of the globalcenters for theorigin and diversity
of cultivated plants.The introduction of high-yield varieties is leading to loss of local cultivars on farms. The Indian
subcontinent was one of the first places to domesticate cattle, buffalo, and chicken. Pakistan now has two breeds of
buffalo, eight of cattle, one of yak, 25 of goat, 28 of sheep, one of horse, four of camel, and three of indigenous
poultry. At the same time,pure-bred animals are believed to constitute only 20% to 25% of the country‟s cattle
population.
Vulnerability of this country to climate change has also impacted farming systems, particularly in arid and
mountainousareas. Thus,strategies in place to make agriculture sustainable and conserve agrobiodiversity include:(1)
Principles and practice of sustainable and biodiverse agricultural research and development incorporated into
national policies, laws, investment strategies, education, and extension programmes; (2) All stakeholders, including
farmers, consumers, and researchers, and agricultureextension specialists, will be made aware of the beneficial
effects of agrobiodiversity; (3) Models of sustainable agriculture for major crops willbe developed and promoted; (4)
Bio-diversification of agro-ecosystems will be restored in time and space through crop rotations, cover crops,
intercropping, crop and livestock mixtures, and the conservation of pollinators and soil micro fauna, and; (5) The use
of transgenic organisms willbe considered very carefully to ensure that they pose no environmental and health risks
over and above the use of current crops and practices.
14.Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)
The Oslo Symposium in 1994 defined the concept of SCP, later recognized in the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation, adopted in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Sustainable
consumption and production is also the aim of goal two of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentand
requires countries to make fundamental changes tothe way theyconsume and produce goods and services. Changes
in patterns of unsustainable consumption and production require commitment and action fromthe government, the
business sector, non-state actors, and individuals.
The production sector indirectly impacts biodiversity through air pollutionand discharge of industrial waste into the
airor into water bodies. At present, there is no large-scale use of biodiversity in theproductionsector of Pakistan,
however, coal mining and other industrial extractionand oil exploration industries, the ship breaking industry, and
hydropower projects pose direct and indirect threats to biodiversity. Poorly-regulated economic development, coupled
with rapid demographic growth, has placedacute pressure on the natural resource base of Pakistan, especially land
and water, and has significantly increased levels of local pollution. There are serious ecological, economic, and social
costs toinfrastructure and the sprawling production sector.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Many species of animals and plants are collected for trade,includingmazri (Nannorrohpsritchiana) which is used for
mats and baskets, as well as medicinal plants, and morels and trufflesfor food. The extraction of economic non-
woody plants is highly unregulated and adversely impacts the health and condition of habitats and threatens species
with extinction. Many species,or parts thereof, are exported without regulations, and there is growing and
unsustainable use of wood for fuel, and an increased demand for fish meat. Biodiverse and green cities can play in
important role in species conservation.
To conserve and enhance the environment,a number of strategies have been proposed including: (1) Making
producers and consumers aware of the social costs and environmental consequences of unsustainable consumption
and productionin order to minimize the ecological footprint of pollution and the degradation of natural resources; (2)
Development of sustainable consumption and production patterns for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversityfostered through business and biodiversity initiatives; and (3) The active pursuit of strategic environmental
impact assessments, economic incentives, and law enforcement to achieve the goals of sustainable consumption and
production.
15. Emerging Issues(Biosafety, Geo Engineering, and Synthetic Biology) and Challenges
Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop, or make, products and covers a wide range of
advanced genetic techniques used for changing the characteristics of plants, animals, and microorganisms.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafetyrefers to theprotection of biodiversity from the potential risks posed by LMOs
resulting from the techniques of modern biotechnology.
Synthetic biology is an emerging science that featuresthe „de novo‟ synthesis of genetic material as well asan
engineering-based approach to develop components, organisms, and products. Climate engineering, also known as
geoengineering, comprisesan array of technologies and techniques for manipulating global climate in an attemptto
moderate the effects of climate change. These technologies are commonly divided into two categories: (1) Methods
to absorb and store atmospheric carbon, either by technological meansor by enhancing the ability of natural systems
(e.g. oceans), and (2)Methods that aim to reduce the amount of heat trapped by greenhouse gases by reflecting
sunlight back into space.
To date, knowledge of the risks, benefits, and uncertainties related to GMOs and biodiversity is fragmented and
poorlydeveloped. As a result,prudent approaches are urgently needed for application to GMOs and synthetic biology
applications could also have indirect negative impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Biosafety rules entitled „Pakistan Biosafety Rules, 2005‟ were implemented under the Pakistan Environmental
Protection Act, 1997, and National Biosafety Guidelines were also issued in 2005. The strategy to safeguard human
well-being from theadverse effects of LMOs aims tobuild national capacity and incorporateactionsforthe safe transfer,
including transboundary movements and the handling and use of LMOs.
III. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION
Implementation, monitoring, and evaluation form an integral component of the NBSAP. Effective implementation will
require working with, and building the capacity of, stakeholders at national, provincial, regional, and local levels. At
the same time, it will be crucial to communicate and mainstream biodiversity values in the policy and planning
processes to ensure people conserve and use biodiversity sustainably, andto mobilize resources for implementation.
16. Awareness and Capacity Development
A clear understanding of the value of biodiversity is essential to prevent unintended negative consequences of
policies for economic development. There is a general lack of understanding of biodiversity and its values; thus, the
raising ofawareness and capacity development is crucial for achieving results. This starts with strengthening the
capacities of the Directorate of Biodiversity, Ministry of Climate Change, which will then build the capacity of
other stakeholders. Stakeholderswill be educatedand motivatedviaa series of thematic workshops to increase their
knowledge and to enable the sharing of experiences, and the use of relevant tools and mechanisms. Suitable training
modules will be developed and delivered in the training programmes for senior policy makers, planners and
parliamentarians at the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), the National Institute of Management (NIM), the
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Pakistan – NBSAP
National Defense College (NDC), and the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS). In addition to training,
mass and informal communication resources shall be necessary for raising awareness and mainstreaming
biodiversity.
17. Plan for Resource Mobilization
Many actions proposed in the NBSAP will either neatly fit, or be easily accommodated, intothe on-going development
plansforrelevant sectors at national, provincial, and regional levels. Simultaneously,additional sources of funding will
be explored via innovative mechanisms available in the Ministry of Climate Changeand other on-going donor projects,
+
for example, the project for REDD Readiness, and the STAR allocations under the Global Environmental Facility. In
addition, bi-lateral and multilateral donor support will be solicited to meet the short fall in financial resources available
for achieving ABTs in an effectively and timely manner.
18. National Coordination Mechanisms
The MoCC will have overall responsibility forcoordinating the implementation of the NBSAP viaits Directorate of
Biodiversity. The implementing partners will be the relevant ministries at the national level, provincial and regional
governments, and major international conservation organizations including theIUCN and the WWF. CBD focal points
will be designated in the provinces, AJK and GB for coordination among various stakeholders at sub-national levels
and for liaison with the MoCC. The NBSAP also proposes the establishment of steering committees at national and
sub-national levels to ensure that necessary administrative and financial support is made available for NBSAP
implementation and monitoring.
19. Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)
The Government of Pakistan in collaboration with WWF-Pakistan and with the support of GEF and UNEP launched
th
the CHM website on the occasion of the International Day of Forests on March 7 , 2013. This sitecontained useful
information on thebiodiversity ofPakistan as well as measures implemented to conserve and enablesustainable use.
However, thiswebsite remained active for just a short time because funding for its hosting expired, and it has since
been offline; opportunities for finding a suitable host for the CHM are being explored and it is hoped that it will soon
again be functional and updated.
20. Monitoring and Evaluation
Progress on the implementation of the NBSAP willbe monitored on an annual basis viaa flexible framework of
indicators (Annex 1) reflecting national circumstances and priorities.Monitoring will not only measure progress
towards the achievement of ABTs and national targets, but will also help in identification of implementation issues,
and in the adaptive management for effective implementation of the NBSAP. An independent mid-term evaluation will
alsobe commissioned, subject to the availability of funds, to review the implementation of the NBSAP and to make
recommendations for achieving national targets in an effective and timely manner. The final evaluation of the NBSAP
th
will be combined with preparation of 6 National report.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Figure 1: Map of Pakistan(Source: Survey of Pakistan)
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Pakistan – NBSAP
I.INTRODUCTION
1. Context
The World Conservation Strategy (WCS) launched by the IUCN in 1980 provided a blueprint to halt and reverse rapid
deterioration in the condition of living resources on Earth. The WCS urged the preparation of national conservation
strategies to focus attention on priority areas and raise public consciousness and provided both an intellectual
framework and practicalguidance for these conservation actions. Pakistan was among a handful ofcountries that
responded to the WCS and in 1991 drafted the NCS. Pakistan was also among 150 countries that signed the CBD at
the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, and ratified it in 1994.A Biodiversity Action Plan of Pakistan was approved by the
Pakistan Environment Protection Council in 2000 as a principal instrument for implementing the convention at the
national level (CBD, Article 6).
The CoPto the CBD committed to achieve a significant reduction inthe current rate of biodiversity loss atglobal,
regional, and national levels by 2010 atits meeting in April 2002as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the
benefit all life forms on Earth. In order to achieve these 2010 targets, the CoP established seven thematic
programmes of work corresponding to some of the major biomes on the planet. Theseprogrammes included a vision,
guiding principles, potential outputs, and a suggested timetable for implementation of the 2010 targets.
The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) commissioned by the CoP,reported that 2010 Biodiversity Targets were not
met and biodiversity continued to be eroded. The GBO reported that ecosystems were degrading with a consequent
decline in ecosystem services which threatened human well-being. Against this background, CoP-10 held in Aichi-
Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 with five strategic goalsas
well as20 “Aichi Biodiversity
Targets” (ABTs). The parties Biological diversity is about more than plants, animals, and microorganisms
also agreed to translate this and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for food security,
overarching international medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment
framework into revised and in which to live. (Convention on Biological Diversity)
updated national biodiversity
strategies and action plans.
The status of implementation of the 2010 targets in Pakistan was reviewed in 2009 during the preparation of Fourth
National Report, and a review of the BAP and ABTs was also carried outin 2014 during preparation of Fifth National
Report. It was noted that while some progress had been made on the CBD‟s Programmes of Work and ABTs,
ecosystems and habitats continued to degrade, ultimately leading to diminishedecosystem services for the economic
well-being, livelihood, and health of the people of Pakistan. The purpose of this revision of the NBSAP is to establish
national targets in line with ABTs, and tointegrate theminto national and local development, poverty reduction
strategies, and planning processes.
2. Values of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and their Contribution to Human Well-being
The term biodiversity, or ecosystem services, refers to a set of benefits that fall into three distinct economic
categories: (i) „Goods‟ (i.e. products obtained for direct consumption or as inputs for industry, such as resource
harvests, and genetic material that contribute to the variety of crops and animal breeding); (ii) „Services‟ (i.e.,
recreational and tourism benefits or certain ecological regulatory functions, such as water purification, climate or
pollution regulation and erosion control), and; (iii) Cultural benefits (i.e., scientific knowledge, spiritual and religious
feelings, and heritage and culture).Aside from these actual benefits, biodiversity plays a significant role as a safety
net in our changing world, especially for climate change and for the most vulnerable human populations whose
subsistence depends directly upon productive ecosystems. The Millennium Assessment(2005) report also highlighted
the links between ecosystem services and the elements that contribute to human well-being.
Economists have developed a conceptual framework, which aims at measuring the Total Economic Value (TEV) of
the environmental services for the purpose of communicating the beneficial use of ecosystems services
andincreasing public awareness and policy maker‟sinterests in biodiversity conservation. Unfortunately, the valuation
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Pakistan – NBSAP
of biodiversity and ecosystem services has not received the priority it deserves in Pakistan; environmental and
biodiversity considerations donot receive priority as a pathway to socio-economic development. However, the need to
improve ecosystem services and halt natural calamities has attracted the attention of the government.In 2012, the
Government of Pakistan approved the National Policy of Climate Change and created the World‟s first fully-fledged
National Ministry of Climate Change as a clear way forward to meet these challenges as coupled with biodiversity
loss and ecosystem degradation.Indeed, Pakistan has a long history of improving ecosystem services, especially
water; the country alsobanned logging after torrential rains in northern Pakistan during September 1992 caused
devastating floods.
3. Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
Land degradation and desertification are serious issues in Pakistan and themain reasonsforlossesto agricultural
productivity and biodiversity.Causes for loss of biodiversity remain the same as described in the BAP for2000,
although anthropogenic pressures have increased due to a rapidly growing population, expansion of the area under
human habitation, and poverty. While conservation efforts have created some islands of success, vast areas of the
country remain unmanaged and consequently land degradation is resulting in loss of biodiversity.Habitat
fragmentation and loss poses a serious threat to biodiversity in all biomes, advanced to such an extent that
nocorridorsremainconnecting the network of PAs. Thus, many species are confined to isolated small populations
whilehabitat loss, coupled with the over exploitation of selected species for trade, food, and sport, have exacerbated
the situation. Lists of endangered mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and plants are included at the end the end of this
NBSAP as Annexes 2–7.
3.1. Population Growth
A high rate of human population growth in Pakistan and the resulting pressure on natural resources is accelerating
loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation.Pakistan has one of highest population growth rates in the world,
and is the sixth most populated country on Earth. Indeed, the Figure 2: Population growth in Pakistan, 1960 -2010.
population of Pakistan grew from 31 million people in 1951 to
about185 million people in 2014 (Figure 2); although this rate of
populationchange has decreased slightly over the last two
decades, increased population puts undue pressureon all
resources, especially the natural resource capital. The majority
of people living in rural areas,outside arable tracts,areheavily
dependent on natural ecosystems for fuel, forage, and small
timber for construction. In mountainous areas, rapidly increasing
population and infrastructure development is increasing the
incidence of landslides, while across the country new
households break fresh land for agriculture and housing, causing
loss of biodiversity and habitat fragmentation.
3.2. Policy, Planning, and Institutional Shortfalls
Apart from population growth, ineffective policy and planning frameworks as well asinstitutional weaknesses remain
significant causes for the loss of biological diversity. The value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, their
contribution to the national economy, and their potential to alleviate poverty have not been well-integrated into
national and local planning ordevelopment processes. Consequently, the environment sector, including climate
change, biodiversity, forestry, and wildlife are low priority. This is illustrated by thebudgetary allocations for
biodiversity sectors from 2002 to 2013 (Figure 3) (GIZ, 2013). The situation is no better for the other natural resource
management (NRM) sectors including agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
There is realization of the need for a national policy onconservation, sustainable use, and the equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the use of biodiversity. For example, upstream resource utilization and the consequent creation
ofpollution, deforestation, and degradation of ecosystems leads tomeager economic gains but a huge national cost in
terms of quality and quantity of water, diminishing the water storage capacity of dams for irrigation and hydropower
generation. A large proportion of forests, rangelands, wetlands, and coastal waters across Pakistan have become
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Pakistan – NBSAP
open access resources as a result ofthe breakdown of traditional common property resources andmanagement
systems. The costs of protecting species and ecosystems from exploitation can also be prohibitively expensive in the
absence of sufficient resources, and the capacity to enforce regulations or other restrictions. In many areas, the
customary community responsibilities for the use of natural resources have weakened with the development of new
economic opportunities eroding the need and concern for the sustainable use of these resources. This concern has
been further eroded by the disempowerment of local communities, for example by state intervention in the
management of community forests.
Figure 3: National PSDP and allocations from the MoCC (Source: GIZ, 2009).
3.3. Land Use -Degradation and Desertification
The percentage of land in Pakistan divided byland use is shown in Figure 4. The total land area of Pakistan is
2
796,100 km , of which a large proportion is not managed and is generally degraded asopen access resources that
are highly susceptible to water and wind erosion. Agricultural lands occupy nearly 35% of totalarea whilea little over
4% of total area comprises forested lands. A recent review of
knowledge on land degradation (Khan et al., 2012), reported water
and wind erosion, depletion of soil fertility, deforestation,
unsustainable livestock grazing,and water logging to be the major
causes of land degradation, further aggravated by water scarcity,
frequent droughts, and the lack of a land use plan.It is estimated that
water logging affects 11 million ha across the country, while another
five million ha are affected by salinity and increase sodium content.
Unsustainable land use is a major cause of land degradation and the

loss of biodiversity. However, there is an increasing realization that
efforts are required for land use planning in order curtail the impact of
land degradation and desertification, and the contribution of this issue
towards the national economy needs to be documented. Overall, breaking new land and faulty agricultural practices
withinthe monsoon belt are major factors that acceleratewater erosion in the uplands. High rates of soil erosion, for
example, have reduced the useful life of the Tarbela and Manglawater reservoirswith serious consequences for
power shortages and irrigation water. Conversion of flood plains to agriculture has not only contributed to the loss of
valuable wetland habitats, but has also exacerbated damage from floods. Semi-arid lands are also subjected to
heavy soil erosion, due primarily to faulty cropping practices, overgrazing, and deforestation, while arid lands and
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Pakistan – NBSAP
deserts have suffered from wind erosion caused by the loss of vegetation cover. Irrigated areas in Pakistan are
infested with the twin-menace of water logging and salinity, and water in geological formations on thearid Balochistan
plateau is being heavily mined for agriculture. The arid coastal lands and mangrove forests are also under increasing
environmental stress as a result ofreduced freshwater flow, sewage, and industrial pollution.
Figure 4:Wind and water erosion across Pakistan between 1998 and 2007.
While some degree of wind and water erosion is part of natural processes, accelerated erosion continues to be a
major cause of land degradation and desertification in Pakistan. Water erosion affects lands in high rainfall zones in
north eastern Pakistan, and the area affected by water erosion increased 27.3% from 11.305 million ha in 1998 to
42.307 million ha in 2007. In contrast, wind erosion is characteristic feature of areas of dry, loose, bare sands or finer
materials subject to strong winds. These includethe Cholistan, Thal, Chagai, and Kharansandydeserts, as well
ashyper-arid areas of fine silt in western Balochistan.Data show that thearea affected by wind erosion increased by
17.4% from 4.759 million ha in 1998 to 13.028 million ha by 2009 (GoP, 2009), and the areas affected by slight,
moderate, and severe wind and water erosion areshown in Figure 5. Areas eroded by major streams along their
courses, by waves and tides onthe coastal plain, and by snow over glaciated areas are also noteworthy in Pakistan; it
has been estimated that by 2007, 2.282 million ha hadbeen erodedvia bank erosion by streams, tides, and glaciers
(GoP, 2009).
3.4. Deforestation
The official estimate of forest cover in Pakistan is

5.4% (GoP, 2009), while forest cover according to
assessmentby the FAO varies between 2.2% and
2.4% withother wooded areas occupying another
1.8%. These estimates are based on various
techniques and classifications used for forestry
resource inventory; it is thought thatPakistan has lost
an average of 41,100 ha of forest per year, which
amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of
1.63% (FAO in mongabay.com). In total, between
1990 and 2010, the country lost 41.3% of its forest
cover, or around 946,000 hectares (Figure 6), while Figure 5: Changes in forest cover across Pakistan
plantation area increased by 18.6% or around 106,000 between 1990 and 2010.
ha overthe same period. The total rate of habitat
2
conversion for the periodbetween 1990 and 2010 indicates that Pakistan has lost 33.2%,or about 840,000 ha, of its
forest and woodland habitats. The main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are illegal cutting of trees for
fuel by local people, and illegal logging operations bytheso-called timber mafia.
2
Change in area covered by forests minus areas reforested
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Pakistan – NBSAP
3.5. Open Access Resources
More than 50% of the total area of Pakistan is characterized as open access resources, either unmanaged by useror
under weak communal control. Tenure and landuse rights over these lands vary greatly and include state lands, vast
areas of land ofundefined tenure, village shamlats(communallands), and proprietary lands. The major usesof these
lands includegrazing, forage collection, and cutting of trees and bushes for fuelwood, while users generally include
transhumance pastoralsand local communities. Open access resources have been steadily affected byincreasing
human and livestock populations as well asincreased demand for fuel wood in nearby townships. These natural
resources serve to meet the needs of marginalized communities, though little attention is paid to the health and
condition of ecosystems and habitats.
3.6. Grazing
Majorityof arid and semiarid land inPakistan

cannot be cultivated or plantedbecause of natural
and anthropogenic factors. Indeed, with the
exception ofalpine pastures in the northern
mountainous region, most rangelandsare arid,
receiving less than 300 ml of precipitation per
year. Proprietary rights over these lands are often
undecided and generally local tribes and
communities exercise usufruct rights over these
lands and resources are used by local and
transhumance pastoral communities.
The increase in the population of range livestock

