KARACHI: First-ever provincial level Baseline of Vultures population in Sindh has been completed by IUCN with the support of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company. The Baseline study conducted by IUCN Pakistan through renowned ecologist of Pakistan Z. B Mirza with the support of the Sindh Wildlife Dept.
The field survey data has revealed that vulture populations are increasing in the province, and apart from Tharparkar – long considered a stronghold of vultures – Khirthar National Park and its extended range up to Gorakh Hills too are now considered population habitat of these critically endangered birds in Sindh.
The report was commissioned as part of a vulture conservation project being implemented by IUCN and Bannhn Beli with the support of the SECMC/Thar Foundation in Tharparkar. The report was launched in a webinar, attended by the Federal Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Naheed Durani, Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi, CEO-SECMC, Senator (Retired) Javed Jabbar, Founding President Baanhn Beli, Country Head of IUCN Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, and Conservator Wildlife Sindh Mr. Javed Ahmed Mahar.
Other participants included renowned conservation experts, from Pakistan, India, the USA, UK, Nepal, and Thailand. A large number of representatives of the federal and provincial governments, NGOs, wildlife experts, and representatives also attended the event.
Ms. Durrani congratulated SECMC, IUCN, Baahnh Beli, and the Sindh Wildlife Department for this overarching and precious work that has been produced by amazing teams of experts. She also endorsed a suggestion of Thar Foundation that the ecologically fragile and rich part of Thar may be declared as National Park. She said that if the Govt. of Sindh prepares a proposal, the Ministry of Climate Change will support it.
In his presentation, Dr. Z. B. Mirza said that Tharparkar is a unique region, where four species of vultures are residents and three are migratory. He termed the increasing population of dogs as a great threat to the vultures. He also said that overgrazing and overcapacity are also factors for the decline of vultures. He said that the lopping of trees as fodder in the area reduced the opportunity of nesting for vultures.
Fast growth and overpopulation of humans and degradation of habitats is a vicious cycle. He recommended that monitoring of vultures conservation should be started. He further said that awareness-raising among the residents is a must for making the efforts fruitful.
Senator (Retired) Javed Jabbar thanked SECMC, IUCN, and Sindh Wildlife Department and appreciated their unique collaboration for a common cause towards conserving the vulture population. He termed this effort to be a part of the global struggle to preserve biodiversity.
He also appreciated the efforts of the team of Dr. Mirza for conducting the survey in difficult conditions during the summer and winter seasons for producing a pioneering landmark publication. He said that Vultures are disappearing because of the irrational use of a drug.
Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi, CEO-SECMC, explained the background for this initiative, and how this project was evolved. He noted that SECMC, despite a coal company, was all for preserving and conserving nature, and was trying to contribute, amongst other areas, to biodiversity conservation in Thar as well under its exemplary CSR.
He said “we welcomed the suggestion from Sindh Wildlife, that the survey is undertaken in the entire Sindh province, instead of just Thar, as our purpose was to get a job done well, he said. He said that SECMC was equally committed to improving the environment of Thar, through such conservation projects.
Mr. Javed Meher, Chief Conservator, Sindh Wildlife Department appreciated the efforts in conducting this intensive survey. He was of the view that the protection of the habitat of vultures is essential to make the conservation efforts fruitful. He assured full support of the Sindh Wildlife in the conservation efforts as and when required.
In his remarks, Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, IUCN Country Representative Pakistan, appreciated the generous financial support of SECMC, the strong partnership of Baanhn Beli and the technical support of the Sindh Wildlife Department helped in conducting this detailed survey of the entire province of Sindh.
He mentioned that the vulture population in Pakistan has steeply declined over the last 20 years or so, and accelerated efforts are now underway to save these large, magnificent birds, from the many threats they have been facing.
Mr. Naseer Memon, GM CSR, and Communications, at SECMC, gave the vote of thanks and said that through the platform of Thar Foundation a number of initiatives of community development and eco-system conservation have been launched.
