THE IMPORTANCE of biodiversity is very little known and different ecosystems are being destroyed in the name of development by the human beings, whereas the nature and all the creatures that contribute to make it what it is need to be loved and protected for our own survival.
Our planet is remarkably abundant with natural resources like plants and animals which are our food baskets and there is more than enough for all of its inhabitants. It is the greed and shortsightedness of people that create the illusion of scarcity of resources as we are paying no or very little attention to sustainability and conservation of our natural wealth International Day for Biodiversity will be celebrated on May 22.
This years theme “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” reflects the importance of efforts made at all levels to establish a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda for the period of 2015- 2030 and the relevance of biodiversity for the achievement of sustainable development.
Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), which strongly believes in the notion that science is the key to development, is making its all out efforts for promotion and popularization of science in the country.
The Foundation is making its all out efforts for sustainable development in the country and its subsidiary organization Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) through different displays is imparting invaluable education to visitors about conservation of natural resources. It is creating awareness among general public that our fate is linked to biological diversity – the variety of life on earth, as biodiversity is essential for sustainable development and human well-being.
It is crucial to the reduction of poverty, due to the basic goods and ecosystem services it provides. In collaboration with International Organizations like UNESCO and other stakeholders it making efforts to get declared different ecosystems as biosphere reserves in order to conserve the biodiversity for sustainable development.
But these efforts are not enough and we need to take some urgent measures at public and private levels to reverse the damage being done to the biodiversity through pollution, deforestation, over-hunting, over-grazing and soil erosion etc. Focus on local communities involvement in this process is very important.
PMNH has planned different activities to celebrate International Biodiversity Day to create awareness among masses about the importance of biodiversity on May 22. People are invited to visit the Museum and participate in the national and international cause of biodiversity conservation.