between 1990 and 2014 on the basis of the Figure 6: Numbers of goat, sheep, and camels in Pakistan
3
economic survey of Pakistan 2013-2014 is shown between 1990 and 2014.
in Figure 7. These data show that numbers of goatsand sheep have increased by 80% and 10.6%,respectively, while
the population of camelshas remained steady.Although increase in forage production on irrigated lands have been a
factor in increases in livestock numbers, persistent overgrazing has seriously depleted the carrying capacity of
rangelands. There are no recent estimates of this loss of rangeland productivity; however, anecdotal evidence
suggests that most have lost as much as 50% of theirpotential grazing capacity (personal communication).
Keeping in mindthe importance of livestock tothe national economy and in the sustainable managementofgrazing
lands, North American style range management was introduced to Pakistan in the late 1950‟s. Large areas of lands
were fenced in different ecozones to study their productive potential, and to introduce rotational grazing.These
demonstrations were highly successful under controlled conditions, but repeated efforts to extend the model beyond
demonstration areas havenot proved successful. As a result, pastoral management requires a different set of skills
and approaches, as well as organizational setup to deal with people rather than the land.
3.7. Unsustainable Fishing
Pakistan‟s marine fisheries encompass a1,126km long coastline between Sir Creek in the east and Jiwani in the west
and include the territorial waters of two provinces, Balochistan and Sindh.However, therehas been a steady increase
in fishing vessels of all kinds, the fish catch has declined and the size of fish caught is also smaller than normal. In
addition, some fish species such as galloand kalaki in Pasni, Balochistan Province, zardum,paplet, and kalgun in
other areas of Balochistan, and palla in Sindh Province have been wiped out entirely. Unsustainable harvesting and
the use of new fishing gear are the leading causes of fisheries resource degradation; destructive fishing gear and
prolonged activity destroys coral reef systems, as well as non-target fishand turtles.
Mangroves in the Indus delta sustain fisheries through their role as breeding grounds, but thisecosystem is also
degradeddue to the combination of salt-water intrusion up to 30 km inland and reduced silt and nutrient flows due to
upstream dam construction. This is one of the main causesfor reduction in fish stock in the area. Municipal and
3
http://finance.gov.pk/survey_1314.html)
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Pakistan – NBSAP
industrial waste, effluent and agricultural run-off, and oil spills at ports are all major causes of water pollution and the
degradation of marine ecosystems. For example, studies have revealed that an estimated 70% of Karachi‟s
wastewater flows into the sea disturbing the marine environment.
3.8. Promotion of High Yield Varieties and Exotic Breeds
Crop genetic diversity in Pakistan is low and owing to the development and use of HYVs, responding better to water
and fertilizer. Conversely, there is tremendous threat to indigenous varieties and land races that had been selected
and maintained by farmers for generations. In many cases, hybrid and GM varieties are not adapted to local
ecosystem conditions;therefore require higher inputs of fertilizers and the use of pesticides to get higher yields.This
genetic erosion is more pronounced in wheat, rice, cotton, sorghum, sugarcane, and vegetables. Consequently,
theability of these crops to adapt to local environments and climates and to tolerate diseases remains uncertain.
Though cross-breeding can lead to relatively rapid gains in productivity, it costs in terms of genetic loss and pure
varieties, as often the parent stock is not maintained. Similarly, domestic livestock in Pakistanis largely cross-
bredrequiring continual monitoring via scientific surveys.
3.9. Heavy Use of Agrochemicals
The use of pesticides and fertilizers has increased rapidly in recent years.For example, the consumption of pesticides
increased two-foldin the period between2000 and2004,but has gradually fallen to 73,632 tons in 2010 (GoP,
2011).Unfortunately, the widespread and indiscriminate use of pesticides has disturbed the agro-ecosystem and
killed non-target and environment-friendly organisms, increased pest resistance and the chances of pest resurgence,
which in turn has led to the use of higher doses. Heavy use of pesticides has reduced the populations of natural pest
enemies by 90% in cotton growing areas, and the use of fertilizershas also increased, doubling over the last three
decades.
Direct mortality of wildlife, especially birds, following the use of organophosphates has frequently been reported.
Pesticides destroy the natural biotic balance in agricultural soils and reduce the diversity and abundance of
invertebrate fauna, rodents, and reptiles with cascading effects at higher trophic levels. The increasing presence of
pesticides in agricultural runoff has both acute and chronic effects on aquatic fauna and on fish-eating birds. It is
estimated that 25% of all pesticides used in Pakistan end up in the sea; the excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers
leads to eutrophication of water channels and wetlands, the spread of aquatic vegetation, and reduced aquatic
diversity.
3.10. Pollution
Pollution is a growing problem in Pakistan and the discharge of sewage and industrial effluent into aquatic and
marine ecosystems is a major threat to marine biodiversity.Petrochemicals, paper and pulp, food processing,
tanneries, oil refineries, textile and sugar industries are all major industrial contributors to wastewater pollution
(UNIDO, 2000).Ten major cities produce 60% of all urban waste water, mostly untreated and discharged directly into
natural streams and rivers.According to a World Bank Report (2005), the total waste water produced by these cities in
3
2002 was 2,301 million m per year with Karachi at the top of the list (604 million), followed by Lahore (287 million).
Indiscriminate and unplanned disposal of effluents (including agricultural drainage water, municipal and industrial
wastewater) into rivers, canals and drains is causing deterioration of water quality in the downstream sections, while
polluted water is also being used for drinking in downstream areas, causing numerous water-borne diseases. The
resultant losses of fish and contamination of potential drinking water has considerable economic and health impacts.
The useof pesticides and nitrogenous fertilizers is seriously affecting shallow groundwater, the entry of effluents into
rivers and canals, and is deteriorating the quality of freshwater.Almost all shallow freshwater is now polluted with
agricultural pollutants and sewage (Ahmad, 2008ab) and industrial pollution is particularly severe in the industrial
center of Karachi that hasa population of over 12 million people.Certainly, about80% of total wastewater remains
untreated and is discharged into the sea through sewers and rivers, mainly the Lyari and Malir, and many creeks and
coastal waters inthe Karachi area areprone to eutrophication due to high levels of organic pollution. The characteristic
smell of hydrogen sulfide in parts of the city is a sign of the intense bacterial activity from the presence of organic
wastes.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Majority of coastal pollution is also concentrated in Karachi harbor where an estimated 90,000 tons of oil products
from vessels and port terminals are dumped every year (Shahzadet al., 2009). Extremely high levels of toxic heavy
metals, such as mercury, have been reportedin the coastal waters and sea near Karachi; these are likely to have both
acute and chronic toxic effects on human beings, marine biodiversity, and fish-eating birds. The impacts of these
pollutants on commercial fin-fish and shrimp fisheries are unknown, but are likely to be significant.
3.11. Global Climate Change
4 th
Maple Croft ranked Pakistan 16 on Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) which is an increase of13positions in
just one year.German Watch also rankedPakistan as the country „most affected‟by climate change in2014 and placed
it in the top ten for the period between 1995 and 2014. It is clear that climate change costs the economy of Pakistan
$14 billion a year, almost 5% of GDP; according to the Asian Development Bank, more than tenmillion people have
been displaced in Pakistan over the last twoyears due to climate-related disasters, whiletheeconomy has been
heavily crippled by devastating and repetitive floods overthe last decade. Definitely, in the last ten years, Pakistan
has been hit by floods almost every year, with those of 2010, 2011, and 2014 thebiggest catastrophes in the history
of Pakistan.
5
The floods of 2010 remain as one of the biggest tragedies with 20 million people affected. The floods resulted in
approximately 1,781 deaths, injured 2,966 people and destroyed more than 1.89 million homes. The country was still
in the recovery phase of 2010 floods, when the 2011 floods struck. Although nowhere near the 2010 floods, the 2011
floods also wreaked havoc, and affected 9.6 million people, with 520 deaths,1.2 million homes damaged in Sindh, as
well as inundation of 688,000 ha of arable land. In the 2014 floods, 312 people died, with 2,275,000 affected and
nearly 687,965 ha of crops lost.
4. National Constitutional, Legal and Institutional Framework
4.1. Biodiversity Legal Framework
Constitution of Pakistan (1973):The Constitution ofIslamic Republic of Pakistan predates global emphasis on the
conservation of biodiversity, and thus does not include any reference to it; however, the superior courts of Pakistan
have interpreted the phrase „right to life‟ used in Article 9 of the Constitution and have held that the word „life‟ used in
this context encompasses the environment in all its dimensions. Thus, „environmental pollution and ecology‟ was a
th
subject on which both federal and provincial government could legislate, but under the 18 Constitutional Amendment
of 2012, this was made the exclusive domain of provincial assemblies. However, the parliament of Pakistan is still
empowered to legislate on „international treaties, conventions and agreements, international arbitration, national
planning and national economic coordination including planning and coordination of scientific and technological
research.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997:The PEPA of 1997 provided the key environmental legislation
th
instrument for the entire country until the 18 Constitutional Amendment transferred the responsibility of
environmental legislation and management to the provinces. The PEPA was more focused on environmental
protection in general, primarily through controlling pollution, rather than ecosystem-based measures for conservation
of biodiversity. Responding to thischange, by December 2014, all provinces enacted EPAs, sothe PEPA is now in
forceonly for the Islamabad Capital Territory, and FATAs.National Environmental Quality Standards prepared by
PEPA were adopted,and updated where necessary,by the provinces.
Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2012 (CITES Act):Pakistan has beensignatory to CITES
since 1976, an intergovernmental treaty to ensure that wild fauna and flora in international trade are not exploited
unsustainably. CITES establishes an international legal framework together with common procedural mechanisms for
the strictest control of international commercial trade in species threatened by extinction. Species covered by CITES
are listed in three appendices, according to the degree of protection required, and theimport and export of wildlife in
accordance with the provisions of CITES is controlled by theMoCC, Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with
4
http://www.unhabitat.org.pk/home/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/03-Climate-Change-Initiative-in-Pakistan.pdf
5
www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_12/SplSection.pdf
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Pakistan – NBSAP
provincial wildlife authorities. For effective implementation of CITESprovisions in Pakistan, an exclusive law entitled
„The Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2012‟ was enacted.
This legislationprohibits the export, re-export, and import of any specimen included in any Appendix of CITES and
6
fixes punishment for contravention . The law alsoprovides for the establishment of a management authority,
represented by all provinces, to enable concessions on scientific and legal grounds. This law has significant
implications for the sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products, especially medicinal and aromatic plants as
it not only helps to check unsustainable harvesting practices but also encourages beneficiary communities to make
sure that species are conserved and protected with a sustainable-use regime in place.
Access Benefit Sharing Bill, 2012 (Draft):This legislation, drafted in 2012, was intended to facilitate access to
genetic resources and their derivatives for environmentally-sound uses, protecting associated traditional knowledge,
equitably sharing benefits derived from them, and promoting technology transfer and building associated scientific
knowledge and technological capacity. The bill is a legislative requirement under the ITPGRFAto which Pakistan is a
party, and is intended to protect community rights in respect to genetic resources, including: (1) The inalienable right
use traditional knowledge in customary ways; (2) The right to regulate access to traditional knowledge, and; (3) The
7
right to share the benefits arising fromthe utilization of traditional knowledge.
4.2, Provincial Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Laws
All the provincial governments and governments of AJK and GB have provincial laws for the management of forests,
fisheries, and wildlife resources in areas under their jurisdiction. Marine fisheries are regulated by the federal
government under the Exclusive Fishing Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Act, 1975, as amended in 1993. This extends
to the whole of Pakistan and to waters within the exclusive fishery zone beyond territorial waters.It regulates the
management of fishing in exclusive economic zone of the country.
4.3, Biodiversity Policy Framework
NCS (1992): The Pakistan NCS (1992) was the first policy framework for biodiversity and conservation and as such
hadthree objectives: (1) Conservation of natural resources; (2) Sustainable development; (c) Improved efficiency in
the use and management of resources. Of these, „biodiversity conservation‟ was one of the fourteen programme
areas forpriority work action, and the NCS had a central influence in mainstreaming environmental and sustainability
dimensions in other policies, plans, and strategies, including Pakistan‟s Eighth Five-Year Plan, which borrowed
heavily from the NCS in terms of greening its development objectives.The success of NCS prompted interest in
developing provincial and local level conservation strategies and since then, all provinceshave developed their
conservation or sustainable development strategies.
BAP(2000): Although biodiversity considerations started receiving attention in national planning processes after the
NCS, it was not until 2000 that a comprehensive BAP was prepared for implementation as part ofthe CBD. The
2000BAP was approved by the PEPA and thus adopted as the first comprehensive strategic action plan for the
countrywideconservation of biodiversity. It has 13 components, corresponding to specific articles of the CBD, 25
objectives and proposed 182 actions of which 31 were to be immediatelyundertaken within a year, 81 within five
years, and 25 within ten years.
National Environment Policy (2005):The National Environment Policy provides an overarching framework for
addressing the environmental issues facing Pakistan, particularly pollution of freshand coastal waters, air pollution,
and lack of proper waste management, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, desertification, natural disasters and
climate change. It also provideddirections for addressing cross-sectoral issues as well as the underlying causes of
environmental degradation and conformation withinternational obligations. The National Environment Policy, while
recognizing the goals and objectives of the NCS, National Environmental Action Plan, and other existing environment
related national policies, strategies and action plans, provides broad guidelines for addressing environmental
6
Government of Pakistan, 2012.Pakistan: Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2012.
7
Government of Pakistan, 2012. Pakistan: Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing Act (Draft). Islamabad: Climate
Change Division, GoP.
8
Pakistan – NBSAP
concerns and ensuring effective management of their environmental resources at national, provincial, regional, and
local levels.
National Sustainable Development Strategy, 2012 (NSDS): The NSDS envisions the evolution of a just and
harmonious society via the promotion of vibrant and equitable economic growth without the overexploitation of natural
resources and the fair distribution of development dividends to all, in particular marginalized, poor, and vulnerable in
society and to future generations. The strategy is aligned with the emerging concept of „green economy‟ as an
alternate to the Framework for Economic Growth (2011), prepared by the Planning Commission of Pakistan.
National Climate Change Policy (2012):The National Climate Change Policy, approved by the Government in 2012
has theoverall goal „to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed in the economically and socially vulnerable
sectors of the economy and to steer Pakistan towards climate resilient development‟.One of the major objectives of
thispolicy is conservation of natural resources and long term sustainability further elaborated through specific
measures under forestry, biodiversity, and other vulnerable ecosystems. Biodiversity-related policy measures
included setting national biodiversity indicators and to provide the requisite financial resources for implementation of
the BAP.
4.4. International Conventions and Agreements
Pakistan is signatory to a number of international conventions and agreements on biodiversity conservation,

environmental protection, and sustainable development. The major conventions and agreements that deal with
conservation of biodiversity include, but are not limited to, the following:
a) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

b) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)
c) Conventional on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
d) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
e) Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
f) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)
g) Sustainable Development Goals
4. 5. Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS)
Pakistan's national economic strategy cites macroeconomic stability, financial discipline and sound policy as key to
broad-based growth, job creation and poverty reduction. Pakistan adopted the process of developing the PRSP in
8
2000, with the first implemented between2004 and2006.The latest strategy paper - PRSP-II , was implemented
9
between2008 and2010, and other key policy documents outlining Pakistan's national PRS are: Vision 2030 (GoP,
2007) replaced by Pakistan Vision 2025 (GoP, 2013), and the Medium-Term Development Framework 2011-2014.
10
With the change in Government in 2013, Pakistan enacteda new strategic framework entitled Pakistan 2025 „One
Nation – One Vision‟. All these documents underscore the importance of agriculture and rural non-farm sectors to the
country's overall poverty reduction strategy recognizing that they represent valuable sources of employment. Within
the agriculture sector, the government has outlined a number of strategic development objectives, including a focus
on increasing yields, diversifying cropping patterns, producing high-value crops, and investing in livestock and dairy
development.
4. 6. Institutional Framework
The Forestry Wing of the MoCC is the national focal point for the CBD. Within the framework, the Directorate of
Biodiversity in the office of the Inspector General of Forests is responsible for coordination with the CBD secretariat,
the national, provincial, regional, local government agencies, and other stakeholders responsible for CBD
implementation. However,downstream linkages of Directorate of Biodiversity remained very weak until recently; only
th
during the process of drafting of 5 National Report wheremeetings were held for the first time with the provincial and
8
www.finance.gov.pk/poverty/PRSP-II.pdf
9
http://www.pc.gov.pk/vision2030/Pak21stcentury/vision%202030-Full.pdf
10
http://pakistan2025.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Pakistan-Vision-2025.pdf
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Pakistan – NBSAP
regional governments who were requested to designate focal points for CBD and create a coordination mechanism
for engaging the stakeholders in its implementation.
In the four provinces, AJK, theGB region, and FATA, the departments of Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries, Environment,
and Agriculture and Livestock are responsible for management of these sectors and all other matters related to
biodiversity. Unfortunately biodiversity considerations have not been mainstreamed in the policy and plans of these
sectors and even many professionals are unaware of national obligations under CBD. Provincial environment
departments review EIAsand all economic development projects, and enforce laws to regulate industrial and
municipal pollution. The PARC has, in recent years, started work on agro-biodiversity and hosts the only Plant
Genetic Center in the country, while provincial governments have also established field research stations for the in-
situ conservation of important varieties and land races of crops and major indigenous breeds. Environment and
biodiversity related research is conducted in almost all universities and institutions of higher educationinPakistan
offering degrees in biological sciences, while the ecological principles of biodiversity conservation are also part
ofcompulsory course in biological sciences, andwildlife and biodiversity are offered as special courses at many
universities offering degrees in biological or allied fields. Degree-oriented programmes are also offered in a range of
different institutions;however, although work is being done in many universities and other educational institutions,
these efforts are uncoordinated and there is a need to bridge the gap between scientists and conservationists. In
addition, the in-situ conservation potential of zoological and botanical gardens is not being fully utilized.
In addition to the Government, international conservation organizations like the IUCN, the WWF and BRC play
significant role in creating awareness, building capacity, policy development, and jointly implementing the new
generation of biodiversity conservation projects.
5. Lessons Learned from the Earlier NBSAP(s) and the Process of Developing the Updated NBSAP
5.1. Progress on Implementation of BAP(2000): ThisBAP comprised 13 components, corresponding to articles of

