Civil Society Forum on Climate Change formed

At a workshop held at a local hotel in Hyderabad, experts observed that Sindh is vulnerable to disasters like cyclones, floods and droughts hence they emphasized the need to mobilize those organizations working on the same theme. The workshop was organized by the Research and Development Foundation (RDF) and was attended by senior officials of various organisations, including International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), WWF Pakistan, Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) and others.
The Civil Society Forum on Climate Change is aimed at mobilizing organisations to work together for the conservation of the environment.

The experts said that Pakistan could face more effects of changing scenario because of depleting natural resources especially water shortage will affect the agriculture, which is the backbone of the country’s economy. Approximately 70 percent underground water has declined in Sindh because of various reasons and mostly because of dryness.

The participants observed that there is no mapping at government level to ascertain the causes of forest loss, underground water resources degradation and its impacts on the source of livelihood of the forest communities. Presently, the forest cover is about five percent in Pakistan that is too under the threat of depletion.

The speakers observed that housing schemes at village and small town level have been launched, which is a new phenomenon to increase urbanization. There is no regulatory authority to monitor it. These activities of land conversion from agriculture to urbanization and commercialization will threaten the overall environment.

They suggested adopting traditional architecture to avoid effects of climate change.

Nasir Panhwar of WWF Indus for All Programme said that the Sindh coast was more productive because of mangrove forests. Talking about the current status of coastal eco system, he said, mangrove forests have been destroyed.

Panhwar said that in all the Site areas in urban centers no treatment plan exists and waste water with chemicals is being released in fresh water bodies and the sea without treatment.

source:- www.thenews.com.pk