By Wajid Khan,
RAWALPINDI: A seminar on “World Wildlife Day 2019” was organized by the Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, in collaboration with WWF Pakistan, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and Ecosystems Conservancy. The event took place at the Visitor’s Information Centre of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, at Trail 5 of the Margalla Hills National Park Islamabad. On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had decided to proclaim 3rd March, the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as World Wildlife Day, to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
The event was held at Islamabad Wildlife Management Board at Trail 5. The chief guest of the event was Inspector General Forest (IGF) Islamabad, Syed Mahmood Nasir while the event was further enlightened by the presence of the living legend in the field of Wildlife Prof. Dr. Z. B. Mirza. The ceremony was honoured by a number of people from Islamabad, KPK and AJ&K, Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, students and faculty members from University of Haripur, Department of Forestry and Wildlife and from Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Professors and other senior faculty members from different departments of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi also honoured the event.
The ceremony was started with the recitation of Tilawat e Quran e Pak and preceded by the introductory speech on the “World Wildlife Day 2019” by Dr. Shaista Andleeb, which was further concluded by Mr. Muhammad Waseem, Manager Conservation, WWF Pakistan. A detailed presentation on the diversity of mammals and birds of the Margalla Hills National Park Islamabad by Prof. Z. B. Mirza was the focal lecture of the event. After that Syed Mahmood Nasir, IG Forest Islamabad talked about the theme of World Wildlife Day 2019 “Life below water” focuses on marine species, and highlight the critical issues and values of marine wildlife to our everyday lives. He appreciated the efforts of the organizers for arranging the important event to spread the message among the post graduate students of different universities.
Deputy Director Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, Dr Misbah Sarwar and District Wildlife Officer, Ms. Rizwana Aziz Khan, from Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department also cherished the event by their presence. The efforts done by the Punjab Wildlife department were elaborated by Ms. Rizwana Aziz Khan to protect the wildlife of the province were really appreciated by the audience. Mr Sakhawat Ali, Park Education Officer at IWMB, briefed the gathering about the “Conservation of Margalla Hills National Park”. Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Assistant Professor, Department of Wildlife Management briefed about the “Mammals species, their Conservation status and threats”, he also presented the overview of the research work done by the department of Wildlife Management, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. It was followed by a comprehensive and interesting lecture delivered by Dr. Muhammad Sajid Nadeem, Associate Professor from Zoology Department, on the topic “Birds Conservation in Pakistan”.
At the end, Souvenirs were awarded by WWF Pakistan to the respected guests and certificates of appreciation were distributed among the organisers and participants of the event.