the CBD, specifically planning and policies, legislation, identification and monitoring, in-situ conservation, ex-situ
conservation, sustainable use, incentive measures, research and training, public education and awareness, EIA,
access issues, exchange of information, and financial resources. The plan included182 targets, 31 to be undertaken
within a year, 81 within five years, and 25 within ten years. Although 14 years have passed since the BAP (2000) was
th
approved, its implementation has been less thatsatisfactory. Review during the preparation of the 5 National Report
revealed that no action was initiated on 71 (52%) of actions, while 61 (44.5%)of actions were partially or fully
completed, and five (5) actions were still under implementation (Figure 8). A major reason for the lack of proper
implementation of the BAP is that the targets were too ambitious, prepared without taking into consideration financial
constraints, and a lack of human resources and institutional capacity. A summary of the implementation is given in
the pie chartsin Figure 8.
Figure 7: Progress on Implementation of the BAP (2000).
5.2. Biodiversity Scenarios
In a business as usual scenario, cessationor slowdown of the current high rate of human population growth is not in
sight in Pakistan in the near future. Therefore, anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity will continue to increase,
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Pakistan – NBSAP
deforestation and degradation of ecosystems will continue unabated, habitats will be further fragmented resulting in
loweringof ecological connectivity, fisheries resources will continued to be depleted, and agro-biodiversity will
continue to be lost.However, the recent successful recovery ofsome of threatened species of wildlife and vulnerable
habitatsare highlights that create hope thatpopulations of more threatened species will be recovered and maintained
in the wild in coming years, and that there will be an increase in the number of PAs being managed
effectively.Similarly, floods and other extreme events due to impending climate changewill draw the attention of policy
makers and planners to recommendincreased investment inthe conservation of biodiversity. A brief overview of
scenarios covering different biomes and resource management regimes are presented in this section.
Terrestrial Ecosystems: There is no serious threat of deforestation to forests and natural habitats managed by the
government; however, the peripheral areas will continue to degrade under heavy pressure of grazing and
thecollection of wood for fuel. Deforestation and degradation of natural habitats where tenure rights are not well-
defined will continue, and the afforestation of private lands using indigenous species will continue with the support of
the government. Representation and management of protected areas will improve, and extent of areas with high
potential for sport hunting and bird shooting is likely toincrease.
Aquatic Ecosystems: The fishcatch in both inland waters and marine areas will continue to increase to meet both
increasing demands in the country and the booming export market. However, enforcement of laws and regulations to
curb the use of harmful fishing methods will improve over time. A number of hydropower projectsare currently under
construction on rivers in mountainous region and more are planned for the future.These projects are likely to
fragment aquatic habitats and have serious impacts on cold water aquatic biodiversity.
Climate Change: The natural habits in the northern mountainous region of Pakistan will shrink and shift under global
warming, putting the survival of species like snow leopards, brown bears, othersthat live within a narrow niche at risk
of extinction inthe wild. Increases in snow and glacier melt, coupled with extreme climatic events, will adversely
impact habitats through increase in intensity and frequency of floods in some areas, and drought in others. Pakistan
has already suffered heavy damage and loss of life and property from the unprecedented floods of 2010, 2011, and
2014, and the farmers in some areas are already experiencing changes on sowing and maturity of some agricultural
crops due to climate, especiallyin thedrylands and uplands.
5.3. Processes for development of BAP and NBSAP
A transparent and consultative process ensuring the wide participation of a broad range of stakeholders from
government, academia and civil society was adopted for the preparation of both the BAP 2000 and the NBSAP. In
addition, national and regional level workshops were organized for consultation with a broad range of interest
groups.In case of NBSAP, voluntary guidelines to parties proposed by CBD for review of national biodiversity
strategies and action plans were followed for the revision process. The following is a brief overview of the processes
that were applied forthe development of the BAP and the NBSAP.
5.3.1. BAP(2000)
The preparation of BAP 2000 started with the formulation of a Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) to guide the
process. The BWG comprised of government and civil society representatives, and key resource persons with
specialization in different fields of biodiversity. The process started with a national level inception workshop at which
time different thematic groups were constituted to hold consultations with stakeholders and formulate strategies and
actions to achieve the objectives of the CBD. Additionally, a number of background papers were prepared on sector
and cross-cutting issues. A drafting team prepared the first draft of the BAP using the background information, and
thematic reports.The initial draft was first reviewed by the BWG, and then circulated widely for peer review. The final
draft was again reviewed by the BWG and then submitted to the government for approval. The BAP was considered
in a meeting of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council in 2000 and approved.
5.3.2. Revision of the NBSAP
An initial road map for revision of the NBSAP wasshared with the BWG for review and suggestions. A meeting of the
core group of the BWG was then held in Islamabad to review the road map and the working papers. The road map
and working papers were then revised in light of the suggestions made by the BWG, and consultative meetings were
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Pakistan – NBSAP
held with smaller groups comprised of key resource persons, professionals and representatives of other stakeholders
spanning across thematic areas including habitats and species, forest ecosystems, agro-ecosystems, inland waters,
coastal areas, marine ecosystems, as well ascross cutting issues such as ecosystem services and livelihoods, policy
and planning.
Because theprovincial governments and other federating units will be implementing the NBSAP in the field, their buy-
in tothe strategies and actions isof prime importance in the process. Therefore, in order to create greater ownership
of the NBSAP at provincial and regional levels, consultative meetings with stakeholders were organized in Karachi,
Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit. In addition, meetings were held with policy makers and
planners in the provinces and regions, while keeping in view the need of sub-national strategies and action plans for
decentralized implementation, the provinces and other regional governments were provided technical and support to
make their own strategies for achieving the CBD strategic objectives and taking actions to implement the ABTs. The
NBSAP is thus the sum total of regional plans. The draft NBSAP was widely circulated to all stakeholders, key
resource persons and members of the BWG for peer review.
II. NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
6. Vision
The guiding vision of the NBSAP is to make available the benefits of biodiversity and ecosystem services to all
segments of society, in particular the marginalized, poor, and vulnerable and future generations by restoring and
conserving the rich natural biodiversity heritage of Pakistan, and renderingits use sustainable based on the principles
of equitable sharing of benefits.
Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns
it forms. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural
processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral
part and upon which we so fully depend (CBD).
7. Goals
1. To conserve biodiversity atpriority sites, including species and genetic diversity. In pursuing this goal, the
focus will be on in-situsite-specific conservation work, high priority ex-situ conservation, wildlife trafficking,
and illegal timber trade.
2. To mainstream biodiversity as an essential element of human development. This goal aimsto increase
awareness of how biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services contribute to human wellbeing, sustain
development outcomes, and promote integration with key sectors such as agriculture, poverty alleviation,
climate change, health, democracy and governance, economic growth, and trade.
8. Objectives
The objectives of NBSAP are based on the five strategic goals of the ABTs, as follows:
1. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming an understanding of biodiversity across
government and society;
2. Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use;
3. Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity;
4. Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services, and;
5. Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management, and capacity building.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
9. Strategies and Actions
The strategies and actions to achieve the objectives of the NBSAP are organized around cross-cutting issues, in
particular biodiversity awareness, mainstreaming, poverty alleviation environment and the CBD major thematic
program areas which are terrestrial ecosystems, forest biodiversity, inland and coastal wetlands, coastal lands and
marine ecosystems, and agrobiodiversity. The implementation, monitoring, and evaluation arrangements of the
NBSAP are discussed in Part-III.
10. Biodiversity Awareness
10.1.Context
People who cause lossesinbiodiversityare generallyunaware of theneed for its conservation and sustainable
use.Similarly the importance of biodiversity for human wellbeing generally contrasts with the commonly held
worldview of social and economic development. Thus, generating awareness about biodiversity loss and its
consequences for personalwell-beingare paramount before people can beasked to be a part of the solution. Effective
communication with people is important to inform them of the problem and how they can take remedial measures.
Change takes time, and simply getting the wordout is not going to have an impact on biodiversity conservation.
Therefore, well planned and targeted efforts will be required to obtain commitment and cooperation from end-
usersand those who are responsible for determiningnational policies and plans. It is worth bearing in mind that
biodiversity is a relatively new concept and acceptance of new ideas is always a long process. In fact, it could take
“New scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the
light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that
is familiar with it.(Max Planck)
until the retirement of older holdouts and aninflux of younger and more open minds for new ideas to become
accepted. Therefore, it is important to equip younger generations with the knowledge, the science base and
technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss.
Although theBAP recognized aneed for a comprehensive strategy for communication and outreach to raise
biodiversity awareness, no strategic measures were actually taken. National level knowledge management, outreach,
and communication strategies should involve key stakeholders and other important groups as appropriate toprovide
targeted and comprehensive inputsforholistic implementation of the NBSAP at large scales.It is clear that
communication alone may not be sufficient to achieve desired results and may need to be linked with economic
incentives and legal frameworks as a means of achieving change, especially when there are economic or structural
barriers to overcome.
10.2. Issues and Trends
Even though reports, memoranda, and other publications are regularly distributed, these are not effective tools
forcommunication as there areno guarantees that they will be read, understood, or agreed with. Biodiversity experts
also tend to believe that the way forward is to educate politicians and decision makers by organizing workshops.
From a communication perspective it is necessary to ask: Do decision makers have time for this? Do they feel the
need and desire to be educated? Do they see the relevance of such workshops? Will such workshops even be
counter-productive? Experience has shown that trying to make all politicians and decision makers biodiversity experts
can be futile, and that it is more effective to accept their level of knowledge and interests and concentrate on how
best to put biodiversity on their agendas. To gain this cooperation with stakeholders and to place biodiversity on the
agenda of other Ministries, other levels of government or other sectors in society, a range of communication,
education and awareness interventions are needed.
The two main modalities for this are formal and informal communication. In general, informal communication is the
exchange of information on a personal level, not bound by the rules and standards that apply to formal relations
between organizations, or between organizations and individuals. Informal communication is very effective to
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Pakistan – NBSAP
establish and maintain relationships, to discuss sensitive issues and to gain better and more detailed personal
feedback. Informal communication takes place at face-to-face meetings, often in informal settings such as in the
corridors of the workplace, the office canteen, andat social functions. In contrast,formal communication involves
networking, establishing working relationships, defining common goals, updating knowledge, and influencing decision
making processes.
Not all members of a stakeholder group are the same; it is therefore important to identify the opinion leader/s in each
group, and to involve them in planning interventions to engage the entire group so as to minimize the risk of non-
cooperation. Opinion leaders are people, whohave followers, are trusted for the value of their information, are
involved in many different networks, and have skills and interest to connect with people.The opinion leaders may not
be experts in biodiversity, but their views and beliefs should be treated with the utmost respect.
10.3. Strategies and Actions
The following strategies will be adopted as part of the NBSAP and actions will be taken to make people and policy
makers aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably.
Strategies:
1. Mobilize mass media, especially print, audio-visual, and digital social media to create public
awareness of the values of biodiversity and consequences of its loss.
2. Introduce knowledge, values, and consequences of the loss of biodiversity in education at all levels,
especially schools, colleges, and universities.
3. Educatepolicy makers, planners, and administrators in development and business sectors through
opinion leaders and introducing biodiversity concerns in relevant training academies.
Action:
1. Awareness days will be organized to commemorate the following major environmental themes of
national and international importance: biodiversity, desertification and drought, forests, tourism,
wetlands and wildlife, etc. (ABT 1)
2. A focus group comprising of „opinion leaders‟ representing print, audio-visual, and social media
will be constituted by 2017 to mobilize the media for raising awareness.(ABT 1)
3. A cadre of environmental journalists will be created by 2017 to act as „biodiversity champions‟ for
commercial media and make contributions to print media, produce audio messages for radio, and
video clips for TV. (ABT 1)
4. The electronic media like a high quality website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram
will be used to create awareness as well as to market our rich biodiversity as a heritage that
could help attracts tourists and engage young people as stewards for biodiversity conservation.
(ABT 1)
5. A task forces comprising of Ministries of Climate Change, Education, Science and Technology,
and Food Security, and Higher Education Commission will be constituted by 2017 to take steps
for inclusion of biodiversity module in curriculum of universities, colleges and schools. (ABT 1)
6. A support group comprising of „opinion leaders‟ from among the policy makers and planners will
be constituted by 2017, to guide the process for increasing the biodiversity knowledge of decision
makers and act as a change agent through informal communications. (ABT 2)
7. The capacity of NSPP, NIM, National Defense College, and PIPS will be built by 2017, to
incorporate biodiversity consideration in training courses for decision makers of mid-career and
senior managerial levels. (ABT 19)
8. The targets for creating biodiversity awareness will be integrated in the annual and medium term
development plans. (ABT 20)
9. Additional financial resources if needed for implementing NBSAP will be mobilized by 2017 (ABT
20)
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Pakistan – NBSAP
11. Gender, Poverty, and Biodiversity Nexus
11.1. Context
A vast majority of the poor live in rural areas; many of them are landless or small landholders and rely on goods and
services derived from biodiversity and ecosystems for their subsistence. The rural poor gather firewood, forage, and
non-timber forest products for their livelihood and arethus greatly impacted by the loss of biodiversity. The livelihood
and sustenance needs of pastoral communities in Balochistan and northern Pakistan on natural resources, for
example, are heavy and the loss of biodiversity not only increases their poverty levels but also increases their
vulnerability to climate changeand other catastrophes.
Furthermore, women, men, and children use natural resources differently and therefore conservation programmes
built on gender differences will be more socially acceptable and sustainable over longer time‟s scales.In many parts
of Pakistan, women and children are responsible for collecting firewood, forage, and NTFPS. Loss of biodiversity or
lack of access to natural resources near their homes means increases in their workloads or economic hardships.
There are two recent examples of how lack of consideration for the rural poor in planning for natural resource
management projects affected their livelihoods. While the Malakand Social Forestry Project and various watershed
management projects benefited landowners due to increase in value of their land through project interventions, they
adversely impacted rural poor who used those lands for grazing their livestock, collection of forage and
fuelwood.Conservation programmes that would limit the access of the poor to resources for sustenance and
livelihoods will be unsustainable in the long term and will contribute to increased poverty, inequality, and resource
degradation.
More than 60% of the area of Pakistan is either open access or comprised of common property resources. Of these,
the latter are usually governed by traditional rules that determine who and when each resource can be used.
However, many common property resources have depleted over time due to over exploitation of resources. The poor
health and condition of ecosystems has distinct impacts on the environment, including increased livelihood burdens,
increased poverty and decreased health. In particular, women are affected since they must travel farther to collect
fuelwood, forage, and NTFPS. In addition, carrying head loads of fuelwood and forage over long distance isknown to
cause spinal damage, pregnancy complications, and maternal mortality.Fuelwood scarcity may also translate into
preparation of less food and/or the use of less nutritious food. For example, in Bangladesh, there has been a shift
from daily cooking of two meals to only one because of fuelwood shortages(Bechtel, 2010).
Dependence on natural resources is central to the livelihoods of many rural communities and degradation of
ecosystems because of the failure to manage resources has contributed to increased poverty. Conversely there is an
opportunity to alleviate poverty by restoring and maintaining the health of ecosystems on which these communities
depend. Examples of common property, or open access resources that are threatened with over-exploitation and loss
of biodiversity include, among others, habitats such as mountain ecosystems, range lands, wetlands, coastal areas,
and forests. Thus, gender and poverty considerations cut across all thematic areas of biodiversity conservation and
will be integral component of the relevant strategies and action plans.
12. Mainstreaming Biodiversity in National Planning and Policy Processes
12.1. Context
The fate of natural ecosystems depends to a large extent on a wide range of national policies and programmesfor
economic development or the lack of polices and plans to advance environmental objectives. This is particularly true
for the development of roads, urbanization, and industrial development in coastal areas and near inland waters, the
diversion of river water for agriculture and the development of water storage dams. Therefore, incorporation of
biodiversity values into national accounting and reporting systems is necessary to limit unintended negative
consequences of policy decisions on biodiversity. Landless and small landholders rely for their subsistence on goods
derived from ecosystems including firewood, forage, and non-timber forest products. Loss of biodiversity also
increases the workload of women and children and contributes to poverty. Mainstreaming of biodiversity values in
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Pakistan – NBSAP
national policies and plans across different sectors therefore depends on the identification, demonstration and use of
values in their various forms.
Biodiversity values are not included in national reporting and accounting systemscurrently in use inPakistan. This is
primarily due to the absence ofappropriate valuation of biodiversity, impact of its loss on livelihoods of the poor, and
how restoration of ecosystem goods and services can contribute to poverty alleviation. Therefore,demonstration of
the benefitsof investing in conservation and restoration as well as the potential contributionsrequired tomeeta wide
range of economic and policy objectives will be required before values of biodiversity can be integrated into planning
processes, national accounting, and reporting systems. Furthermore, mainstreaming requires a sustained effort, over
several years and on several fronts, and must occur irregularly within, and across, sectors.
The following strategies will be adopted and actions taken in order tomainstream biodiversity considerations in
national policies, plans, and poverty alleviation programmes:
1. Technical and administrative capacity will be developed for the valuation of biodiversity using low cost tools
and methods that, in addition to economic values, recognize social and cultural values;
2. Biodiversity valuation studies shall be undertaken and demonstration projects initiated in ecosystems where
people rely heavily on biodiversity for subsistence, and;
3. The NBSAP shall be adopted as a policy document and a stakeholder Biodiversity Round Table established
for mainstreaming biodiversity in policies, plans, reporting and accounting systems.
13. Terrestrial Ecosystems, Habitats, and Species
13.1. Context
Pakistan is bestowed with a rich natural heritage of biodiversity due to diverse physiography, soil types, and climate.
Terrestrial biomes of Pakistan range fromdeserts in the south to the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Karakorum,
and Hindu Kush in the north and west. Of the total national land area, 62.7%constitutes wilderness, regions that are
neither suitable for agriculture or for commercial forestry. These areas comprise of deserts, aridlands and mountains;
while a small percentage of these lands are privately owned, the majority is either communally-owned or state lands
with undefined tenure and usufruct rights. There is no management authority for these lands and the predominant
land use in these areas isgrazing and fuel wood collection. A small percentage of these lands have been declared as
game reserves and with the exception of the enforcement of hunting laws, there is no habitat management. Similarly,
approximately 5.9 million ha (GoP, 2005) of these lands are designated as rangelands, but there is no management.
The ecological health of these ecosystems has not been assessed, but it cansafely be said that these ecosystems
are heavily degraded due to ever increasing anthropogenic pressures. These ecosystems make significant
contribution to the livelihoods of the landless and poor, making significant contributions to the national economy with
a potential for economic development and growth. A 2006 World Bank report estimates a loss of seven billion rupees
as a consequence of degradation and deforestation of natural ecosystems. Despite the economic significance of
these assets, there are no valuation studies of biodiversity to influence investments for restoration of biodiversity and
alleviation of poverty.
Two terrestrial ecosystems of Pakistan are included in the list of global 200 priority ecosystems of the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment. These ecosystems and their conservation status are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Terrestrial ecosystems of Pakistan classifiedasGlobal 200 Eco-Regions.
Global 200 Eco-region Conservation Status Representation in PA

System
Western Himalayan Temperate Critical or endangered Adequate
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Forests
Tibetan Plateau Steppe Vulnerable Adequate
A large number of species of flora and

fauna with a restricted range are found in
Pakistan. Out of theplant species, five
monotypic genera (Douepia, Sulaimania,
Kurramiana, Wendelboa, andSpiroseris)
and 400 species belonging to 169 genera
and 45 families occur in Pakistan (Ali,
2008), restricted, however, to the northern
and western mountains. Thisfauna includes
some endemic mammals such asthe Indus
11
River Dolphin (EDGE ), the Balochistan
Forest Dormouse, and the Pale Gray
Shrew (IUCN Red List). In addition, the
Balochistan Pygmy Jerboa (Rodent-
Info.net) isan example of anendemic
genus, while the Woolly Flying
Squirrel,Eupetauruscinereus, (WWF
Pakistan), the sole member of its genus,
may existjustin Pakistan. The Punjab Urial
(WWF Pakistan) has recently been
elevated to a full species, while the Chiltan
Wild Goat,Capra aegagruschialtanensis
(Wildlife of Pakistan), is a further example
of an endemic subspecies. The Bio-Resource Research Centre is a non-profit conservation organization in Pakistan
that has a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and has worked over the last two decades in ex-
situ Black and Brown Bear conservation by curbing illegal bear baiting. Indeed, with the exception of a few species
(Snow Leopard, Black and Brown Bear, Woolly Flying Squirrel, Indus Dolphin, Markhor, Himalayan Ibex, Blue Sheep,
Urial, Black Buck, and Chinkara) no other critically endangered species of flora and have received this level of
attention with the aim ofrecovering their populations.
Pakistan is also a signatory to the CMS or Bonn Convention, an intergovernmental treaty that aims to conserve
migratory animal species over the whole of their range. The Siberian Crane, for example, is a critically endangered
migratory species of bird; for its conservation, the CMS Secretariat developed a Memorandum of Understanding
(Siberian Crane MoU) in early 1993 proposing a number ofconservation measures which was signed byPakistan in
1998. The population of Siberian Crane (Central Asian flocks) that used to visit Pakistan in the winter is now thought
to be extinct, but aMoU on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptor MoU) was
concluded under the auspices of CMS in 2008. This is an inter-governmental agreement to conserve migratory birds
of prey in the African and Eurasian regions, signed by Pakistan in 2008.
The sprawling urban landscape can be an important component of biodiversity conservation. However,
managementrequires setting aside blocks of protected habitat, creating ecologically responsible development in
adjacent areas, as well asa careful balance of the needs of nature with the needs of human populations. Urban
biodiversity can improve human well-being by providing ecosystems services, connect people with nature, provide
environmental education, and create corridors for natural populations. However, the rapid pace of change combined
with thehigh cost of land in urban environments can pose severe challenges to long-term protection of a network of
habitat patches. Often, cities do not contain large enough habitat blocks to sustain viable natural populations of most
plants and animals, and so smallblocks must belinked with surrounding habitat.
11
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/about/default.php
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Pakistan – NBSAP
To date, no systematic mapping and description of the ecosystems of Pakistan has been carried out. In an early
study, Roberts (1991) dividedthe habitats of Pakistan into 17 vegetation types based on physiognomyusing
secondary informationsources while Ahmed and Ahmad (2000) later recognized 17 ecosystems based on NOAA
satellite imagery. Pakistan is endowed with many endemic species of flora and fauna and a large proportionof the
relatives of crops found in the wild, yet there has never been a comprehensive national assessment of biodiversity, its
status and trends acrossPakistan, and no efforts have been made to conserve the species that are threatened with
extinction.
Work toestablish anetwork of game reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks started in 1974 and since this
timethe numbers of such areas have steadily increased. However, initial selection of sites for designationas game
reserves and wildlife sanctuaries was not based on any ecological considerations butrather included sites well-known
for game hunting. Even today, with the exception ofthe stricter enforcement of wildlife laws to control hunting, none of
these sites, except a few national parks,are managed under a plan. A few habitats of endangered but high value
trophy species are being successful managed by local people and communities.
Pastoral Management:A large number of research and development projects aimed at theapplication of North
American style range management have so far been unsuccessful. This is because the concept of range
management has not been successful outside of North America and Australia because of wide social, cultural, and
land tenure differences.Across Pakistan,pastoral systems in different parts of the country differ widely and thus would
require different management approaches; certainly, other than agricultural and forest lands which comprise less than
40% of the total area of the country, vast areas of land that are considered „wasteland‟ need to be managed to control
land degradation and desertification, and to improve ecosystem services and livelihoodsviabiodiversity conservation.
In country, existing forestry, agriculture, and livestock departments are not set up to deal with integrated natural
resource management, and therefore require the establishment of an independent government agency to manage
these lands and valuable biodiversity resource of the country.
Protected Areas:Protected areas have beenestablished in Pakistan to achieve the long-term conservation of nature
with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Thus, the list ofprotected areasin Pakistan comprises all
game reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks spread over approximately 12% of the total area of the
country. The protected area system review (Grigoriev and Ahmed, 2000)reported that many protected areas of
Pakistan do not meet the globally accepted criteria, and a study on Protected Areas Gap Analysis (Ahmed, 2012)
undertaken found many representation, ecological and management gaps in the protected area system of Pakistan.
Furthermore, all habitats in-country are fragmented and there are no ecological corridorsor connections between
them.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
The following strategies will be adopted and actions will be taken to fill gaps in protected areas and recovery of
population of threatened species, implement the CBD programmes of work on protected areas, as well asABTs.
Strategies:
st
1. Institutional and regulatory frameworks will be improved and implemented to address 21 Centurychallenges
to the conservation of biodiversity, its sustainable use and the equitable sharing of benefits.
2. Natural habitats will be conserved through the expansion, including establishment of corridors, and the
effective management of the network of protected areas integrated with landscapes.
3. Local communities willbe empowered and their capacity developed so they canact as custodians of
protected areas and landscapes.
4. Knowledge, science base, and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends
will be improved as the conservation status of known threatened species will be improved.
Actions:
1. Institutional effectiveness and efficiency will be enhanced by 2017 to ensure effective management and
monitoring of the biodiversity resources (ABT 17);
2. A GIS laboratory will be established to assess the health (deforestation) and condition (degradation) of
ecosystems and habitats, and maps prepared compatible with remote sensing technologiesto identify
conservation priorities and opportunities (ABT 19);
3. Anecosystem classification system using agreed international standards, including broad indicators of
biodiversity, will be developed. (ABT 19);
4. At least 20% of degraded ecosystems of ecological significance will be restored to combat desertification and
demonstrate economic, social, and cultural benefits (ABT 15);
5. A study will be conducted by 2017 to identify negative incentives and propose positive incentives that will
reduce and ultimately halt the degradation and fragmentation of ecosystems(ABT 3);
6. The lists of protected areas will be refined to include only those sites that meet the internationally recognized
definitions (ABT 11);
7. Management plans will be prepared by 2017 and implemented for effective and equitablemanagement of
protected area (annex 3) integrated into the wider landscapes(ABT 11);
8. Local communities will be empowered and their capacity built to both collaborate in the management of PAs
as well as establish community conservations areas on common property lands(ABT 11);
9. The protected areas network will be expanded by 2020 to cover at least 17% of terrestrial area to fill in the
gaps in the protected area system (annex 4) and to establish corridors between fragmented habitats of
threatened species(ABT 11);
10. Mechanisms will be developed and put in place to ensure the financial sustainability of protected areas (ABT
11);
11. The gap between scientists and conservationists will be bridged to improve knowledge and practice of
biodiversity conservation(ABT 19);
12. Recovery plans will be prepared and implemented to improve the conservation status of major threatened
species of flora and fauna (Annex 2) in different ecosystems (ABT 12);
13. The directorate of biodiversity, MOCC, via collaboration of Bio-Resource Research Centre, will eradicate
bear-baiting from Pakistan till 2020.
14. The directorate of biodiversity, MOCC, via collaboration of Bio-Resource Research Centre, will rehabilitate
Asiatic black and brown bears in their habitat by 2018 through ex-situ conservation by 2018;
15. Targets for the conservation of ecosystems, habitats, and species will be integrated in the annual and
medium term development plans (ABT 20), and;
16. Additional financial resources, if needed, for implementing NBSAP will be mobilized by 2017 to meet (ABT
20).
14. Forest Ecosystems
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Pakistan – NBSAP
14.1. Context
The forests of Pakistan are grouped into five physiognomic classes, conifers, scrub, riverine, mangroves,and
plantations. Natural forests comprise a number ofdiverse ecosystems, including the Western Himalayan Temperate
Forests, one of the global 200 priority ecosystems. In addition, Balochistan boasts theworld‟s second largest compact
forest of Juniper (UNESCO 2013; Man and Biosphere Reserve), considered a living fossil. While all forest
ecosystems in Pakistan are threatened, edible pine nut (Pinusgerardiana)forests, found primarily in community-
controlled areas, are under serious threat of disappearance due to logging by local people as a means of supporting
their livelihoods. A wide variety of medicinal plants grow in abundance in the temperate forests of the western
Himalayan and Hindukush mountain ranges; a survey by the Pakistan Forest Institute (1989), reported that 500 tons
of medicinal plants are produced in Hazara and Malakand, 16 tons in the Murree Hills, 38 tons in Azad Kashmir, and
about 24 tons in Gilgit-Baltistan (Gilaniet al., 2013). These plants are collected from the wild, dried, processed and
sold in local markets or exported to other countries.
The area of different forest types and percent annual change in their cover over five and tenyear periods is given in
Table2 (PFI, 2004).
Table 2:Change in area of different forest types, 1992 to 2004
Forest Type ForestCover(000 ha) Rate of change %

