LAHORE: Climate change and conservation experts, on Sunday, urged the federal government to activate climate change policy to cope with the drastic impacts on desert eco-system and control desertification.
Talking to APP, the experts viewed that if concrete steps would not be taken by the government, then drastic impacts could also be faced by the agriculture sector.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) country representative, Mahmood Akhtar, said that wide variety of ecosystems and habitat ranging from the Arabian Sea in the south to the second highest peak in the world, K-2, in the north, were being affected by the climate change.
Livestock was a vital subordinate department of agriculture, which constitutes 12 per cent of the GDP of the country and the rural population ranging between 30 to 35 per cent was attached with this sector, he informed.
“Four of these ecosystems are considered some of the most biologically outstanding eco-regions in the world”, he added.
He said that climate change was affecting Thar and Cholistan deserts adversely, resulting in umpteen deaths of livestock and a wave of migration. “These regions are on the verge of collapse due to climate change”, he added.
He said that climate change had severely affected the desert ecosystem, and harsh weather pattern was making the already difficult lives of desert dwellers and livestock even more punishing.
“The farming community is persuaded to use modern methods of investment in the areas which are prone to climate change”, he added.
To a question, he said that good fodder and availability of food be ensured on top priority basis for livestock.
He said that information about fodder and food should be provided to people, adding that farmers be persuaded to grow grass for livestock in hilly areas.
Efficient methods for energy production and use of biotechnology to be increased so that carbon absorbing crops and seeds could be grown which is a natural nutrient for livestock and human, he said.
Akhtar said that Pakistan’s share in global livestock trade market was negligible and an eye-opener for scientists, livestock experts and official policy makers who should take the matter seriously.
He said that Pakistan was the 10th largest country in livestock production as it carries enormous potential, which was yet to be tapped. There is a dire need to take practical steps by the government and private sector to promote livestock sector which could strengthen the country’s economy, he added.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Manager Conservation Humaira Aysha said livestock in Pakistan was suffering from deficiency of energy protein, especially minerals.
She said that an emphasis should be put on South Punjab region, Thar, Cholistan and Barani areas. She said that feedback of diseases relating to metabolic disorders and mineral deficiencies needs to be reported.
In Cholistan and other fodder-deficient areas, urea, molasses, and mineral blocks should be prepared to overcome the deficiency of nutrients, Humaira added.
She said that in Tharparkar district, due to deficiency of nutrients and harsh drought, some 200 sheep died.
Cattle farming are the sole source of income for the residents of Thar, Cholistan, Thal and Pothohar region; for the last three consecutive years, rapidly changing the climate, altering weather patterns and droughts had snowballed and proved a fatal blow to their livelihood.
To a question, she said that due to the lack of rain, there have been several outbreaks of different diseases, resulting in deaths of scores of humans and animals, in desert and Barani areas of the country.
Prominent expert and Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that Thar desert, spread over an area of 19,623 square kilometres, was the rich source of livestock, with 1.6 million population and the number of livestock estimated to be six million was facing serious climate change threats.
“Climate change is also responsible for increased desertification and a shortage of water, which is happening due to cutting of trees, unplanned developmental projects, utilisation of land for agricultural purposes, he said.
Tanveer Arif, an official of the Society of Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) Pakistan, was also of the view that the droughts in Thar and Cholistan were not mere coincidences, but a result of climate change, which would make droughts a regular feature of the area in coming years. He asserted that providing awareness and training to cattle-farmers to deal with weather changes could be helpful in coping with the situation.
Arif further said that productive land was being converted into non-productive and barren land, due to drastic changes in temperature, sea intrusion and erratic changes in rainfall patterns.
He also emphasised that as climate change was a cross-cutting subject therefore it requires multi-sectoral response involving different departments to play active role in its mitigation and adaptation.
Meanwhile, a senior official in Ministry of Climate Change told APP that the ministry had directed the provinces to take steps to counter the negative fallout of climate change with particular reference to agriculture and livestock. Within the policy framework of climate change federal government has issued directives to the provinces for protection of agriculture and improvement in livestock, he said.
“Agriculture is backbone of Pakistan’s national economy which contributes 21 per cent to the GDP of the country”, he added. It is source of livelihood for 45 per cent people and it constitutes 75 per cent share of income accruing from exports, he informed.
