Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and UNDP would be made member of the National Man and Biosphere (MAB) Committee for greater collaboration with the international stakeholders and local communities.
It was decided in the meeting of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid with UNDP Assistant Country Director Dr Gul Najam Jamy, here. They discussed the UN global development network’s programmes in Pakistan, especially the ongoing Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme led by Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) through Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).
Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) Additional Secretary Najib Khawar Awan, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Chairman Professor Dr Manzoor H. Soomro, Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) Chairman Dr Muhammad Aslam Tahir, MoST Scientific Advisor Amjad Hussain and senior officers of the ministry ware also present in the meeting. The MAB programme was launched in 1970s. The Biosphere Reserves (BR) are areas designated under the UNESCO`s MAB programme to serve as places to test different approaches for integrated management of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine resources and biodiversity.
The meeting discussed the prospects of creation of multiple biosphere reserves (BRs) for sustainable use and management of our precious ecosystems.
It was disclosed that Pakistan is rich in suitable sites including mangrove forests and at least nine ecosystems have prospects to be declared as BRs in the country.
The Minister directed the PSF Chairman to prepare projects (PC-1) for declaration and management of more BRs as well as for conducting research on related matters. It was proposed that Pakistan Museum of Natural
History (PMNH) would be strengthened to build capacity in the subject. The minister reiterated the Pakistan government’s commitment and full support to the international organisations. He lauded the support of UN organisations in Pakistan at the time of natural calamities.
The UNDP delegation agreed that the world organisation will help PCRWR in the decontamination and chlorination of water in the flood-affected areas on emergency basis.