1992 1997 2001 Five Yr Ten Yr
Conifer 1,913 1,479 1,512 4.54(-) 2.09(-)
Scrub 1,191 1,652 1,323 7.74(+) 1.11(+)
Riverine 173 144 150 3.35(-) 1.33(-)
Mangrove 207 159 158 4.64(-) 2.37(-)
Plantation 103 165 174 12.04(+) 6.89(+)
Total Forest 3,587 3,599 3,317 0.06(+) 0.75(-)
Rangeland 28,505 22,645 23,546 4.11(-) 1.74(-)
Total Types 32,092 26,244 26,863 3.64(-) 1.63(-)
Although the stated objectives of forest management includes multiple uses, encompassing ecosystem services like
water, clean air, non-timber forest products, and recreation, as well asmeeting the needs of local people, in reality the
focus has always been on logging or sustained yield principles. Degraded forests are set aside for protection and
sometimes natural regeneration is assisted by seeding and planting saplings, while the harvesting of medicinal plants
and mushrooms is ether regulated through permits for a fee or royalty, andrights for collection are auctioned.
However, theseecosystem approaches and biodiversity considerations have not been mainstreamed in forestry
throughout Pakistan.
There is no credible data of forest cover in Pakistan; official statistics of forest area represent physical area and not
forest cover. The Forestry Sector Master Plan (FSMP) Project, 1993, reported forest cover at 4.2 million ha, 4.8% of
total land area. The Economic Survey of Pakistan (2001 to 2002) showed that forest area increased over time, from
3.46 million ha in 1990 to 3.79 million ha in 2002. In contrast, the FAO in State of Forests (2001), reported that the
total forest area of Pakistan (sum of natural forests plus forest plantation) decreased from 2.75 million ha in 1990 to
2.36 million ha in 2000, a 1.5% annual rate of deforestation over a ten year period. On the other hand, the Asian
Development Bank claims that forest cover dropped from 3.6% of total land in 1990 to 3.2% in 1999. The Global
Forest Watch initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI) reported that Pakistan lost 10,000 ha of forest from
2000 to 2012 and gained less than 1000 ha in the same period in the form of plantations. Irrespective of the
differences in reports on forest area or forest cover, one thing is obvious:The forestry capital of Pakistan is relatively
small and forest cover is shrinking due to deforestation and degradation.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Forests are small islands in a vast ocean of rapidly growing human population and consequently face a number of
threats. In addition, in many forests, local communities are entitled to a percentage of shares from the sale of timber
and thus they pressurize the government for access to logging. Due to the short supply and growing demand
forconstruction, however, timber prices are high and themafias in collusion with the rights holders indulge in all sorts
of tactics, including illegal logging practices. People living near forests also depend on fuelwood for cooking and
heating their homes in the winter; thus, having run out of fuelwood on their own or communal lands, the pressure is
now on the forests. A recent study concluded that 80% of deforestation in KP was due to cutting of trees for fuel (Inter
Cooperation, 2010). Local people also let their animals loose to graze in forest areas, which hampers natural
regeneration because oftrampling and browsing of seedlings. The magnitude of various threats estimated on a scale
of 1 to 10 in different forest types is shown in Figure 9.
Figure 8: Level of various threats in different forest types (FCPF RFP, MoCC, 2012)
Many forests have been classifiedas protected areas under the wildlife laws administered by the Provincial Wildlife
Departments of Pakistan. This has created conflict of interest between the two agencies, and so far there is no
mechanism for joint management for such protected areas.Under UNMDGs, Pakistan hadmade significant
contribution to its commitment to increase its forest cover from 4.8% to 6.0% by 2015and is obliged to report the
status of forests in a transparent manner to various international conventions and UN agencies. With this in mind,the
government has engaged the services of WWF Pakistan to estimate the district wise forest cover usingsatellite
imagery.
Irrigated plantations and the strips of land along highways and canals are important components of the forestry
resources of the country. These plantations have traditionally been made up of pure stands of one, or a mix of two,
species of commercial importance and can play a significant role in providing promoting conservation of biodiversity
especially the pollinators and avifauna by increasing the floral diversity of plantations.
The following strategies and actions are proposed to address the issues discussed above, to implement the CBD
Programme of Work on Forest Biological Diversity, and to contribute to the implementation of the ABTs 2011 to 2020.
Strategies:
1. An enabling institutional and policy environment will be created to mainstream biodiversity conservation and
sustainable use considerations in the forestry sector;
2. Forest biological diversity, including ecosystem services,willbe protected and restored through adoption of
an ecosystem approach for the management of all forest types;
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Pakistan – NBSAP
3. Plantations shall be made biodiversity friendly by increasing floral diversity, and;

4. Knowledge, the science base, and technologies relating to forest biodiversity, its values, functions, status
and trends will be improved to prevent loss of forest biodiversity, and mitigation measures adopted including
reforms of the rights and concessions of local people.
Actions:
1. A GIS laboratory will be established for the assessment of the health (deforestation) and condition
(degradation) of forest ecosystems and maps prepared compatible with remote sensing technologiesto
identify conservation priorities and opportunities (ABT 19);
2. A forest classification system using agreed international standards including broad indicators of biodiversity
will be developed (ABT 19);
3. Representative forest landscapes of special importance for biodiversity will be designated as Forest
Biodiversity Reserves by 2017 and effectively managed(ABT 11);
4. Canal and roadside plantations will be made biodiversity friendly to play a significant role for conservation of
the pollinators, avifauna and serving as corridors between fragmented habitats (ABT 11);
5. Suitable ecosystem approaches will be developedby 2017and piloted in different forest ecosystems; and
training workshops held for managers for their application(ABT 7);
6. A GIS will be established by 2017 to prepare a baseline and monitor health (deforestation) and condition
(degradation) of forests using remote sensing techniques and impact on biodiversity and ecosystem
services (ABT 5);
7. At least 25% of all degraded forest ecosystems will be restored by 2020 to improve their resilience and
contribution to carbon stocks (ABT 15);
8. Collaborative,or joint, forest management approaches will be piloted in different forest ecosystems to reduce
the anthropogenic impacts by improving livelihoods of local people based on sustainable use of components
of biodiversity (ABT 7);
9. Forest and forestrelated policies, laws, and regulations will be reviewed by 2018 to provide a sound basis
for conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity(ABT 7);
10. The code for the preparation of management plans will be revised by 2018 to incorporate the ecosystem
approaches for sustainable management of forests and biodiversity (ABT 7);
11. Landscapes that provide essential services related to water for major dams, and contribute to health,
livelihoods, and well-being of local communities will be restored by 2020 and safeguarded (ABT 14);
12. The gap between the scientists and conservationists will be bridged to improve the knowledge and practice
of biodiversity conservation (ABT 19);
13. Measures to achieve the targets for conservation of forest biodiversity will be integrated inthe annual and
medium term development plans(ABT 20), and;
14. Additional financial resources, if needed, for implementing NBSAP will be mobilized by 2016 to meet (ABT
20).
15. Inland Wetland Ecosystems
15.1. Context
The inland wetlandecosystems of Pakistan comprise streams, rivers, numerous natural lakes, man-made reservoirs,
the Indus River delta, and the wetland complexes of the Indus basin. Lakes also include high altitude alpine and
glacial freshwater lakes and saltwater lakes in coastal areas.The inland water resources of Pakistan are dominated
by the Indus River System, comprising the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers which all originate in the
western Himalayas, flow from northeast-to-south, and drain into Arabian Sea through the Indus Delta. The Kabul
River, originating in Afghanistan, drains into the Indus, near Attock, and in addition to the Indus River system, there
are also a number of other small rivers in Balochistan including the Hub, Gudri, and the NalRivers, which alldrain into
the Arabian Sea on the Makran coast. Pakistan also has one of the world's largest man-made canal irrigation
systems, comprising a number of large dams, barrages, and a network of irrigation canals and waterways.The
following wetland ecosystems of Pakistan are included in the list of global 200 priority ecosystems of the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment (Table 3).
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Table 3:The Wetland Ecosystems of Pakistan Included in Global 200 Eco-regions
Global 200 Eco-region Conservation Status Representation in

PA System
Rann of Kutch Flooded Grasslands Critical or endangered Adequate
Indus River Delta Critical or endangered Inadequate
Wetlandscomprisea continuum of braided and meandering river channels, oxbow lakes, and seasonally flooded
depressions in the Indus basin. There is no accurate assessment of the total area of all the wetlands, but the complex
12 2
between the town of Chashma in the north and the city of Sukkur in the south is estimated to encompass9,700 km .
Streams and rivers are not only the lifeline of agriculture and hydropower generation, but also provides livelihoods to
thousands of people through artisan fisheries, and serves as a refuge for large numbers of wintering migratory birds.
Around 225 siteshave been identified, and listed, as significant wetland sites, distributed all over Pakistan from the
sea coasts in the south to high mountains in the north. The major wetlands of Pakistanare shown in Figure 10.
Pakistan has more than 670 species of birdsof which one third are waterbirds, and most of these aremigratory
species, including geese, ducks, swans, waders, and other waterbirds. Species that require urgent conservation
attentioninclude the Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus), the Sarus Crane (Grus Antigone), the Dalmatian
Pelican,(Pelicanuscrispus), the Sociable Plover (Vanellusgregarious), the Lesser White-fronted Goose
(Ansererythropus), Pallas‟s Fish Eagle (Heliaeetusleucoryphus), and vultures. Pakistan has beena signatory to the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands since 1971 and ratified this agreementin 1976. This conventionis an
intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and sensibleuse of wetlands. Inorder to fulfill the obligations of this
convention, Pakistan initially designated nine Ramsar sites and,at present, there are 19 wetlands on the Ramsar list
(Annex 5). Although, there is no specific legislation for the protection and sensible use of wetlands, Provincial Wildlife
Lawsprovide legal protection to most of these sites. In addition, to enable the conservation and sensibleuse of
wetlands and their resources, a National Wetland Policy has also been developed.
The freshwater fish fauna of Pakistan comprises 198 species, including 12 introduced taxa. The fish fauna is
predominantly south Asian, with some west Asian and high Asian elements. The fish fauna of the northern areas of
Pakistan comprises 20 species and is completely high Asian in makeuprestricted only to GB province. A major
component of the fish fauna, especially warm water fish, is restricted to the Indus plain,which comprises about 140
species. Of these, the genus Schistura is restricted to sub-mountain areas while the genus Triplophysaisis mainly
confined to high altitude regions. Snow trout are found in the Himalayas, Hindukush, and Karakoram mountain
ranges and are not represented in the Indus plain. Other than sport fishing, fishing rights in inland waters are
auctioned every year for the duration of the fishing season, and rainbow and brown trout representpotential threatsto
the highly specialized local cold water fish fauna. In addition,introduction of Tilapia fish is a real threat to the local fish
fauna inwarmer waters.
Aquaculture is a rather recent activity in Pakistan and is still in its infancy; the potentialfish fauna to be farmed is rich
but only seven warm water species and two cold water species are cultivated so far on a commercial scale. Trials
experimenting with shrimp in culture have been carried out in the Indus delta region but did not succeed due to the
non-availability of hatchery-produced seed. With the exception of trout culture in KP and GB, virtually all aquaculture
currently carried out in Pakistan is pond-based and utilizes various carp species. In the past, most fish farmers
stocked their ponds with only indigenous species such as catla(Catlacatla), rohu (Labeorohita), mrigal
(Cirrhinusmrigala), and common carp (Cyprinuscarpio). More recently, two fast growing invasive species, the grass
carp (Ctenopharyngodonidellus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthysmolitrix), have been introduced toculture to
increase the fish yield per unit area. These two species have good economic value, have gained a reputation, and
have become popular amongst producers as well as consumers. Two species of trout namely brown trout (Salmo
trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss) are also cultured in KP, AJK, and GB.
12
http://www.wwfpak.org/ecoregions/CentralIndusWetlandsComplex.php
23
Di
sp
Pakistan – NBSAP
Figure 9: The Major Wetlands ofPakistan.
While many lakes in the highlands are unmanaged, rivers, man-made reservoirs, and canals are primarily managed
for irrigation and hydropower generation.Fishing is regulated by the Fisheries Department and hunting is controlled by
the various Wildlife Departments. However, there is no coordination among these agencies, and they all act
independently without any consultation. Apart from overfishing and hunting, the threats to wetland biodiversity include
discharge of industrial effluent and municipal waste.In addition, diversion of water for agriculture and construction of
hydropower stations have resulted in shrinkage of many wetlands and fragmented habitats. The
occasionalincidences of useof illegal nets, dynamite, and poison fishing are other serious threats to aquatic
biodiversity.
15.2. Issue and Trends
Pakistan is a range stateof the Central Asian Flyway (CAF). Thus, there is an urgent need for science-based,
internationally coordinated conservation measures, ensuring the survival of species and their habitats, as well as
sustainable benefits to people. 46wetlands have protected status in the form of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries
and game reserves.Of these, 15wetlands of international importance have been designated as Ramsar Sites.
Pakistan prepared an action plan for conservation of wetlands in 2000 but this wasnot implemented. The CMS Action
Plan (2008) for the CAF provides the basis for the 30 range states to take individual and coordinated region-wide
activities to conserve waterbirds and their habitats. This agreementcovers 175 species of divers, grebes, pelicans,
cormorants, herons, storks, ibises, flamingos, geese, cranes, rails, sungrebes, jacanas, crabplovers, oystercatchers,
stilts, avocets, pratincoles, plovers, scolopacids, gulls, and terns. Of these 13species are listed inAppendix I of the
CMS.
The golden mahseer, a popular game fish species, is critically endangered because of overfishing and loss of
breeding grounds, while another freshwater species, Glyptothoraxkashmirensis, found only in the Jhelum River is in
24
Pakistan – NBSAP
imminent danger of extinction. The Indus River dolphin, endemic to Pakistan, is under extreme pressure from loss of
habitat and overfishing.The gharial, also found only in the Indus River and its tributaries, is nearly extinct in Pakistan,
while the narrow-headed softshell turtle is also endangered in the country‟srivers.
This documentcontains provisions for species and habitat conservation, single species action plans,as well
asemergency measures. Priority issues for the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitatsinclude
mitigating the absence of information on population status and trends, information on the precise migration routes of
populations, limited capacity of local agencies and communities to monitor and manage wetlands, and the need to
balance the requirementsof conservation against the expectationsof local people. A draft policy for the conservation
and sustainable useof wetland biodiversity in Pakistan was prepared in 2010, but so far has not been approved.
The conservation and sustainable use of wetlands first received comprehensive attention viatheGEF project,
the„Pakistan Wetland Programme‟, which wasimplemented in 2005 with a focus on creating an enabling environment
through establishment of sustainable institutions, enhancing planning and land-use decision-making, development,
the adoption and implementation of theNational Wetlands Policy, enhancing the technical competence of government
agencies and communities, raising nationwide wetlands awareness, and securing the long-term financial
sustainability of wetlands conservation initiatives. In response to the need to generate practical, replicable examples
of viable wetlands conservation practice in Pakistan, four demonstration sites were established by the GEF projectin
different developmentecoregions, namelythe Makran Coastal Wetlands Complex, the Central Indus Wetlands
Complex, the Salt Range Wetlands Complex, and the Northern Alpine Wetlands Complex.The Indus Wetland
Complex in Sindh also received attention through the WWFprogramme „Indus for All‟ which was launched in 2007.
The programme addressed the issues of natural resource management, pollution, sea erosion,loss of species,
deforestation, hunting of birds and animals, and poverty.
While a basic foundation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands biodiversity has been laid, efforts
mustbe continued if we areachieve fruitful results. The following strategies and actions are designed to implement the
CBD programme of Work “Inland Waters Biodiversity” and ABTs.
Strategies:
1. Biodiversity considerations shall be included in the policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks to ensure
conservation of fish and other aquatic organisms, and equitable sharing of benefits;
2. Appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent the introduction of freshwater invasive species and control
their spread to other areas, and where feasible, invasive alien species will be eradicated in habitats of
significant biological diversity, and;
3. The capacity of all stakeholders shall be developed to sustainably manage fisheries and aquaculture, and
ensuring equitable sharing of benefits.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Actions
1. An effective coordination mechanism will be established for integrated management of water,

fish, and wildlife resources of wetlands(ABT 6);
2. Institutional capacity will be strengthened by 2017 for effective enforcement of laws, and
sustainable management of the wetlands( ABT 17);
3. Biodiversity considerations will be incorporated in fisheries policies, laws and regulations by
2017 to ensure sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits(ABT 6);
4. A procedure for sustainable harvest of fish stock will be developed by 2017 and implemented
to minimize impact on threatened species and vulnerable habitats(ABT 6);
5. A baseline survey will be undertaken by 2017 to assess the biodiversity of key inland wetlands
and establish a system to monitor at regular intervals the status of species most in
decline(ABT 6);
6. Wetlands protected areas will be established by 2019 covering at least 15% area of wetlands
of biodiversity significance and effectively managed together with the surrounding landscapes
(ABT 11);
7. Management plans will be prepared by 2017 and implemented for integrated management of
RAMSAR sites (Annex 5) including the surrounding landscapes (ABT 11);
8. The spread of alien species will be prevented by 2017 through appropriate measures to
prevent their escape into natural habitats from hatcheries and aquaculture (ABT 9);
9. The impact of alien species in wetlands of biodiversity significance will be assessed and
measures taken to control and ultimately eradicate invasive alien species by 2020(ABT 9);
10. Important wetland habitats of national biodiversity significance together with surrounding
landscapes will be co-managed with custodial communities by 2017 through their
empowerment and building capacity for conservation and sustainable use(ABT 6);
11. Plans will be prepared by 2017 and implemented for recovery of depleted freshwater fish
species (Annex 2)(ABT 12);
12. The gap between the scientists and conservationists will be bridged to improve the knowledge
and practice of biodiversity conservation (ABT 19);
13. The targets for conservation of inland water ecosystems will be integrated in the annual and
14. Additional financial resources, if needed, for implementing NBSAP will be mobilized by 2016
(ABT 20).
16. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
16.1. Context
Pakistan‟s sea-coast, between Sir Creek in Sindh and Jiwani in Balochistan, measures 1,098 km, with 768km in
Balochistan and 330 km in Sindh. Three coastal and marine ecosystems of Pakistan are included in the Global 200
13
Priority Ecosystems (Table 4). These ecosystems are comprised of the Arabian Sea (Figure 11 ), sandy and rocky
beach ecosystems, estuaries, coastal lagoons, backwaters, and recently discovered corals in Astola Island. The
mangrove vegetation covering86,727 ha (IUCN, 2005) is mainly restricted to river estuaries with scattered patches
along the coast; however, although mangroves play a useful ecological role, their economic value is not well
documented. The flora of Pakistan includeseight species of mangroves, with Avicennia marina the predominant
species in Pakistan.
13
:http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/arabiansea.htm
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Table 4.Global 200 Eco-regions represented in Pakistan.

Global 200 Eco-region Conservation Status Representation in
PA System
Rann of Kutch Flooded Grasslands Critical or endangered Adequate
Indus River Delta Critical or endangered In adequate
Arabian Sea Critical or endangered No representation
A 20 km stretch of beach onHawkes Bay and Sandspit are nesting

grounds of the green turtle (Cheloniamydas) and the olive ridley turtle
(Lepidochelysolivacea). In Balochistan, there are three major green turtle
nesting sites: Ormara, Astola (Haft Talar) Island (a small, uninhabited
island about 6 km in length) and Jiwani. In addition, a small population
also nests on the beaches of Hingol National Park to the east of Ormara.
Nesting and hatching of green turtles takes place all year round, with
peak nesting in November and peak hatching in October. AnMoU on the
Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of
the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia also known as IOSEA Marine
Turtle MoU was concluded in 2001 under the auspices of CMS. Thisis an
intergovernmental agreement that aims to protect, conserve, replenish
and recover marine turtles and their habitats of the Indian Ocean and in
the southeast Asian region. It was by signed by Pakistan in 2004. Figure 10: Map showing Arabian Sea.
Climate change is a global issuethat can adverselyimpact the lives of

poor and marginalized communities, especially in developing andleast-developed countries, including Pakistan. The
0
average annual temperature has increased by 0.12 C, and the annual rise in sea level is estimated at 1.1 mm,
causing more rainfall, sea intrusion, extreme flooding, and impacts on agricultural output in the country.
Coastal and marine biodiversity faces numerous threats, some of which require action at national level while others
require global action. Marine fisheries are a direct livelihood source for over a million people and encompassmore
than 125,000 households. There are approximately 15,000 fishing vessels of various sizes ranging from small to
medium-sized boats, large launches, and trawlers engaged in fishing across Pakistan. These boats are used for
fishing in creeks and within the 12-mile territorial limit which falls under provincial jurisdiction, while larger launches go
into deeper waters on extended fishing excursions. Most of the fish catch is exported with little value addition; the
species exported are mainly shrimp (65%), Indian mackerel, ribbon-fish, tuna, sole and crab. Over-fishing, including
during the breeding season (June to August), has led to a steep decline in shrimp catches, while sardines are caught
as trash fish and converted into chicken feed.
Two species of sawfish, the knife-tooth and narrow-snout, as well as Pondicherry and Ganges sharks are critically
endangered in Pakistan, and several other saltwater species are endangered in the area of coastal Pakistan.
Scalloped hammerhead, squat-headed hammerhead, and broad-fin sharks have been overfished for use in the
shark-fin trade, while the blue whale, the largest creature on Earth, is an endangered marine mammal in Pakistan.
The green sea turtle, which nests on sandy beaches of Pakistan,is a globally endangered species, and the
longheaded eagle ray is also endangered because of fishing. The loss of nesting sites and eggs eaten by predators
and poached by human for illegal sale are serious threats to green turtles along withinfrastructure developmentalong
14
the nesting sites. .
Anthropogenic influences include excess nutrient input resulting in eutrophication, anoxic conditions and fish kill
events. The Indus Delta is heavily polluted by a variety of industrial effluents, sewage, and solid waste and nutrient-
14
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/endangered-animals-pakistan-62942.html
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Pakistan – NBSAP
enriched irrigation water. The mounting pressure of the rapidly increasing population has also led to the clearing of
mangrove areas for industrial and agricultural purposes as well as for urban expansion.Marine turtles in Pakistan face
multiple threats, of which the main ones are egg predation and incidental catch in fishing craft. Turtles also often die
due to oil pollution from vessels. Other threats include the predation ofgreen turtle hatchlings by sea gulls, crows,
foxes, jackals and stray dogs take an additional toll. The development of Gwadar as a port city and the operation of
the Gwadar port is likely to take away many of the small beaches that serve as nesting habitats for the turtles in the
locality.
These socio-economic problems cannot be dealt with laws alone and experience has shown that a ban on fishing to
promote conservation is not a feasible option. The communities who depend on fishing for their livelihoods
traditionally had open access rights to the fisheries. Therefore policy measures to address the problem of biodiversity
loss must integrate access rights and community based management inthe fishery management and conservation
plans. The fisher folk usually have the knowledge of the resources and their use and can take measures to perform
the necessary management functions such as limiting entry, fishing gear regulation, collection of resource rent, and
benefit distribution. Marine protected areas that are off limits to fishing and limit local pollution may help raise the
resilience of local ecosystems to climate change and ocean acidification. Protected areas can benefit both fisheries
and tourism by preserving important spots of marine biodiversity and fish spawning grounds.
th
According to Oceana (2012) Pakistan is among the top five countries least adaptable and 8 most vulnerable nations
to food security threats from climate change and ocean acidification. For adaptation to changing ocean conditions,
marine fisheries need to be healthier by reducing overfishing and bycatch. This would require sustainable fisheries
based on the status of fish stocks, setting catch limits on target species and creating long-term bycatch reduction
plans and stopping destructive fishing techniques such as bottom trawling. Climate change threatens the coastal
communities in Pakistan due to lack of coastal resilience to cyclones. The Climate Risk Index (CRI) for 2012 ranked
Pakistan at number eight as the most affected country by climate change, and its impact could drive the already
economically unstable country further into poverty. The oceans absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions
each day resulting in decline in their pH and change in ocean chemistry, called ocean acidification, is already
threatening habitats like coral reefs, and the future of shellfish.
In addition to climate change, progressive upstream diversion of Indus waters and the gradual depletion of freshwater
discharges and accompanying reduction in silt load is increasing salinity in Indus delta. The Development Review by
Government of Sindh (2009) reported that fresh water discharge from Indus declined from 49 trillion gallons over a
period of 60 yearsto 0.24 trillion gallons in 2006. In the absence of a considerable volume of such flows there is no
decelerating factor to check sea intrusion. IUCN (2003) estimated that the sea had intruded 54 km upstream along
the main course of the River Indus, Sindh.

