Thematic Forum

Threats to Vultures is a

Threat to Human Health

Friday, March 29, 2013 at HRDN Secretariat Islamabad

Human Resource Development Network

Threat to Human Health

Threats to Vultures is a

Friday, March 29, 2013 at HRDN Secretariat Islamabad

During the IUCN PNC meeting on December 20, 2012, there was a discussion on the vultures programme. Mr. Javed Jabbar, former Senator & Federal Minister and global Vice Presidents of IUCN mentioned about the UN Conference on Parties on Biodiversity in October 2012 in Hyderabad India. He mentioned about the horric virtual extinction of Vultures from the whole of Asia. It is discovered that Karoonjhar hills in Nagarparkar is one of the only two places in Pakistan where vultures are found. Baanhn Beli is also mapping the nests

and is in the process to formulate and implement a programme. WWF Pakistan is also working in Changa Manga forest for breeding and protecting vultures. While brieng the members about the Vultures Programme, Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji, Regional Director Asia and Senior Advisor on Regionalisation informed that IUCN Regional Oce is developing a

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Threat to Human Health

Threats to Vultures is a

Friday, March 29, 2013 at HRDN Secretariat Islamabad

regional Vultures Programme in four regional countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal where they have signed an agreement at CBD COP-11 held in Hyderabad, India for cooperation to work collectively for Vultures Rehabilitation. In Pakistan it is led by the Ministry of Climate Change with IUCN, WWF, Baanhn Beli and some others. The IGF is the chair of National Vultures Recovery Committee. There is precedence in the United States, where there was similar problem with the Californian Condor and American Bald Eagle, and when they banned DDT, it brought back the birds. The chemical in their food-chain used to soften their egg shells which decreased their number. Looking at the critical extinction, it was proposed declaring some areas in Nagarparkar, Tharparkar as safe zones or protected areas for the vultures may be a useful step towards conservation. During the PNC meeting Human Resource Development Network (HRDN) proposed to share and circulate the information on Vultures in form of a ash presentation with its members through thematic forum at HRDN. HRDN successfully organized a thematic forum on Threats to Vultures is a Threat to Human Health on Friday March 29 at HRDN Secretariat Islamabad where number of professionals and development practitioners participated to discuss the topic along with the members of National Vulture Recovery Committee constituted by Ministry of Climate Change; the session was based on a ash presentation on Vultures made by IUCN followed by the healthy discussion and Question Answer session. A number of factors and areas were discussed to improve the conservation of not just vultures but other endangered species in the context of Pakistan, it was also discussed that a more concrete and an integrated eort is required at all levels to save the ecological system from further disturbance. The forum was planned to create awareness on the said topic while focusing on the conserva-

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Threat to Human Health

Threats to Vultures is a

Friday, March 29, 2013 at HRDN Secretariat Islamabad

tion strategies in Pakistan regarding endangered species. Discussion was facilitated by IUCN. Mr. Saadullah Ayaz, facilitated the forum who is a Conservationist and Development Practitioner, with professional focus on Climate Change, Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation, Participatory Natural Resource Management Environment Fiscal Reforms and Air Quality Management. Mr. Ayaz is working as Climate Change Coordinator, with the IUCN and has additional responsibility of serving as Coordinator clean initiative for Asian Cities at IUCN Pakistan and Manages the Pakistan clean Air Network. On commencement of forum, Ms. Fauzia Malik, Executive Director HRDN warmly welcomed the guests. She gave a formal introduction of the honorable guest speaker and a brief overview of the topic. Mr. Saddullah Ayaz presented a brief explanation and interpretation of dierent endangered species of Vultures in Pakistan. Pakistan has total 9 species of vultures in Pakistan and out of which two are endangered. He shared various possible factors enhancing the extinction of vultures in Pakistan including poison, persecution, air plane collisions, electrocution and starvation. He further explained regarding natural ecological controls that create balance in an automatic fashion. The participants had a healthy and fruitful discussion and shared their respective ideas and experiences regarding the upcoming issues of this endangered bird species in dierent areas of Pakistan. The forum was concluded by Ms. Fauzia Malik, Executive Director HRDN in a nutshell by creating energy and willingness among participants to join hands and create synergy for the betterment and wellbeing of present and future generations. She emphasized that the need of hour is not to just conduct forums but also to implement the learning of such forums in a true manner by forming concrete plans, synergizing, associating, volunteering and ultimately showing results that uplift all earth beings as a loyal habitant of the mother planet earth. In the end, forum was open for further discussion over a cup of tea, in which participants highly appreciated HRDN's eort and added their valuable and positive suggestions and shared their valuable ideas.

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