Trees for the Earth: WWF-Pakistan celebrates Earth Day 2016 across country

LAHORE/KARACHI/ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - WWF-Pakistan celebrated Earth Day across the country by carrying out tree plantation drives to raise environmental awareness while symbolically tackling deforestation heron Friday.

Hammad Naqi Khan, director general, WWF-Pakistan said, ‘the theme for Earth Day this year is 'Trees for the Earth'  which stresses the need for every individual, business or policy maker to take action to protect the natural assets and resources of our beautiful country.  Taking this opportunity, WWF seeks your support to mitigate pollution, curb deforestation and manage our water resources on priority to enable us live in harmony with nature.

A mangrove plantation drive organised by DHA, Karachi, in collaboration with WWF-Pakistan was held at Defence Authority Creek Club. Commander 5 Crops, Lt General Naveed Mukhtar was the chief guest on the occasion.

Appreciating WWF-Pakistan and DHA efforts in rehabilitating the depleting mangroves forest area he said, ‘Promoting plantation, greenery and the natural environment is essential for a vibrant and healthy society.’ Brig (r) Mukhtar Ahmed, Vice President Emeritus, WWF-Pakistan; Hammad Naqi Khan, DG WWF-Pakistan; and Agha Tahir Hussain, PD & Conservator Mangroves, Government of Sindh, were also present on the occasion.

Similarly,  WWF-Pakistan organised a debating competition at DungaGali, Ayubia National Park on the importance of plants for life on earth.  A total of 22 students from nine schools participated in the event. Participant from Government Girls High School Khanispur won the competition whereas Government High School, Kari Raiki and Government High School, Samandar Katha, secured second and third position respectively.

Praising the efforts of WWF-P, Sardar Muhammad Nawaz, Sub-Division Forest Officer (SDFO/Wildlife), Abbottbad, said ‘this is a great initiative  to sensitise children about nature conservation.

Furthermore, an event was also organised in collaboration with Beaconhouse School System Johar Town Junior Campus (BSS JT Jr.) Lahore where Earth Day was celebrated through a thematic environmental puppet show.

Exhibits were also made by students from recycled material as a gesture to reduce their ecological footprint. All the students of the school pledged to protect the Earth and planted saplings at the occasion. Tree plantation drives aim to sensitize students to reduce their carbon footprint and burden on the environment.

Schools, colleges and universities that have partnered with WWF-Pakistan’s Green School Programme and International Eco-Internship Programme also participated in the Earth Day tree plantation drive. Similarly, an awareness raising activity in collaboration with the U.S.-Pakistan Youth Council was arranged at Forman Christian College, Lahore.

Due to increasing environmental awareness and education, the positive role of the media and decision-makers, the annual deforestation rate in Pakistan has decreased to 1.6 per cent per annum, according to a 2012 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as compared to 2.1 per cent per annum (once the highest in Asia) according to a 2009 report by the FAO.