The various turtle conservation initiatives, reforestation of mangroves, the GEF funded wetlands project. Indus for All
programme of WWF and Mangroves for Future of IUCN laid the foundation for conservation and sustainable use of
wetlands biodiversity. However, the efforts need to be scale up to prevent loss of biodiversity and make adaptations
for impending impacts of climate change, especially to protect the poor and marginalized. The following strategies
and actions are designed to implement the CBD programme of Work “Inland Waters Biodiversity” and Aichi
Biodiversity Targets.
Strategies
1. A network of protected areas shall be established and specific conservation measures taken for recovery of
populations of species most in decline to enhance the resilience of marine biodiversity to climate change;
2. The capacity of coastal fishing communities will be developed to harvest marine organisms in a sustainable
manner, and;
st
3. The institutional and regulatory frameworks will be improved to address the challenges of the 21 century for
conservation of marine biodiversity, through sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits;
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Actions:
1. Laws, regulations, and policies shall be updated or drafted by 2017 incorporating biodiversity concerns
and effective management of marine biodiversity on sound ecological principles and to prevent threat of
extinction of utilized species(ABT 6);
2. The capacity of fisheries departments will be strengthened by 2017 to ensure compliance with laws and
regulations for harvesting fish and invertebrates within sustainable harvest limits (ABT 19);
3. An assessment of stocks and limits of sustainable harvest levels of major species will be determined by
2017 and strictly enforced (ABT 6);
4. The population of known threatened marine species particularly of those in most decline (annex 2) shall be
monitored regularly starting 2017 and remedial measures taken to improve and sustain their population
(ABT 12);
5. Pilot projects will be launched by 2017 to develop and test approaches for organizing, empowering, and
building capacity of coastal communities to sustainably harvest fish and invertebrate stocks (ABT 6);
6. Protected areas covering at least 10% of the marine area of biodiversity significance will be established by
2017 and managed effectively as seascapes for conservation and sustainable use(ABT 11);
7. Management plans for mangrove forests will be prepared based on ecosystem approach and implemented
by 2018(ABT 5);
8. A pilot project will be launched by 2017 for the restoration of at least 7,000 ha of degraded mangrove
ecosystems jointly with the custodial communities on sustainable use principles and equitable sharing of
benefits (ABT 5);
9. Climate Change Adaptation Plans will be prepared by 2018 for the coastal areas and capacity of coastal
communities developed to cope with the impacts of climate change(ABT 10);
10. The number of operating fleets will be capped at 7,000 by 2020 to prevent over exploitation of marine fish
and invertebrate resources(ABT 6);
11. The fishing boats will be modified by 2020 to improve the outdated fishing methods (ABT 6);
12. The gap between the scientists and conservationists will be bridged to improve the knowledge and
practice of biodiversity conservation (ABT 19);
13. The targets for conservation of coastal areas and marine ecosystems will be integrated in the annual and
14. Additional financial resources, if needed, for implementing NBSAP will be mobilized by 2017 (ABT 20).
17. Sustainable Agriculture and Agrobiodiversity
17.1. Context
The agricultural sector is a vital source of economic growth for Pakistan contributing approximately 22% to the
country‟s GDP, accounting for over 60% of exports, and employing more than 60% of the rural labor force. Crops,
including fruit, vegetables,and livestock,contribute in almost equal proportions to the economy.Out of the 79.61 mha
total area of Pakistan, about 22 mha is cultivated, of which 75.5% is under irrigation, and the remainder is dryland
agriculture. Dryland agriculture is synonymous with rain fed (barani) conditions, where land holdings are small and
often fragmented. Dryland rainfall (125–1000 mm) is bimodal, mainly (~60%) monsoonal and highly erratic. Rainfed
areas are sub-humid (>500 mm), semi-arid (300–500 mm), and arid (<300 mm).
The main crops of irrigated agriculture are cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to milk,
beef, mutton, and eggs. Dryland crops include wheat, chickpea, sorghum, millet, barley, maize, lentil, peanut,
rapeseed-mustard, and guar seed. Almost all of the irrigated areas are cultivated with high yielding varieties with a
heavy input of agro-chemicals. The irrigation practices are antiquated and excessive use of water is not only causing
shortage of canal water, causing water logging and salinity, and in arid regions depleting of aquifers through pumping
of ground water. Despite an impressive increase in agriculture production in last three decades, it has not resulted in
improving the living standards of the rural population to the extent desired (GOP Vision, 2030). The dilemma is that
being an agricultural country, Pakistan is a net importer of agricultural commodities like wheat, edible oils, and
consumer worth about US$2 billion. About 68% of the farmers hold less than two ha of land, which constitutes 22%of
cultivated area (PBS Agriculture Census, 2010).
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Pakistan has diverse agro climatic conditions and a good natural resource base for agriculture Pakistan is rich in
indigenous crop diversity with an estimated 3,000 different cultivated plants and around 500 wild relatives of
cultivated crops. The northern and western Pakistan comprises one of the world centers on the origin and diversity of
cultivated plants (BAP, 2000). Many wild and local cultivars survived in Pakistan up to the era of the Green
Revolution. After the introduction of high-yield varieties, local cultivars are now rare to find on farms. Recognizing the
importance of preserving crop genetic diversity, the government started collecting indigenous plant germplasm in the
early 1970s and today there are over 15,600 germplasm accessions.
Livestock sector is the mainstay of small farmingcommunities and has an exclusive position in the national agenda of
the economic development. Livestockis a source of livelihood at rural level,helping to reduce disparity in income, and
providessecurity in case of any untoward eventuality of cropfailure. It plays an important role in povertyalleviation and
can uplift the socio-economicconditions of our rural masses.Livestock contribution to agriculture value addedstood at
55.9% while it contributed 11.8% to the national GDP during 2013-14.
Pakistan livestock includes cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camels, horses, asses and mules. The Indian subcontinent
was one of the first places to domesticate cattle, buffalo and chicken. Pakistan now has two breeds of buffalo, eight of
cattle, one of yak, 25 of goat, 28 of sheep, one of horse, four of camel, and three of indigenous poultry. The buffalo
breeds Nili-Ravi, Azakheli, and Kundi are dairy breeds. Among the cattle, there are three dairy breeds (Sahiwal, Red
Sindhi, and Cholistani), five draught breeds (Bhagnari, Dhanni, Dajal, Acahi, Gibrali, Lohani, and Rojhan) and one
dual-purpose breed (Tharparkar or Thari). The pure-bred animals are believed to constitute only 20-25% of the cattle
population. Of the sheep breeds, 14 are thick-tailed and 14 thin-tailed. Almost 75-80% of Pakistan‟s domestic
livestock breeds are derivatives of established breeds and the proportion of „non-descript‟livestock to pure stock is on
the increase (BAP 2000).
17. 2. Issues and Trends
The focus of agricultural policies in Pakistan has been on maximizing yields of crops and the production of dairy and
meat. Introduction of high yielding varieties and genetically modified crops, the heavy use of agrochemicals, and
introduction of exotic breeds of livestock and poultry, hasbeen a big factor in eroding the natural heritage of agro
biodiversity.Agricultural technologies that ensured a „green revolution‟ in the middle of the 20th Century, have a high
ecological cost, contribute pollution, and result in loss of biodiversity.To improve the environmental health and make
agriculture sustainable, attention is being paid to the development of high productivities of plants and animals using
their natural adaptive potentials, with a minimal disturbance of the environment.
The green revolution shifted the focus of agriculture from an agro ecosystems approach to a crop culture.
Consequently important components of agro ecosystems like pollinators, soils microorganisms and predators of crop
pests receive little or no attention. Pollinators are critical to the country‟s economy, food security, and environmental
health, however, indiscriminate spray of insecticides and loss of floral diversity has adversely affected the population
of pollinating insects. Consequently the yields of crops, vegetables and fruits dependent on pollination have declined
in many parts in Pakistan (Irshad and Stephen, 2014). While bee-keeping is well developed in some parts of country,
no serious effort has been made to restore natural pollinating fauna.
3 3
Fresh water resources had shrunk from about 5,000 m per capita in the early 1950s to less than 1,500 m per capita
3
by early 2000. Pakistan is expected to become water scarce by 2035 with water availability below1, 000 m per capita
(Kugleman and Robert, 2009). More than 90% of the water is used for agriculture to support one of the lowest
productivities in the world per unit of water.Water shortages coupled with global warming pose serious threat to the
food security of the country and livelihoods of people employed in this sector. The best water management practices
and use of agro-chemicals must be developed and promoted for major crops to make agriculture sustainable and
environment friendly. The PSCI has successfully demonstrated best water management practice and significantly
15
reduced applications of pesticides and fertilizers in cotton production without significantly affecting yields .
As discussed, Pakistan is the eighthmost vulnerable country to climate change, which is likely to impact farming
systems. Climate change will likely impact agricultural practices through more frequent water shortages, extreme
15
http://www.wwf.org.uk/where_we_work/asia/pakistan___sustainable_cotton_production.cfm
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Pakistan – NBSAP
weather events, flooding, and shifts in growing seasons. Siddiquiet al.,(2012) have shown short and long term
negative impact of climate change on production of rice, cotton and sugarcane. The impact of climate change is likely
to have more impact in mountains and arid regions where rainfedagriculture is practiced. Farmers and pastoralists
have always had to cope with variability in the weather, but climate change will likely produce more permanent shifts
in temperature and precipitation and we should be ready to adapt to new conditions.
In order to address these issues, contribute to the CBD programme of work on agrobiodiversity, and implement the
ABTs 2010-2020, the following strategies are proposed.
Strategies:
1. The principles and practices of sustainable and biodiverse agriculture research and development will be
incorporated into national policies, laws, investment strategies, education, and extension programmes;
2. Awareness of the beneficial effects of agrobiodiversity conservation of all stakeholders, including farmers,
the consumers, researchers, and extension specialists will be raised;
3. The models of sustainable agriculture for major crops shall be developed and promoted particularly by
managing organic matter, enhancing soil biotic activity, minimizing water losses and use of agro-chemicals;
4. The bio diversification of agro ecosystems will be restored in time and space through crop rotations, cover
crops, intercropping, crop/livestock mixtures, conservation of pollinators, and soil biodiversity, and;
5. The use of transgenic organisms would be considered very carefully to ensure that they pose no
environmental and health risks or at least no more than the use of current crops and practices.
Actions:
1. The considerations of sustainable agriculture, bio diversification of agro ecosystems, conservation of

pollinators and soil biodiversity, wise use of transgenic organisms, and climate change will be
incorporated in agriculture policies and plans by 2017 (ABT 13);
2. Sustainable agriculture and bio diversification of agro ecosystems shall be integrated in the
educational and extension programmes of agriculture and animal sciences(ABT 7);
3. The gaps in the in-situ and ex-situ conservation of the agro biodiversity will be assessed by 2017 and
measures taken to fill the gaps (ABT13);
4. Models of sustainable production of major crops with minimum external inputs and wise use of water
shall be developed, tested, and demonstrated on farms by 2020(ABT 7);
5. The diversity of local varieties and land races of crops, fruits, and breeds of livestock and poultry and
local knowledge of their management will be documented by 2017 and incentive measures tested for
on-farm conservation by 2018(ABT 18);
6. Important local varieties, land races and breeds will be improved by 2020 through selection for
resistance to disease, drought tolerance, and for increased production(ABT 13);
7. Pilot on-farm models of biodiverse agro-ecosystems will be established in major agro-ecological
zones(ABT 7);
8. Models of bio diversification of agro-ecosystems will be developed, tested, and demonstrated in major
agro-ecological zones by 2020(ABT 7);
9. Appropriate legislative and regulatory measures will be adopted by 2018 for the prevention, early
detection, rapid response and control of invasive species(ABT 9);
10. The gap between the scientists and conservationists will be bridged to improve the knowledge and
practice of biodiversity conservation (ABT 19);
11. The targets for conservation of agrobiodiversity will be integrated in the annual and medium term
development plans(ABT 20), and;
12. Additional financial resources will be mobilized by 2017 to meet any shortfall for fully achieving the
targets (ABT 20).
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Pakistan – NBSAP
18. Sustainable Production and Consumption
18.1. Context
The Oslo Symposium in 1994 defined SCP as „the use of services and related products, which respond to basic
needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the
emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of
further generations.The concept of SCP was later recognized in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, adopted
in 2002 at the WSSD. To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns is also aim of goal 2 of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agreementrequires countries to make fundamental changes in the way
that our societies produce and consume goods and services and encourages implementation of the 10-Year
Framework of Programmes on SCP. The change inpatterns of unsustainable consumption and production requires
commitment and action of the government, the business sector, non-state actors and individuals.
18.2. Trends and Issues
Productive Sector: The productive sector of Pakistan is dominated by the textile industry, the cooking oil industry,
the sugar industry, the fertilizer industry, the cement industry, the chemical industry, and leather tanneries. These
industries indirectly impact the biodiversity through air pollution, and discharge of industrial waste in the open or in the
water bodies.Except for agricultural commodities, there is no large scale use of biodiversity products in the productive
sector of Pakistan. Coal mining and other industrial mining and oil exploration industries, the ship-breaking industry,
and hydropower projects pose direct and indirect threats to biodiversity. Growing cement industries in the habitat of
Punjab Urial in Salt Range posesevere threats to thesurvival of this endemic ungulate species.
Pakistan has experienced poorly regulated economic development, which, coupled with rapid demographic growth,
has put acute pressure on the country‟s natural resource base, especially land and water, and significantly increased
levels of local pollution. Thus, the country is faced with serious environmental challenges, especially rapid
urbanization and industrial growth. Lack of waste management treatment and disposal of untreated sewage and
industrial effluent in natural water bodies is not only a serious health hazard but also deteriorate quality of fresh water
adversely impacting inland and marine biodiversity. There are serious ecological, economic, and social costs of
infrastructure and sprawling production sector.
Timber and Trade in Species: Pakistan has a very small percentage of natural forests and consequently prices of
construction timber are very high which fuels illegal logging. Forest assessment surveys by FAO report, Pakistan has
lost more than half of its original 4.4% forest cover in last 50 years. Fortunately plantations and increasing trend to
plant trees on farm boundaries has taken a lot of pressure off the natural forests. Many species of flora and fauna are
collected for trade such as mazri (Nannorrohpsritchiana) for mats and baskets, medicinal plants, morels and turtles
for food, etc. Extraction of economic non woody plants is highly unregulated and adversely impacts the health and
condition of habitats and threatens species with extinction. Some of these species included in CITES Appendix 1 are
smuggled out of the country. Some of the species Appendix 1are abundant in Pakistan, and can be sustainably
harvested and marketed CITES permits.
There is a growing and unsustainable extraction of some natural resources from the ecosystems both to meet the
subsistence needs and meet the market demand. This includes heavy dependence on firewood for fuel, fresh and
salt water fisheries, and range livestock for meat. Sustainable extraction of these natural resources would require
educating consumers, local communities, and planning and policy makers on the ecological cost and environmental
consequences of over exploitation.
Urban Biodiversity: CoP9 in Bonn, Germany, recognized the role of cities and local authorities and the fact that the
implementation of NBSAPs requires the close collaboration with city governments.A City Biodiversity Index (CBI) has
been designed as a tool for self-assessment and monitoring urban biodiversity which is comprised of three
components, that is: (i) native biodiversity in the city, (ii) ecosystem services provided by native biodiversity in the city,
and (iii) governance and management of native biodiversity in the city. Singapore and Hyderabad, India, are among
the centersthat have developed CBIs. In Pakistan, Islamabad, with its green blocks, should take thelead in
developing a CBI.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
The ENERCONhas been mandated to implement the 10 year framework. The work plan of ENERCON focuses on
public sector buildings, guidelines for urban planning and certification and labelling. The ENERCON work plan does
not include land use policy and conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems.The Pakistan EPA is responsible for
enforcement of PEPA (1997), approving EIA, IEE, and establishment of environment laboratories. Pak-EPA was
mandated to prepare or revise, and establish the NEQS with approval of the PEPC, and take measures forthe
prevention of pollution, protection of the environment, and sustainable development.PEPA contained provisions for
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and considerations were integrated in the EIA and IEE
th
guidelines.However, after the 18 amendment in the constitution, the functions of Pak-EPA were delegated to the
provinces.
To conserve and enhance the environment and protecting biodiversity, the following strategies and actions will
betaken.
Strategies:
1. The awareness of producers and consumers of the social cost and environmental consequences of
unsustainable production and consumption will be raised to minimize the ecological foot print of pollution
and degradation of natural resources;
2. Sustainable consumption and production patterns for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,
both in the public and the private sector, will be fostered through business and biodiversity initiatives, and
promoting procurement policies that are in line with the objectives of the CBD;
3. Strategic environmental impact assessment, economic incentives and enforcement of the laws and
regulations shall be actively pursued to achieve the goals of sustainable production and consumption, and;
Actions:
1. The professional capacity will be strengthened to plan sustainable development and enforce
environmental laws and regulations to safeguard critical biodiversity habitats and well-being of
the people(ABT 19);
2. A work plan for sustainable production and consumption of biodiversity will be prepared by 2017
and implemented within the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption
and Production(ABT 4);
3. Independent third party reviews of strategic environmental impact assessment studies will be
mandatory for all public and private sector economic development projects(ABT 8);
4. Dialogue will be initiated with businesses and government agencies to develop plans by 2017 for
controlling pollution and provide incentives for implementing the plans(ABT 8);
5. Rules under the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act will be made and policy
guidelines issued for trade in species of flora and fauna to prevent extinction of the threatened
species(ABT4);
6. A demonstration project to develop and test a Biodiversity Index will be launched in Islamabad by
2017 to assess and monitor urban biodiversity(ABT 4);
7. A 5-year work plan will be prepared and implemented to bring water pollution of the ecologically
significant wetland ecosystems within safe limits by 2020(ABT 8);
8. The gap between the scientists and conservationists will be bridged to improve the knowledge
and practice of biodiversity conservation(ABT 19);
9. Measures to achieve the targets for sustainable production and consumption will be integrated in
the annual and medium term development plans(ABT 20), and;
10. Additional financial resources if needed for implementing NBSAP will be mobilized by 2016 to
meet any shortfall for fully achieving the NBSAP targets(ABT 20).
4. The urban parks and green corridors along highways and canals shall be made biodiversity friendly.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
19.
Biosafety – Emerging Issues and Challenges
Biotechnologyis the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or „any technological
application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or
processes for specific use‟ (UN CBD, Art. 2). The term biotechnology covers a wide range of advanced genetic
techniques used for changing the characteristics of plants, animals and microorganisms. It includes genetic
modification, in which DNA of one or more unrelated organisms is transferred into another organism referred to as
GMOs. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a component of the CBD, biosafety refers to „the protection of
biodiversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology‟. GMO
applications include agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and medicine; however, agricultural biotechnology is the most
advanced sector with GM crops being widely grown.
Synthetic Biology:While there is no internationally agreed definition of „synthetic biology‟, key features of synthetic
biology include the “de novo” synthesis of genetic material and an engineering-based approach to develop
components, organisms and products. Synthetic biology builds on modern biotechnology methodologies and
techniques such as high throughput DNA sequencing and DNA synthesis technologies. Organisms developed
through synthetic biology currently fall within the scope of biotechnology-based LMOs and GMOs as defined in the
CBD.
Climate Engineering, also known as geoengineering, is array of technologies and techniques for manipulating the
global climate to moderate effects of climate change. These technologies are commonly divided into two types:
i. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) methods attempt to absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere;
either by technological means, or by enhancing the ability of natural systems (e.g. oceans) to do so. For
example; Boost the growth of planktons by adding nutrients such as iron to ocean waters. If the dead
plankton sink to the ocean floor and get buried, the organic carbon in their bodies will be safely locked
away;
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Pakistan – NBSAP
ii. There is a new technology presently used by a few countries including Australia to capture CO2 from
industrial emission sources.The captured CO2 is then pumped deep in suitable underground water that
meets the required criteria. It is expected that this carbon shall remain underground for good.
iii. Solar Radiation Management or SRM aims to reduce the amount of heat trapped by greenhouse gases
by reflecting sunlight back into space, either by increasing the reflectivity of the earth‟s surfaces, or by
deploying a layer of reflective particles in the atmosphere. Examples include: pumping SO 2 into
atmosphere to reflect sunlight back into the space; spraying sea water into the atmosphere to increase
reflectivity of the clouds; and spraying bismuth iodide high in the sky to seed large to reduce the cirrus
clouds that trap heat.
The development and release of GMOs is a particularly controversial issue with arguments both for and against
them.GMOs have the potential to contribute positively to human livelihoods and wellbeing through increasing the
productivity, adaptation to climate change and environmental sustainability of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. GM
crops could contribute significantly to the need for food security, reducing costs and increasing the productivity of a
range of crops and farmed animals. Conversely, they could harm the environment. GMOs released into open fields
may cross breed with wild native species and the foreign genes they carry can transfer into native populations
through horizontal gene transfer. Such transfer of genetic material is generally hard to control, raising concerns about
their potential environmental impacts. If such foreign genetic elements get transferred in to wild relatives of modified
organisms, it could have adverse impact on different ecosystems and habitats including lethal effects on non-target
species and loss of cultivar biodiversity due to widespread adoption of genetically modified crops. Similarly,
development of GM crops capable of growing on marginal lands would spread intensive agriculture into natural
habitats that are currently not in human use resulting in loss of landscapes and biodiversity. To date, knowledge on
the risks, benefits and uncertainties related to GMOs and biodiversity is fragmented and not well-developed, largely
because of the complexity of the relationship between natural and human-modified systems. Prudent approaches are
needed in applying GMOs and taking political decisions in relation to their use and extension. Therefore more
research and case by case assessment of applications is needed before deliberately releasing GMOs into the
environment.
Many of the applications of synthetic biology aim at developing more efficient and effective ways to respond to
challenges associated with bioenergy, environment, wildlife, agriculture, health and chemical production thus
contributing directly to different sectors of the global economy. From a biodiversity perspective, synthetic biology also
has the potential to preserve different biological traits as components and save natural sources of industrially
important compounds by using synthetic biology-based organisms as sources. Some synthetic biology experts are
also promoting the field as a new tool for de-extinction of otherwise extinct like the wooly mammoth. All of these
powerful applications may have some positive impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity.However, synthetic biology applications could also have indirect negative impacts on the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity.Much of the synthetic biology research is focused on designing organisms that will
use biomass as feedstock to produce fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Some applications, e.g. fuel production,
would require high amounts of biomass, which could lead to a rapid decline in soil fertility and structure, and
contribute to biodiversity loss and climate change through direct and indirect land-use change. The level of exposure
of the environment to organisms and products of synthetic biology will determine the level of biosafety-related
concerns. In order to mitigate some of the potential negative impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity posed by organisms developed through synthetic biology, containment strategies can be used during
their handling. Most of the current and near-term applications of synthetic biology involve living organisms that are
intended for contained use in research laboratories and industrial settings.
Current and near-term commercial and industrial applications of synthetic biology aim at creating micro-organisms
that synthesize products for fuels, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, flavorings and fragrances. The majority of these
applications of synthetic biology engineer microbes, such as the frequently-used E. coli, baker‟s yeast
(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and microalgae, to produce alternatives to naturally-occurring or petroleum-based
molecules. One such example is the production of artemisinic acid in engineered yeast, with the aim of manufacturing
an alternative to the naturally occurring anti-malarial drug artemisinin, which is derived from Artemisia plants. Another
35
Pakistan – NBSAP
example is the production of fuels such as biodiesel and isobutanol using synthetic biology techniques. Synthetic
biology techniques are also being explored and used for the production of pharmaceutical drugs (e.g. to lower blood
sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes) and flavorings/fragrances (e.g. vanillin). Although many of the anticipated
results of synthetic biology are highly speculative, synthetic biology, is already delivering tangible commercial
products of direct use in different industries.
Applications where organisms have been produced using synthetic biology techniques and are intended for
environmental release will likely raise different biosafety concerns than those of organisms intended for contained
use. Like modern biotechnologies, synthetic biology also raises ethical questions around the level of predictability of
its positive and negative impacts, and how to weigh anticipated impacts and the possibility of unexpected
impacts.Intellectual property right regimes are still developing around synthetic biology, and could raise the much
feared question of the ownership of diverse biological traits and the biodiversity in general, especially from a
perspective of a developing country.
In recent years discussions of climate engineering have grown considerably amongst scientists, policy-makers, and
civic environmental groups engaged in addressing climate change. These consist of desk and laboratory studies and
small-scale field research. No technologies have been deployed at a scale that impacts the global climate. Yet, the
intent behind climate engineering, its geographically large or even global impact, and the complexity and uncertainty
of its potential effects upon climate governanceand human society raise profound questions. These technologies may
have diverse environmental and societal impacts on varying scales, posing their own sets of risks, challenges, and
unknowns.
On a basic level, there are technical questions about the costs and feasibility of development and deployment of
various technologies, as well as the geophysical processes that they aim to manipulate. Given our imperfect
knowledge of both the technologies and the climatic system, there are worries about unintended environmental and
ecosystem side effects. Even if the technologies function as intended, they will not “turn back the clock” from a
climate influenced by rising GHG emissions to a previous climate – an engineered climate will be a new and different
one.The wisdom of climate engineering at a moral and ethical level is likely to be highly contentious as discussions of
the topic increasingly reach beyond the scientific realm.
In Pakistan, biosafety rules titled „Pakistan Biosafety Rules, 2005‟ were made under the Pakistan Environmental
Protection Act, 1997, and National Biosafety Guidelines were also issued in 2005. The Biosafety Rules and
Guidelines recommended setting up (a) Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), (b) Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC), and National Biosafety Committee (NBC). All institutions, both public and private involved in research and
development in Biotechnology, are required to establish IBC, which is responsible for giving clearance for initiating
research according to the Biosafety Guidelines. Up till now, nearly 40 IBCs belonging to both private and public
sector have been registered with the NBC. A National Biosafety Center was established at the federal government
level.
The following strategy and action are proposed toadequately protect any adverse effects of living modified organisms
on biodiversity and human health.
Strategy:
1. National capacity and action will be improved for ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the
safe transfer including transboundary movement, handling and use of living modified organisms that may
have adverse effects on biological diversity and also taking into account risks to human health, and;
2. Feasibility of capture carbon and safe storage will be examined taking into account its possible impacts on
biodiversity.
36
Pakistan – NBSAP
Actions:
1. The government institutions, academia, business sector and other non-state actors will act
individually and collectively to strictly adhere to precautionary principle for protecting biological
diversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern
biotechnology (ABT4);
2. An efficient regulatory, administrative and monitoring framework will be established for the
implementation of the Cartagena Protocol(ABT 17);
3. A 10 year national biosafety frameworks will be established for the implementation, coordination,
and monitoring of the Protocol, including mechanisms to make science-based risk assessments and
ensuring transparency in the development and use of LMOs(ABT 17);
4. The gap between the scientists and conservationists will be bridged to build a more balanced and
unbiased discourse around the topic(ABT 19);
5. Pilot projects on capture of industrial, its safe storage, and extraction of pure atmospheric CO 2 for
use in beverages and carbon fibers for industrial uses(ABT 4).
37
Pakistan – NBSAP
III. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION
20. Introduction
A strategic plan, no matter how good it is, will not achieve the desired results if it sits on the shelf, andfailing to
implement is not only a waste of time in planning, but also hurts the organization, the team, and individuals.
Implementation of the CBD is not only our international obligation but also a national need of preserving natural
heritage and ecological integrity of the environment we live in, and well-being of our people. Therefore the NBSAP
must be considered as part of the whole process of results, and all the efforts made in its preparation will go to waste
if it is not implemented. Effective implementation will require working with, and building capacity of, the stakeholders
at national, provincial, regional and local levels,communicating and reaching out to mainstream biodiversity values in
the policy and planning processes, and for people to conserve and use it sustainably,as well asmobilizing resources
for its implementation.
21. Implementation of NBSAP
A matrix of ABTs showing proposed national actions, timelines, and funds required and agency responsible for
implementation and monitoring indicators is given in Annex 1. While many actions will be taken at the provincial or
regional levels, there will be some cross cutting themes that will be best addressed at the national
level.Implementation of ABTs at provincial and regional level will be through their own Biodiversity Strategies and
Action Plans prepared as part of the NBSAP revision process.
A Coordination Committee will be set up at the national level for coordination among Ministries, and to facilitate
implementation of NBSAP in different federating units, monitor progress, assist in removal of bottlenecks if any, and
provide guidance for resource mobilization, etc. Similarly, Steering Committees will be established in every federating
unit for coordination among different sectors, facilitate cross-sectoral integration, monitor progress on implementation,
and help in resource mobilization.
During the process of consultation with the stakeholders, it was realized that most stakeholders lacked an
understanding of the biodiversity and its values.Therefore,building their capacity for implementation of the NBSAP will
be crucial for the achievements of the results. This will first require strengthening the capacity of the Biodiversity
Directorate in the MoCC, which will in turn build capacity of other stakeholders. This will be done through aseries of
thematic workshops to increase their knowledge of biodiversity, exchange experience, enhance their understanding
of the NBSAP, and train them in the use of relevant tools and mechanisms. The workshops will provide an
opportunity for the stakeholders to identify ways and means of overcoming challenges in the implementation of
NBSAP.
22. Communication and Outreach Strategy
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, faced with the challenge of meeting the basic socioeconomic
needs of its people and building basic physical infrastructure for coping with the needs of a growing
population.Considering the limitations of financial resources and pressing needs for investments in socio economic
sectors, the investments in biodiversity are likely to remain a low priority. However, in order to minimize the
unintended negative consequences of policy decisions on biodiversity, it is important that there must be a clear
understanding of the values of nature and presenting planners with evidence of these values and their beneficial role
will provide enabling conditions for mainstreaming. Suitable training modules will be developed and introduced in the
training programmesfor senior policy makers, planners and parliamentarians at theNSPP, the NIM, and the PIPS.
In addition to the above, mass and informal communication resources shall be mobilized for raising awareness to
mainstream biodiversity. This will include formation of a cadre of environmental journalists who act as „biodiversity
champions‟ for print media and provide articles to print media, produce audio messages for radio, and video clips for
TV. The informal communications will focus on organizing a focus group comprising of „opinion leaders‟ selected from
amongst the policy makers, planners and politicians, who will spread the message in informal settings such as in the
corridors of the workplace, or at social functions.
38
Pakistan – NBSAP
23. Plan for Resource Mobilization
Many actions of the NBSAP to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets will either neatly fit or will be accommodated in the
existing development budget of various biodiversity related sectors at the national, provincial and regional levels.
Simultaneously, additional sources of funding shall be explored through innovative mechanisms available in the
+
MoCC, and other on-going donor projects, for example, project for REDD Readiness, and the STAR allocation under
the GEF. In addition, bi-lateral and multilateral donor support shall be solicited to meet the short fall in the financial
resources for achieving the ABTs in an effective and timely manner.
24. National Coordination Mechanisms
The MoCC shall have the overall responsibility of coordinating the implementation of the NBSAP through its
Directorate of Biodiversity. The implementing partners will be the relevant ministries at the national level, the
provincial and regional governments and major international conservation organizations like IUCN, BRC, SLF and
WWF.Because of the diversity of sub-sectors at provincial and regional level, the Planning and Development or its
designated Department shall be a focal point for the CBD, coordinate among various stakeholders and act as a
liaison with the MoCC.For the purpose of coordination with the implementing partners a Steering Committee shall be
established as follows:
 Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change Chair

 Inspector General of Forests Deputy Chair
 Secretary, MinistryFood Security Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, Punjab Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, Sindh Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, KPK Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, Balochistan Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, AJK Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, GB Member
 Secretary, Planning and Development, FATA Member
 Secretary, Planning Commission Member
 Provincial Secretary, Wildlife, Forest, Environment, Agriculture Member
 Chief Environment and Energy, UNDP Member
 IUCN Pakistan Member
 WWF Member
 BRC Member
 Director, Biodiversity, MoCC Secretary
The Steering Committee shall meet at least once every year and its functions shall include but not be limited to the
following:
 Suggest ways and means to ensure that biodiversity considerations are integrated in the policy and planning
processes and poverty alleviation programmes.
 Ensure that the financial needs implementation of NBSAP receive due consideration during the process of
allocation of funds;
 Provide guidance to the stakeholders for effective implementation of the NBSAP;
 Review the plans and progress of stakeholders for implementation of the BSAP;
 Provide guidance and assistance in securing additional sources of funds from bilateral and multilateral
donors for implementation of the BSAP, and;
 Deliberate on all emerging issues related to conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity and equitable
sharing of benefits and provide appropriate advice to the government for policy decisions.
25. Clearing-House Mechanism
The Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with WWF-Pakistan and with the support of GEF and UNEP launched
th
the CHMwebsite on the occasion of International day of Forest on March 7 , 2013. It contained useful information of
39
Pakistan – NBSAP
biodiversity in Pakistan, and measures implemented to conserve and make sustainable use of biodiversity. However,
the website remained active only for a short time because funding for its hosting expired; since then it is has been off
line. The opportunities for finding a suitable host for the CHM are being explored and it is hoped it will be functional
and updated soon.
26.Monitoring and Evaluation
The progress on the implementation of the NBSAP shall be monitored on an annual basis through a flexible
framework of indicators keeping in view the national circumstances and priorities. A framework based on an indicative
list of indicators contained in the annex to the CBD decision XI/3 is given in annex1. The monitoring will not only
measure progress towards the achievement of NBSAPs and national targets, but also help in identification of
implementation issues, and in adaptive management for its effective implementation. An independent mid-term
evaluation shall be commissioned, subject to availability of funds, to review the implementation of NBSAP and make
recommendations for achieving national targets in an effective and timely manner. Final evaluation of NBSAP will be
th
combined with the preparation of the6 National report. The monitoring and evaluation reports will be presented to
the National Steering Committee and Provincial Coordination Committees for their help in overcoming the obstacles
in successful achievement of the targets. It will also form a basis for national and international reporting obligations as
well as guide the national planning process. The monitoring and evaluation mechanism will be established within the
first year of the adoption of the NBSAP.
40
Pakistan – NBSAP
IV. REFERENCES
Aftab,Z., Ali, L., Khan, A., Robinson, A., Irshad, I. 2000. Industrial Policy and the Environment in Pakistan. United Nations
Industrial Development Organization, Islamabad. 138 pp.
Ahmed, J. 2012. Ecological and Financial Gap Analysis of The Protected Areas - A Step towards Establishing a National
System of Protected Areas. Report prepared for Government of Pakistan, IUCN – The World Conservation Union,
Pakistan. (Unpublished)
Ahmed, J., andAhmad, S. 2000. Vegetation Zones of Pakistan, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Punjab, and
Sind.IUCN, Pakistan. (un-published).
Ahmad, S. 2008a. Keynote Address, paper presented to national conference on ‟Water shortage and future
agriculture in Pakistan - Challenges and opportunities‟. Proceedings of the National Conference organized by the
Agriculture Foundation of Pakistan.August 26-27, 2008, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ahmad. S. 2008b.Scenarios of Surface and Groundwater Availability in the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) and
Planning for Future Agriculture. Paper contributed to the Report of the Sub-Committee on Water and Climate Change
Taskforce on food security 2009, Planning Commission of Pakistan.
Ali, S. I. 2008. 2008. Significance of Flora with Special Reference To Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot., 40(3): 967-971,
Amjad, S. 1996. Coastal Zones and Marine Fisheries.Background Paper for Biodiversity Action Plan.International
Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN, Islamabad, Pakistan.29 pp.
Bechtel, J. D. 2010. Gender, Poverty and the Conservation of Biodiversity A Review of Issues and Opportunities
MacArthur Foundation Conservation White Paper Series.52 pp.
Gilani, S. A., S. K. Sherwani, R. A. Qureshi, A. M. Khan, and S. Sahreen.2013. Medicinal Plant Diversity and
theirIndigenous use in Pakistan – Review Article.International Journal of Advanced Research, Vol. 1, Issue 5, 603-
608.
GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammena. 2003. Sectoral Study of Capacities of Frameworks, Key Stakeholders and

Institutions for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Biodiversity and Agro-biodiversity in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Prepared by dev consultfor GiZ -Deutsche GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammena,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Government of Pakistan, 2002. Pakistan Water Sector Strategy - National water sector profile, volume 5, October
2002, Office of the Chief Engineering Advisor, Ministry of Water and Power, Government of Pakistan,
Islamabad.http://waterinfo.net.pk/cms/pdf/vol5.pdf
Government of Pakistan, 2005. Forests & Biodiversity Information/Data Report. Ministry of Environment, Government
of Pakistan, Islamabad.60 pp + 5 appendices.
Government of Pakistan, 2009. Land use Atlas of Pakistan. National Land use Project, Ministry of Environment,
Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.
Government of Pakistan, 2011. Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan 2010-2011. Statistical Bureau of Pakistan,
Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. 272 pp.
Government of Pakistan, 2012.National Sustainable Development Strategy – Pakistan‟s Pathway to a Sustainable &
Resilient Future.Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. 66 pp.
Government of Pakistan, and IUCN. 1992. The Pakistan National Conservation Strategy. Pakistan: Government of
Pakistan, Urban Affairs Division and IUCN Pakistan.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Grigoriev, P., and Ahmed, J. 2000.Protected Areas System Review of Pakistan. Prepared under Pakistan
Environment Project, IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Pakistan, (Unpublished)
Hasnain, T. 1999. Pesticide Use and Its Impact on Crop Ecologies: Issues and Options. SDPI Working Paper Series,
Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad.
Inter Cooperation. 2010. Study on Harvesting Ban in NWFP. Pak. Swiss Integrated Resource Management Project,
Peshawar, Pakistan. 235pp.
Irshad, M., & Stephen, E. 2014. Review: Pollination, Pollinated and Pollinators Interaction in Pakistan. J. Bioresource
Manage. 1(1) 19-25.
Khan, M. A., Munir, A., and Hassnain, S. H. 2012.Review of Available Knowledge on Land Degradation in
Pakistan.ICARDA.22 pp.
Kugelman, M. and Robert M. H. (eds). 2009. Running on Empty - Pakistan‟s Water Crisis. Woodrow Wilson
International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C. 181 pp.
Malik, K. A.2014. Biotechnology in Pakistan – Status and Prospects. Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad,
Pakistan.60 pages.
PFI. 2004. National Forest and Rangeland Resource Assessment Study.Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar. 143 pp.
Scott, D., Abdelhakim, D., Miranda, M., Höft, R. and Cooper, H.D. (2015). Potential positive and negative impacts of
components, organisms and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques on the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity, and associated social, economic and cultural considerations. Part I of: Synthetic
biology.Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.Montreal, Technical Series No. 82, 60 pages.
Shahzad, A; M. A. Khan, S. S.Shaukat, and W. Ahmed. 2009. Chemical Pollution Profile of Rehri Creek Area,
Karachi (Sindh). J.Chem. Soc. Pak., Vol. 31, No. 4, 592-600 pp.
World Bank 2005.Pakistan Country Water Resources Assistance Strategy Water Economy:Running Dry. The World
Bank, Washington, D. C.
World Bank 2006. Pakistan; Strategic Country Environmental Assessment Report: Vol. I Main report.The World
Bank.Report No. 36946-PK. 66 pp.
Peter, B. (ed). 1994. Pakistan: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress.
Siddiqui, R., G. Samad, M. Nasir, and Hanzla H. Jalil (2012) The Impact of Climate Change on Major Agricultural
Crops: Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review 51:4
UNIDO. 2000. Industrial Policy and the Environment in Pakistan. United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO), Vienna, Austria.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex1:Matrix showing NBSAP targets and Indicators for Monitoring.
Thematic Actions Target date & Target Responsible Agency Indicators for Monitoring
Area Cost $
Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society
Target 1: By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably
1.1. Awareness days will be

organized to commemorate
Awareness
following major environmental  Trends in awareness and attitudes.

themes of national and 2016 – Six awareness MoCC in collaboration with
$3.5
international importance: 2020 days provinces  Trends in public engagement with
biodiversity, desertification and biodiversity
drought, forests, tourism,
wetlands, wildlife, etc.
1.2. A focus group comprising of

Awareness
„opinion leaders‟ representing

print, audio-visual, and social Quarterly Trends in communication programmes
2017 0.5 MoCC
media will be constituted to meetings and actions
mobilize the media for raising
awareness.
1.3. A cadre of environmental 12 articles in
journalists will be created to act as
Awareness
print media
„biodiversity champions‟ for 12 radio Trends in communication programmes
commercial media and make 2017 2.0 messages MoCC
and actions
contributions to print media,
produce audio messages for 6 video clips for
radio, and video clips for TV. TV
43
Pakistan – NBSAP
1.4. Electronic media like a high

quality website, Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo,
Awareness
Instagram will be used to create

Regular
awareness as well as to market Trends in use of social media for
2017 0.1 contributions of MoCC
our rich biodiversity as a heritage conservation of biodiversity
news and views
that could help attracts tourists
and engage young people as
stewards for biodiversity
conservation.
1.5. A task forces comprising of

Ministries of Climate Change,
Education, Science and
Awarenss
Technology, and Food Security,

and Higher Education Quarterly Trends in inclusion of biodiversity
2017 1.0 MoCC
Commission will be constituted to meetings modules in curriculum.
take steps for inclusion of
biodiversity module in curriculum
of universities, colleges and
schools.
Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and
planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems
2.1. A support group comprising of

Mainstreaming
„opinion leaders‟ from among the

Biodiversity
policy makers and planners will be Trends in incorporating natural

Two retreats per
constituted to guide the process resource, biodiversity, and ecosystem
2017 $0.25 year for five MoCC
for increasing the biodiversity service values into national policy and
years
knowledge of decision makers planning processes.
and act as a change agent
through informal communications.
Mainstreaming
2. 2. Low cost tools and methods

Biodiversity
for valuation of biodiversity will be

Seven Trends in guidelines and applications of
developed by 2016 that in addition 2017 $0.1 MoCC
ecosystems economic appraisal tools.
to economic value recognize the
social and cultural values.
44
Pakistan – NBSAP
Mainstreaming 2.3. Valuation studies will be

Biodiversity undertaken in major ecosystems
Trends in integration of biodiversity and
to influence policy makers and At least six All provinces;
2018 $0.5 ecosystem service values into sectoral
planners for mainstreaming studies AJK and GB
and development policies.
biodiversity in national planning
and development processes.
Biodiversity
Mainstreaming
incorporated in Trends in incorporating natural

Biodiversity
2.4. Biodiversity will be

the national resource, biodiversity, and ecosystem
incorporated in national 2020 $0.12 MoCCand SBP
accounting and service values into national accounting
accounting and reporting systems.
reporting systems.
systems.
Mainstreaming
Biodiversity Planning Commission and

2.5. A Biodiversity Round Table Trends in policies considering
Biodiversity
integrated in Ministries of Climate Change,

will be constituted for integration biodiversity and ecosystem services in
2017 $0.05 national policies Food Security, Science and
of biodiversity considerations in environmental impact assessment and
and planning Technology, Culture and
national policies and plans. strategic environmental assessment
process. Tourism.
Target 3: By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or
avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in
harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socioeconomic conditions
A study will be conducted to Trends in identification, assessment

identify negative incentives and and establishment and strengthening of
Ecosystems
propose positive incentives that All provinces; incentives that reward positive
2017 $0.25 Ten studies
will reduce and ultimately halt the AJK and Gb contribution to biodiversity and
Natural
degradation and fragmentation of ecosystem services and penalize

ecosystems. adverse impacts.
Target 4: By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for
sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits
45
Pakistan – NBSAP
Production and 4.1. A work plan for sustainable

Consumption production and consumption of
biodiversity will be prepared by Trends in extent to which biodiversity
Sustainable
2016 and implemented within the 2017 $0.125 Work Plan MoCC, ENERCON and EPA and ecosystem service values are
Ten-Year Framework of incorporated Ten-Year framework.
Programmes on Sustainable
Consumption and Production.
Islamabad,
Biodiversity
4.2. A demonstration project to

Peshawar
develop and test a Biodiversity
Urban
Lahore,
Index will be launched in major 2017 $0.1 Municipal Authorities Trends in biodiversity of cities
Karachi, Quetta,
cities to assess and monitor urban
Gilgit,
biodiversity.
Muzaffarabad
Trade in Species
4.3. Rules under the Pakistan

Trade Control of Wild Fauna and
Flora Act will be made and policy Trends in population and extinction risk
guidelines issued for trade in 2017 $0.065 MoCC of utilized species, including species in
species of flora and fauna to trade
prevent extinction of the
threatened species.
Sustainable Production
4.4. The government institutions,

academia, business sector and
and Consumption
other non-state actors will act

individually and severally to strictly Government Trends in coordination among
adhere to precautionary principle agencies; All provinces, stakeholders;
2020 $0.125
for protecting biological diversity Academia,; AJK and GB
from the potential risks posed by NGOs Trends in information sharing
genetically modified organisms
resulting from modern
biotechnology.
Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use
Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation
and fragmentation is significantly reduced.
46
Pakistan – NBSAP
5.1. Management plans for

Ecosystems
mangrove forests will be prepared Management All provinces; Trends in condition and vulnerability of
Mangrove
2018 $0.25
based on ecosystem approach Plans AJK, and GB ecosystems
and implemented.
5.2. A pilot project will be

launched for restoration of at least
Ecosystems
7,000 ha of degraded mangrove

Mangrove
Trends in condition and vulnerability of

ecosystems jointly with the 2017 $1.5 7,000 ha Balochistan and Sindh
mangroves.
custodial communities on
sustainable use principles and
Target 6: By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based
approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse
impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological
limits.
6.1. An effective coordination

Fisheries
Coordination
mechanism will be established for
Inland
Committees All provinces; Trends in coordination and cooperation

integrated management of water, 2017 $0.15
comprising of all AJK and GB among various agencies
fish, and wildlife resources of
stakeholders
wetlands.
6. 2. Biodiversity considerations
Fisheries
Updated
will be incorporated in fisheries Trends in up-take of biodiversity
Inland
fisheries All provinces;

policies, laws and regulations to 2017 $0.1 considerations in policies, laws, and
policies, laws AJK and GB
ensure sustainable use and regulations;
and regulations
47
Pakistan – NBSAP
Fisheries 6.3. A baseline survey will be

undertaken to assess the
Inland
biodiversity of key inland wetlands All provinces; Trends in extinction risk of target and
2017 $0.5
and establish a system to monitor AJK and GB bycatch aquatic species
at regular intervals .the status of
species most in decline.
6.4 A procedure for sustainable

Fisheries
harvest of fish stock will be Standard

Inland
All provinces; Trends in proportion of utilized stocks

developed and implemented to 2017 0.06 operating
AJK and GB outside safe biological limits
minimize impact on threatened procedure
species and vulnerable habitats.
6.5. Important wetland habitats of

national biodiversity significance
Fisheries
together with surrounding

Inland
landscapes will be co-managed Six wetland All provinces; Trends in capacity and empowerment of
2017 $1.5
with custodial communities sites AJK and GB fishing communities.
through their empowerment and
building capacity for conservation
and sustainable use.
6.6. Laws, regulations, and

policies shall be updated or
drafted by 2016 incorporating
Updated Trends in up-take of biodiversity
biodiversity concerns and effective
2017 $0.02 policies, laws Balochistan and Sindh considerations in policies, laws, and
Fisheries
management of marine
and regulations regulations.
Marine
biodiversity on sound ecological

principles and to prevent threat of
extinction of utilized species.
6. 7. Pilot projects will be

launched to develop and test
approaches for organizing,
At least 6 pilot Trends in capacity and empowerment of
empowering, and building 2017 $0.6 Balochistan and Sindh
Fisheries
test sites fishing communities.

capacity of coastal communities to
Marine
sustainably harvest all fish and

invertebrate stocks.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
MarineFisher
Coastal and
6.8. The number of operating
fleets will be capped to prevent Balochistan 3,000 fleets;
2020 $0.0 7,000 fleets Trends in fishing effort capacity.
over exploitation of marine fish Sindh 4,000 fleets
and invertebrate resources.
ies
MarineFisheries
Coastaland
6.9. The fishing boats will be Trends in proportion of depleted target

At least 2000 Balochistan 1,000 boats;
modified to improve the outdated 2020 1.0 and bycatch species with recovery
boats Sindh 1,000 boats
fishing methods. plans.
6.10. An assessment of stocks

Fisheries
and limits of sustainable harvest Trends in proportion of utilized stocks

Marine
2017 0.05 Two sites Balochistan and Sindh

levels of major species will be outside safe biological limits.
determined and strictly enforced.
Target 7: By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity
7.1. Suitable ecosystem

approaches will be developed by
2016 and piloted in different forest At least six pilot All provinces; Trends in forests under ecosystem
2017 $0.3
Forestry
ecosystems; and training sites AJK and GB management.

workshops held for managers for
their application.
7. 2. Collaborative or joint forest

management approaches will be
 Trends in anthropogenic impacts
piloted in different forest
on forest ecosystems;
ecosystems to reduce the At least 6 pilot All provinces;
2017 $1.0  Trends in forest based livelihoods;
Forestry
anthropogenic impacts by sites AJK and GB

improving livelihoods of local  Trends in proportion of products
people based on sustainable use derived from sustainable sources
of components of biodiversity.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
7.3. Forest and forest related

policies, laws and regulations will
Trends in uptake of biodiversity
be drafted by 2018 to provide a Policies and All provinces;
2017 $0.1 considerations in forest and forest
Forestry
sound basis for conservation and laws AJK and GB

related policies, laws, and regulations.
sustainable use of forest biological
diversity.
7.4. The Code for the preparation

of management plans will be
Revised All provinces; Trends in use of revised code for
revised by 2018 to incorporate the
2018 $0.3 working plan AJK and GB preparation of working Plan.
ecosystem approaches for
Forestry
code
sustainable management of
forests and biodiversity.
7.5. Models of sustainable

production of major crops with
Cotton, Trends in area of aquaculture
biodiversity
minimum external inputs and wise All provinces;

2018 $0.5 sugarcane, rice, ecosystems under sustainable
use of water shall be developed, AJK and GB
and wheat. management.
tested, and demonstrated on
Agro
farms by 2020.
7.6. Sustainable agriculture and

biodiversification of agro Brochures on
Agriculture
All provinces; Trends in uptake of sustainable

ecosystems will be integrated in 2018 0.3 sustainable
AJK and GB agriculture in agriculture extension.
the extension programmes of agriculture
agriculture.
7. 7. Pilot on-farm models of bio At least 15

Agriculture
diverseagro ecosystems will be biodiverse All provinces (12 sites); Trends in number of farms practicing
2020 $0.5
established in major agro- farms in AJK and GB (3 sites) biodiverse agriculture.
ecological zones. operation
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Target 8: By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity
8.1. A five-year work plan will be

Development
prepared and implemented to Reduction in Capital territory;

Sustainable
Trends in proportion of wastewater

bring water pollution of the 2020 $1.5 water pollution All provinces;
discharged after treatment.
ecologically significant wetland to safe limits AJK and GB
ecosystems within safe.
8.2. Independent third party

reviews of strategic environmental
development
Federal EPA;
Sustainable
impact assessment studies will be 2016-

0.0 All EIAs All provincial EPAs; Trends in appraisal of EIA reports.
mandatory for all public and 2020
EPAs of AJK and GB
private sector economic
development projects.
8.3. Dialogue will be initiated with

Business
businesses and government
development
groups;
Sustainable
agencies to develop plans for

2017 $1.5 All provinces Trends in pollution deposition rate.
controlling pollution and provide
NGOs
incentives for implementing the
plans.
Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in
place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment
9. 1. The spread of alien species

Fisheries
will be controlled through

All provinces; Trends in number of invasive alien
appropriate measures to prevent 2017 0.2 Prevention
AJK and GB species .
escape into natural habitats from
hatcheries and aquaculture.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Fisheries 9.2. The impact of alien species in

wetlands of biodiversity
significance will be assessed and All provinces; Trends in the impact of invasive alien
2020 0.2 Control
measures taken to control and AJK and GB species on extinction risk trends.
ultimately eradicate invasive alien
species.
9.3. Appropriate legislative and

Agriculture
Trends in policy responses, legislation

regulatory measures will be
Law and All provinces; and management plans to control and
drafted to prevention early 2018 0.1
readiness AJK and GB prevent spread of invasive alien
detection, rapid response and
species.
control of invasive species.
Target 10:By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean
acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning
Climate Change
Climate Change Adaptation Plans

will be prepared by 2018 for the
coastal areas and capacity of Planning and Trends in pressures, pollution, climate
2018 0.1 Balochistan and Sindh
coastal communities developed to readiness change, and over exploitation.
cope with the impacts of climate
change.
Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity
Target 11.By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular
importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well
connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Protected Areas 11.1. The lists of protected areas

Redefined
will be refined to include only MoCC; Trends in representative coverage of
provincial and
those sites that meet the 2017 $0.1 All provinces; protected areas of terrestrial, marine
National Lists of
internationally recognized AJK and GB and inland water systems.
PAs
definition.
Protected Areas
11.2. Management plans will be

prepared and implemented for Management
effective and equitable 2017 – plans prepared All provinces; Trends in effective and equitable
2.0
management of protected area 2020 and AJK and GB management of the PAs
(Annex 3) integrated into the wider Implemented
landscapes
11.3. The protected areas network

will be expanded to cover at least
17% of terrestrial area to fill in the Trends in ecosystem and habitats
All provinces;
Protected
gaps in the protected area system 2020 $2.0 New PAs condition and management
AJK and GB
(Annex 4) and to establish effectiveness
Areas
corridors between fragmented

habitats of threatened species.
Protected Areas
11.4. Mechanisms will be

Trends in representative coverage of
developed and put in place to Private-Public All provinces;
2018 $1.0 protected areas of terrestrial
ensure the financial sustainability partnerships AJK and GB
ecosystems and habitats.
of the protected areas.
Protected Areas
11. 5. Representative forest

At least 15
landscapes of special importance Trends in protected area condition
Forest All provinces;
for biodiversity will be designated 2017 $0.30 and/or management effectiveness
Biodiversity AJK and GB
as Forest Biodiversity Reserves including more equitable management.
Reserves
and effectively managed.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
11.6. Wetlands protected areas

At least 12
will be established covering at
wetland area
Protected
least 15% area of wetlands of All provinces (12); Trends in representative coverage of
2019 $0.15 added to the
biodiversity significance and AJK and GB (3) protected areas of forest ecosystems.
Areas
Protected Areas
effectively managed together with
network
the surrounding landscapes.
11.7.RAMSAR sites (Annex 5)

and surrounding landscapes will
Protected
At least 15 sites Trends in increase in pollinators and

be effectively managed under 2017 $0.45 All provinces
managed avifauna diversity.
Areas
plans through local community

organizations.
11.8. Protected areas covering at

least 10% of the marine area of
biodiversity significance will be All provinces; Trends in representative coverage of
Protected
2017 $0.5 3 Marine PAs

established and managed AJK and GB protected areas of inland water systems
Areas
effectively as seascapes for

conservation and sustainable use.
Target 12:By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline,
has been improved and sustained
12.1 Recovery plans will be

prepared and implementation to
Conservation
Species of
improve the conservation status All provinces; Trends in population of selected
2018 $1.2 fauna in Annex
of major threatened species of AJK and GB species.
Species
(Fauna)
2
fauna (annex 2) in different
ecosystems.
12. 2. Recovery plans will be

Conservation
prepared and implementation to

improve the conservation status Species of flora All provinces; Trends in population of selected
2018 $0.5
of major threatened species of in Annex 2 AJK and GB species.
Species
(Flora)
flora (annex 2) in different

ecosystems.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
(Fresh Water)
Conservation
12.3. Plans will be prepared and
Species of fresh
implemented for recovery of All provinces; Trends in extinction risk of target and
2017 $0.6 water fish in
depleted freshwater fish species AJK and GB bycatch aquatic species.
Species
Annex 2
(annex 2)
12.4. The population of known

threatened marine species
Conservation
particularly of those in most Species of

2016 –
decline state (annex 2) shall be $0.5 marine fauna in Balochistan and Sindh Trends in trade of species.
2020
(Marine)
Species
monitored regularly and remedial Annex 2

measures taken to improve and
sustain their population.
Target 13: By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-
economically as well as culturally valuable species is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion
and safeguarding their genetic diversity.
•Trends in genetic diversity of cultivated plants, and farmed and domesticated animals and their wild relatives
• Trends in genetic diversity of selected species
• Trends in number of effective policy mechanisms implemented to reduce genetic erosion and safeguard genetic diversity related to plant and animal
genetic resources
13.1. The considerations of

sustainable agriculture, bio
Trends in number of effective policy
diversification of agro ecosystems,
Revision of Ministry of Food Security; mechanisms implemented to reduce
conservation of pollinators and
biodiversity
2017 $0.15 policies and All provinces; genetic erosion and safeguard genetic
soil biodiversity, wise use of
plans AJK and GB diversity related to plant and animal
transgenic organisms, and climate
genetic resources.
change will be incorporated in
Agro
agriculture policies and plans
At least 6 field
13. 2. The gaps in the in-situ and stations and 6 Pakistan Agriculture Research
Trends in genetic diversity of cultivated
biodiversity
ex-situ conservation of the agro farms Council;

2017 $0.75 plants, and farmed and domesticated
biodiversity will be assessed and established for All provinces;
animals and their wild.
measures taken to fill the gaps. in situ AJK and GB.
Agro
conservation.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
13.3. Important local varieties,

land races and breeds will be Local varieties
biodiversity
improved by 2020 through of cotton, rice, Trends in genetic diversity of selected

2020 $0.4 PARC
selection for resistance to sugarcane, and species
disease, drought tolerance, and wheat.
Agro
for increased production.
Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services
Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being,
are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.
Landscapes that provide essential

Ecosystems
services related to water for major

Services
Trends in benefits that humans derive

dams, and contribute to health; At least six AJK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
2020 6.0 from selected ecosystem services
livelihoods and well-being of local ecosystems Punjab, Balochistan.
communities will be restored and
safeguarded
Target 15:By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and
restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and
to combating desertification
Desertification
15.1. At least 20% of the

degraded ecosystems of At least four
ecological significance will be pastoral Trends in area of degraded ecosystems
2017 $2.5 Balochistan
restored to combat desertification management restored or being restored
and to demonstrate economic, projects
social and cultural benefits.
15. 2. At least 25 percent of all

degraded forest ecosystems will
Change
Climate
be restored to improve their Status and trends in extent and

At least 60,000 All provinces;
resilience and contribution to 2020 $3.0 condition of habitats that provide carbon
ha restored AJK and GB
carbon stocks. storage.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Target 16. By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is
in force and operational, consistent with national legislation
16.1. The Nagoya Protocol on

Trends in legislative, administrative or
Access to Genetic Resources and
policy measures and institutional
the Fair and Equitable Sharing of 2016 0.10 MoCC
structures in place for implementing the
Benefits Arising from their
Biodiversity
Nagoya Protocol.
Utilization will be ratified by 2016.
16.2. The draft ABS Act of Trends in legislative, administrative or

Pakistan will be revised after policy measures and institutional
2017 0.5 MoCC
thorough consultation with structures in place for implementing the
provinces and regions by 2017. Nagoya Protocol.
Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building
Target 17: By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implementing an effective, participatory and updated
national biodiversity strategy and action plan.
• Trends in implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, including development, comprehensiveness, adoption and
implementation
17.1. The revised BSAP will be

MoCC;
Framework
approved as a policy document Approval, printing an Trends in implementation of national

2017 $0.10 All provinces;
and implementation and dissemination biodiversity strategies and action plans.
AJK and GB
Policy
monitoring mechanisms in place.

Institutional
Framework
17. 2. A national biodiversity

Ministry of Climate Trends in implementation of national
conservation policy will be drafted 2017 $.10 Biodiversity Policy
Change biodiversity strategies and action plans.
and approved.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
17.3. Institutional effectiveness

Framework and efficiency will be enhanced to MoCC;
Implementation of Trends in integration of biodiversity
ensure effective management and 2017 $3.0 All provinces;
NBSAP policy in sectoral planning processes.
Policy
monitoring of the biodiversity AJK and GB

resources.
17.4. An efficient regulatory,

administrative and monitoring Capacity for
Biosafety
Trends in implementation of Cartagena

framework will be established for 2020 $0.15 regulation of MoCC
protocol
the implementation of the biosafety
Cartagena Protocol.
17.5 A tenyear national biosafety

frameworks will be established for
the implementation, coordination, Ministries of Climate
and monitoring of the Protocol, Ten year National Change,Science and Trends in implementation of the 10-year
2020 $0.10
Biosafety
including mechanisms to make Biosafety framework Technology, and framework.

science-based risk assessments Education
and ensuring transparency in the
development and use of LMOs
Target 18: By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international
obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local
communities, at all relevant levels.
The diversity of local varieties and

land races of crops, fruits, and
Biodiversity
breeds of livestock and poultry PARC; Trends in farming with traditional

Documentation of
and local knowledge of their 2018 1.0 All provinces; knowledge and use of local varieties
Agro-biodiversity
management will be documented AJK and GB and breeds.
Agro
by 2017 and incentive measures

tested for on-farm conservation.
Target 19:By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the
consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied
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Pakistan – NBSAP
19.1. A GIS will be established for

assessing health (deforestation) Mapping and assessment of
Knowledge
and condition (degradation) of ecosystems report

forests, ecosystems and habitats GIS System; All provinces;
2017 $1.0
and maps prepare compatible with Mapping AJK and GB Number of habitat and species
remote sensing technologies to inventories
identify conservation priorities and
opportunities.
Knowledge
19.2. A forest and ecosystem Classification of Forest, ecosystem and habitat

classification system using agreed forests, classification and mapping report
All provinces;
international standards including 2017 $0.25 ecosystems and
AJK and GB
broad indicators of biodiversity will habitats Number of forests, habitat and species
be developed. classification inventories.
Knowledge
19.3. The gap between the

scientists and conservationists will Ministries of Climate Change,
Knowledge Trends in interaction between scientists
be bridged to improve the 2020 $025 Science and Technology, and
sharing and conservationists.
knowledge and practice of Education
biodiversity conservation
19. 4.The capacity of National

School of Public Policy (NSPP),
National Institute of Management
Knowledge
Biodiversity
(NIM), National Defense College,
lessons Trends in incorporating natural
and Pakistan Institute of
2017 0.05 incorporated in Ministry of Climate Change resource, biodiversity, and ecosystem
Parliamentary Studies (PIPS) will
training courses service values into training courses.
be built to incorporate biodiversity
of 3 institutes
consideration in training courses
for decision makers of mid-career
and senior managerial level.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Target 20: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all
sources, and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization should increase substantially from the
current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties
20.1. The targets for creating

mechanism
biodiversity awareness will be

Financial
Planning Commission, All Provinces,

integrated in the annual and 2020 $0.0 Annual Plans
AJK, GB
medium term development plans.
Mechanism
20. 2. Additional financial

Office of Inspector General of Forests,
Financial
resources if needed for

2017 $0.25 Project Portfolio All relevant sectors in the provinces,
implementing NBSAP will be
AJK, GB.
mobilized to meet.
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 2:Mammalian species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP.
Sr. Common Name Scientific Name Distribution

1. Snow Leopard Pantheraauncia AJK, KP, GB
2. Common Leopard Pantherapardus AJK, KP, Balochistan, Punjab
3. Brown Bear Ursusarctosisabellinus AJK, KP, GB
4. Himalayan Black Bear Ursusthibetanusthibetanus AJK, KP,
5. Balochistan Black Bear Ursusthibetenusgedrosianus Balochistan
6. Grey langur Semnopithecus ajax AJK
7. Striped Hyaena Hyaenahyaena Balochistan
8. Himalayan Lynx Felis lynx GB

9. Tibetan Wolf Canis lupus Chanco Balochistan, GB, AJK, KP
10. Indian Wolf Canis lupus pallipes AJK, Baluchistan, Punjab, KP
11. Indian Wild Ass Equushemionuskhur Sindh, Punjab
12. Wild ass / Kiang Equushemionus kiang GB
13. Red / Desert Lynx Caracal caracal Balochistan
14. Sand Cat Felis margarita Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab
15. Blanford‟s Fox or King Fox Vulpescana Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP
16. Indian Wild Dog or Dhole Cuonalpinus GB, AJK
17. Wooly Flying Squirrel Eupetauruscinereus AJK, GB
18. Kasmir Flying Squirrel Eoglaucomysfimbriatus AJK, GB
19. Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petauristapetaurista KP, AJK, Punjab
20. Eurassian Otter Lutralutra AJK, KP< GB
21. Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogaleperspicillata Punjab, Sindh
22. Indus Dolphin Platanistagangetica minor Punjab, Sindh

23. Fishing Cat Prionailurusviverrinus KP, Sindh
24. Pallas‟ Cat or Steppe Cat Otocolobusmanul KP, GB, Balochistan
25. Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Punjab, Sindh
26. Asiatic Pygmy / Tibetan Shrew Sorexthibetanus AJK, GB
27. Gilgit Tube-nosed Bat Murinatubinaris GB, KP, AJK
28. Long-fingered Bat (extra-limital) Myotislongipes AJK, KP
29. Leisler‟s Noctule or Hairy-armed Bat Nyctalusleisleri KP, Punjab, AJK
30. Mountain Noctule Nyctalusmontanus KP, AJK
31. Blasius‟ or Peters‟ Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophusblasii AJK, Punjab, KP

32. Blyth‟s Horseshoe Bat RhinolophusLepidus AJK, Punjab, KP
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Pakistan – NBSAP
33. Big-eared Horseshoe bat Rhinolophusmacrotis AJK, Punjab, KP
34. Least Mouse-tailed Bat Rhinopomamuscatellum Balochistan
35. Yellow Desert Bat Scotoecus pallidus Punjab, Sindh, AJK
36. Rhesus Macque Macacamulattamulatta Punjab, KP, AJK, Balochistan, GB,

Sindh
37. Ratel or Honey Badger Mellivoracapensis Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan
38. Cape Hare Lepus capensis KP, GB, AJK, Balochistan, Punajb
39. Himalayan Wood Mouse or Field Apodemusrusiges(syn: GB, KP, AJK, Balochistan
Mouse sylvaticus)
40. Quetta or Afghan Mole Vole Ellobiusfuscocapillus KP, Balochistan
41. Cheesman‟s Gerbil Gerbilluscheesmani Balochistan
42. Indian Hairy-footed Gerbil Gerbillusgleadowi Sindh, Punjab
43. Balochistan Gerbil Gerbillusnanus Balochistan

44. Himalayan Marmot Marmota himalayana GB (Deosai)
45. Great Gerbil or Giant Day Jird Rhombomysopimus Balochistan
Game Animals
46. Afghan Urial Ovisvigneicycloceros Balochistan
47. Straight horned Markhor Capra falconerimegaceros Balochistan
48. SulemainMarkhor Capra falconerifalconeri Balochistan, KP
49. ChiltanMarkhor / Chiltan Goat Capra aegagruschialtanensis Balochistan
50. Marco Polo‟s Sheep Ovisammonpolii GB
51. LadakhUrial Ovisvigneivignei GB
52. Blue sheep Pseudoisnayaur GB
53. Sindh Ibex Capra aegagrus Balochistan
54. GoiteredGazelle Gazellasubgutturosa Balochistan

55. Chinkara Gazellabennettii Balochistan, KP, Punjab, Sindh
56. Blackbuck Antilopecervicapra Punjab, Sindh
57. Blue Bull / Nilgai Boselaphustragocamelus AJK, Punjab
58. Punjab Urial Ovisvigneipunjabiensis Punjab
59. Hog deer Axis porcinus Punjab, Sindh
60. Flare-horned Markhor Capra falconeri AJK, KP
61. Himalayan Musk Deer Moschuschrysogastor AJK, KP, Gb
62. Barking deer / Muntjak Muntiacusmuntjac AJK, Punjab
63. Himalayan Goral Nemoredus goral AJK, KP
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 3:Bird species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP.

1. Chir Pheasant Catreuswallichii AJK
2. Western Tragopan Pheasant Tragopanmelanocephalus AJK, KP
3. Snow Partridge Lerwalerwa GB
4. Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus AJK
5. Great Indian Bustard Ardeotisnigriceps Punjab
6. Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulate macqueenii Balochistan Punjab, Sindh, KP
7.
8. Demoiselle Crane Anthropoidesvirgo Balochistan
9. Common Crane Grus grus Balochistan
10. Sarus Crane Sindh

11. White-headed Duck Oxyuraleucocephala Punjab, Sindh
12. Kalij pheasant Lophuraleucomelana Punjab
13. White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis Punjab, Sindh
14. Longbilled Vulture Gyps indicus Sindh
15. Indian Black Vulture Sarcogypscalvus Sindh, Punjab
16. Egyptian Vulture Neophronpercnopterus Sindh, Punjab
17. Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris. Sindh, Punjab
18. Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallushimalayensis GB, AJK
19. Chukar Alectorischukar Balochistan, KP, Punjab
20. See-see Partridge Ammoperdixgriseogularis Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan
21. Black Francolin Francolinusfrancolinus Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan
22. Grey Francolin Francolinuspondicerianus Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan
23. Common Quail Coturnixcoturnix Native
24. Rain Quail Coturnixcoromandelica Native
25. Jungle Bush-quail Perdiculaasiatica Native
26. KoklassPheasant Pucrasiamacrolopha GB, KP,AJK
27. Himalayan Monal Lophophorusimpejanus GB, KP,AJK
28. Indian Peafowl Pavocristatus AJK, Punjab, Sindh
29. Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliacal Native (Non-breeding)
30. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetusalbicilla Native (Non-breeding)
31. Laggar Falcon Falco jugger Native resident
32. Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides Native
33. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Native resident
34. Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus Winter visitor
35. Siberian Crane Leucogeranusleucogeranus Possibly extinct
36. Cinereous Vulture Aegypiusmonachus Native
37. Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Native non-breeding
38. Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastate Native resident
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Pakistan – NBSAP
39. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Native non-breeding

40. Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus Native resident
41. Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetusleucoryphus Native resident
42. Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Native non-breeding
43. Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera Native non-breeding
44. Sooty Falcon Falco concolor Native breeding
45. Little Bustard Tetraxtetrax Native non-breeding
46. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Native
47. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittaculaeupatria Native resident
48. Green Avadavat Amandava Formosa Extinct Possibly
49. Falcated Duck Anas falcate Native non-breeding
50. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster Native resident
51. Lesser White-fronted Goose Ansererythropus Native
52. Baer's Pochard Aythyabaeri Possibly extinct
53. Ferruginous Duck Aythyanyroca Native
54. Long-billed Bush Warbler Bradypterus major Native resident
55. Jouanin's Petrel Bulweriafallax Native resident
56. Great Knot Calidristenuirostris Native non-breeding
57. Bristled Grass Warbler Chaetornisstriata Native breeding
58. Pale-backed Pigeon Columba eversmanni Native non-breeding
59. European Roller Coracias garrulous Native breeding
60. Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberizaaureola Native non-breeding
61. Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchusasiaticus Native resident
62. Laggar Falcon Falco jugger Native resident
63. Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedulasubrubra Native breeding
64. Wood Snipe Gallinagonemoricola Possibly extinct
65. Yellow-rumped Honeyguide Indicator xanthonotus Native resident
66. Greater Adjutant Leptoptilosdubius Extinct
67. Black-tailed Godwit Limosalimosa Native non-breeding
68. Marbled Teal Marmaronettaangustirostris Native resident
69. Velvet Scoter Melanittafusca Native
70. Painted Stork Mycterialeucocephala Native non-breeding
71. Eurasian Curlew Numeniusarquata Native non-breeding
72. Tytler‟s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopustytleri Native breeding
73. Long-tailed Prinia Priniaburnesii Native resident
74. Grey-capped Prinia Priniacinereocapilla Native
75. Indian Skimmer Rynchopsalbicollis Native breeding
76. Stoliczka‟sWhin-chat Saxicolamacrorhynchus Possible Extinct
77. Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda Native resident
78. River Tern Sterna aurantia Native resident
79. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornismelanocephalus Native resident
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Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 4:Reptile and amphibian species of conservation concern to be recovered under

NBSAP.
The conservation status of the majority of the reptilian and amphibian fauna of the country has not been evaluated in
particular with regard to25 endemic reptile and three amphibian species.

1. Indian Python Python molurus AJK, Punjab
2. Marsh Crocodile Crocodyluspalustrispalustris Balochistan, Sindh
3. Gavial / Gharial Gavialisgangeticus Punjab, Sindh
4. Narrow-headed Softshell Chitraindica Punjab, Sindh, KP,
5. Spotted Mud Turtle Geoclemyshamiltonii Punjab, Sindh
6. Crowned River Turtle Hardellathurjii Punjab, Sindh

7. Afghan Tortoise Testudo horsfieldii KP, Balochistan
8. Sindh Star Tortoise Geocheloneelegans Sindh
9. Brown River turtle Kachugasmithii Punjab, Sindh
10. Sawback Turtle Kachuga tecta tecta Punjab, Sindh
11. Indian Softshell Aspideretesgangeticus Punjab, Sindh, KP
12. Peacock Softshell Aspidereteshurum Punjab, Sindh, KP
13. Indian Flapshell Lissemyspunctataandersoni Punjab, Sindh, KP
14. Tibetan Frog Nanoranapleskei
65
Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex5:Fish species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP.

1. Golden Mahasheer Tor putitora AJK, KP, Punjab, Balochistan
2. Snow Carp Group of species AJK, KP, Gb
3. Kashmir Catfish Glyptothoraxkashmirensis AJK
4. Butter Catfish Ompokbimaculatus KP, Punjab, Sindh
5. PabdahCatfish Ompokpabda AJK, KP, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh
6. Freshwater Shark Wallago attu AJK, Balochistan, KP, Sindh, Punjab
7. Gangetic Ailia Ailiacoila Punjab, Sindh
8. Humped Chitalachitala Punjab, Sindh

Featherback
9. Gangetic Goonch Bagariusbagarius Punjab, Sindh
10. Himalayan SnowTrout Schizothoraxplagiostomus AJK, GB, KP, Punjab, Balochistan
11. Common Carp Cyprinuscarpio AJK, GB, KP, Punjab, Balochistan
12. Zebrafish Danio rerio KP, Punjab, Sindh
13. BengalaBarb Megarasboraelonga KP, Punjab, Sindh
14. LadakhSnowtrout Schizopygopsisstoliczkai GB, KP
15. StoliczkaTriplophysaloach Triplophysastoliczkai GB (Deosai plateau)
16. Whiptail Catfish Sisorrabdophorus Punjab, Sindh
17. Gangetic Leaf fish Nandusnandus Punjab, Sindh
18. Chameleon Fish Badisbadis Punjab, Sindh
19. Gangetic Mud Eel Monopteruscuchia Punjab, Sindh
20. One-stripe SpinyEel Macrognathusaral Punjab, Sindh
66
Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 6:Marine species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP.

1. Green Sea Turtle Cheloniamydas japonica Balochistan, Sindh
2. Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricate bissa Balochistan, Sindh
3. Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelysolivaceaolivacea Balochistan, Sindh
4. Loggerhead Turtle Carettacarettagigas Balochistan, Sindh
5. Leatherback Dermochelyscoriascea Balochistan, Sindh
6. Yellowfin Tuna Thunnusalbacares Balochistan, Sindh
7. Corals All species Balochistan, Sindh
8. Knife tooth Sawfish Anoxypristis cuspidate Balochistan, Sindh
9. NarrowsnoutSawfish Pristiszijsron Balochistan, Sindh
10. PondicheryShark Carcharhinushemiodon Balochistan, Sindh
11. Ganges Shark Glyphisgangeticus Balochistan, Sindh
12. Scalloped hammerheadShark Sphyrna lewini Balochistan, Sindh
13. Squat-headed Hammerhead Shark Sphyrna mokarran Balochistan, Sindh
14. BroadfinShark Lamiopsistemminckii Balochistan, Sindh
15. Longheaded Eagle Ray Aetobatus flagellum Balochistan, Sindh
16. Great Blue Whale Balaenopteramusculus Balochistan, Sindh
17. Little Indian Porpoise or Neophocaenaphocaenoides Balochistan, Sindh

Black Finless Porpoise
18. Indian Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis Balochistan, Sindh
67
Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 7: Plant species of conservation concern to be recovered under NBSAP.
1. Indian Maple Acer caesium AJK, KP,
2. Nepalese Alder Alnusnepalensis AJK, KP
3. Alder, Sharol Alnusnitida AJK, KP
4. Himalayan Yew Taxuswallichiana AJK, KP, GB,
5. Juniper Juniperusexcelsia Balochistan
6. Chilghoza Pinusgerardiana Balochistan, GB
7. Indian snakeroot Rauvolfia serpentine AJK, KP
8. Costus,Kuth Saussureacostus AJK, KP, GB
9. Kutki Picrorhizakurroa AJK, KP, GB
10. Nag Chhatri Trillium govanianum AJK, Gb
11. Marsh orchid or Spotted Orchid Dactylorhizagraggeriana AJK, GB
12. Marsh orchid or Spotted Orchid Dactylorhizahatagirea AJK, GB
13. Aconite, Atees Aconitum heterophyllum AJK, KP, GB
14. Primrose Primula sp AJK, KP, GB
15. Himalayan Mayapple Podophyllumhexandrum AJK, KP, GB
16. Gugul Commiphorawightii Sindh
17. Mazri Nannorrhopsritchiana Balochistan, KP, Punjab
18. Bakau Rhizophoramucronata Sindh
68
Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex8: List of PAs (National Parks) in need of effective management plans.
Sr. PA Location Status
1. Margalla Hills NP Islamabad Not implemented
2. Machiara NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Under implementation
3. Ghamot NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Lacks management plan
4. PirLasorha NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Lacks management plan
5. ToliPir NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Lacks management plan
6. Gurez Musk Deer NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Lacks management plan
7. Deva Vatala NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Lacks management plan
8. Poonch River Mahsheer NP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Lacks management plan
9. Chiltan-Hazargangi NP Balochistan Not implemented
10. Hingol NP Balochistan Under implementation
11. Khunjerab NP Gilgit-Baltistan Under implementation
12. Deosai NP Gilgit-Baltistan Not implemented
13. Central Karakorum NP Gilgit-Baltistan Under finalization
14. Hunderab-Shandoor NP Gilgit-Baltistan Lacks management plan
15. Karmbhar NP Gilgit-Baltistan Lacks management plan
16. Ayubia NP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under implementation
17. ChitralGol NP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under implementation
18. Sheikh Buddin NP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Lacks management plan
19. SaifulMaluk NP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Lacks management plan
20. Lulusar-Dodhipath NP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Lacks management plan
21. Broghil NP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Lacks management plan
22. Lal Sunhara NP Punjab Lacks management plan
23. Kala Chitta NP Punjab Lacks management plan
24. Chinji NP Punjab Lacks management plan
25. Murree-Kahuta-KotliSattianNP Punjab Lacks management plan
26. Khirthar NP Sindh Under implementation
69
Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 9:List of Ramsar Sites in Pakistan.
Sr. Ramsar Site Location Remarks
1. Astola (Haft Talar) Island Balochistan Needs attention
2. Chashma Barrage Punjab Received attention
3. DehAkro-II Desert Wetland Complex Sindh Needs attention
4. Drigh Lake Sindh Needs attention
5. Haleji Lake Sindh Received attention
6. Hub Dam Sindh, Balochistan Needs attention
7. Indus Delta Sindh Received attention
8. Indus Dolphin Reserve Sindh Received attention
9. Jiwani Coastal Wetland Balochistan Needs attention
10. Jubho Lagoon Sindh Needs attention
11. Kinjhar (Kalri) Lake Sindh Received attention
12. MianiHor Balochistan Needs attention
13. Nurri Lagoon Sindh Needs attention
14. Ormara Turtle Beaches Balochistan Received attention
15. Runn of Kutch Sindh Needs attention
16. Tanda Dam Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Needs attention
17. Taunsa Barrage Punjab Received attention
18. Thanedar Wala Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Needs attention
19. Uchhali Complex Punjab Received attention
70
Pakistan – NBSAP
Annex 10: Ecosystems and Habitats Identified for Filling Gaps in the PASystem.
Vegetation Ecosystem Proposed Sites Location Representation Priority

Type
Marine and Astola Island, Arabian Sea Arabian Sea including Balochistan Gap High
Island Astola
Indus Delta Arabian sea including Sindh Gap High
Indus Delta
Littoral and Avicenna – Ceriops Ganjabad,Cheer Koh, Balochistan Inadequate Medium
Mangrove Sonmiani, Gwathar
Bay, Jiwani, Kalmat
Jubho Lagoon, Nurri Sindh Inadequate High
Lagoon, Hawks Bay
Riverine Dalbergiasissoo – Indus River, D. G. Punjab Gap High
Populuseuphratica Khan
Acacia nilotica– Indus River, Sindh Inadequate High
Populuseuphratica Hyderabad
Wetlands, Tamarixdioica- Northern Kashmir AJK Adequate High
Swamps and Typhaangustata, wetland complex
Seasonal Wasta Lake, and Balochistan High
Inundations ZarriDaggarZhob,
Sand Dune Prosopis cineraria – Thal Desert Punjab Gap High
Desert Salvadoraoleoides D. I. Khan KP
Prosopis cineraria – Thar Sindh Gap Medium
Tamarixaphylla
Capparis decidua – Sibi Balochistan Gap Medium
Suedafruticose
Dry Sub Olea ferruginea - Acacia KotKandhari and AJK Adequate Medium
Tropical Semi- modesta – Justiciaadhatoda PirGali area
evergreen
Scrub Forest
Dry Temperate Olea ferruginea – Acacia Fort Munro) Punjab Inadequate High
Semi- modesta –
evergreen Artemesiamaritima
Scrub Forest Olea ferruginea – Acacia Indus Kohistan Gilgit- Inadequate Medium
modesta – Baltistan
Monothecabuxifolia
Sub-Tropical Pinusroxburghii – Massar RF KP Inadequate High
Chir Pine Quercusincana
Forest
Sub-Tropical Acacia modesta – Bauhinia Thumb PattniMaloni AJK Inadequate High
Dry Mixed variegata Areas, Chamairi
Deciduous Garamthum KP
Forest Acacia modesta – Butea Salt Range Punjab Gap High
monosperma –
Acaicanilotica var.
cuppressiformis
Balochistan Juniperusexcelsa – Khalifat, Zargoon, and Balochistan Inadequate High
Dry Coniferous Fraxinusxanthoxyloides Ziarat
Forest
Himalayan Pinuswallichiana – PirChinassi AJK Inadequate High
Moist Abiespindrow Kamal Ban, Manshi, KP High
Temperate and Kund Forest
Forest
Himalayan Dry C.deodara– P.wallichiana Kumrat Valley KP Gap High
Coniferous Piceasmithiana – Nanga Parbat, Astore Gilgit- Inadequate High
Forest Pinuswallichiana Baltistan
Pinusgerardiana – Shishi Valley KP Gap High
Pinuswallichiana- Takhat –i-Suleiman Balochistan High
71
Pakistan – NBSAP
Quercusbaloot Tangir GB
72
Pakistan – NBSAP

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Pakistan

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Prime Minister’s Message

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif

THE NBSAP TEAM

Mr. Javed Ahmed, Biodiversity Consultant, IUCN Pakistan

Mr. Naeem Ashraf, Director Biodiversity, MOCC

Malik Ghulam Sarwar, Coordinator NBSAP, MOCC

Ms. ParveenEjaz, Deputy Director Biodiversity, MOCC

Dr. RizwanIrshad, Deputy Director, MOCC

Mr. Rafi ulHaq, Sindh BSAP Consultant, IUCN Pakistan

Dr. Abdul Aleem, Punjab BSAP Consultant, IUCN-Pakistan

Mr. Haider Raza, GB-BSAP Consultant, IUCN Pakistan

Mr. Ali Imran, Balochistan BSAP Consultant, IUCN Pakistan

Dr. Aurangzeb Khan, AJK-BSAP Consultant,IUCN Pakistan

10. 3. Strategies and Actions............................................................................................................................... 14

IV. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................................... 41

Table 1: Terrestrial ecosystems of Pakistan included in Global 200 Eco-Regions ....................................................... 16

Figure 1: Map of Pakistan (Source: Survey of Pakistan) .............................................................................................. xv

Annex1:Matrix showing NBSAP targets and indicators for monitoring. ........................................................................ 43

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ABTs Aichi Biodiversity Targets

SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

2. The Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

3. National Constitutional and Legal Frameworks

4. National Policy Framework

II. PRINCIPLES, PRIORITIES AND TARGETS OF THE NBSAP

8. Gender, Poverty, and Biodiversity Nexus

9.Terrestrial Ecosystems, Habitats, and Species

10. Forest Ecosystems

11. Inland Water Ecosystems

12. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

13. Sustainable Agriculture and Agrobiodiversity

14.Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)

III. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION

16. Awareness and Capacity Development

17. Plan for Resource Mobilization

18. National Coordination Mechanisms

19. Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)

20. Monitoring and Evaluation

Figure 1: Map of Pakistan(Source: Survey of Pakistan)

3. Causes and Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

3.1. Population Growth

3.2. Policy, Planning, and Institutional Shortfalls

3.3. Land Use -Degradation and Desertification

Unsustainable land use is a major cause of land degradation and the

The official estimate of forest cover in Pakistan is

3.5. Open Access Resources

Majorityof arid and semiarid land inPakistan

The increase in the population of range livestock

3.7. Unsustainable Fishing

3.8. Promotion of High Yield Varieties and Exotic Breeds

3.9. Heavy Use of Agrochemicals

3.11. Global Climate Change

4. National Constitutional, Legal and Institutional Framework

4.1. Biodiversity Legal Framework

4.2, Provincial Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Laws

4.3, Biodiversity Policy Framework

4.4. International Conventions and Agreements

Pakistan is signatory to a number of international conventions and agreements on biodiversity conservation,

a) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

4. 5. Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS)

5.1. Progress on Implementation of BAP(2000): ThisBAP comprised 13 components, corresponding to articles of

Figure 7: Progress on Implementation of the BAP (2000).