Karachi, April 20, 2016
IUCN Pakistan organized a two-day training workshop in collaboration with HEJ/ International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) and National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on “Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Integrated Coastal Zone Management” from 24-25 May 2017 at University of Karachi.
The participants were trained on managing ecological disasters and adapting to climate change so that they can apply and impart the knowledge in their respective areas.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan, sensitized the audience to the importance of the coastal ecosystem and mangroves and said that IUCN was committed to making communities disaster and climate resilient. He added that IUCN is “implementing the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Programme in Pakistan and currently has four Small Grants Projects being implemented in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.” “MFF, he explained, works towards maintaining healthy ecosystems to secure livelihoods and increase resilience to natural hazards and climate change.”
Reflecting the growing concern about natural disasters and climate change in Pakistan, the workshop aimed at training participants from NGOs, academia and government officials working in the area of ecosystem management along the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
Dr. M Iqbal Choudhury, Director, HEJ/ICCBS, University of Karachi very graciously extended his support for hosting this training and to sharing knowledge with HEJ faculty members and students who joined on the second day.
Mr. Ghulam Qadir Shah, National Coordinator, Mangroves for the Future Programme and Nadeem Mirbahar made their presentations focusing on Environment and Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Dr. Naeem Shehzad of National University of Science and Technology (NUST) made a presentation on “Linking Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, Linking global environmental problems, sustainable development and disasters, Risk trends, DRR gap analysis in the Asia-Pacific and linkages to the environment.
About IUCN
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN works on biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and greening the world economy by supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. IUCN’s Asia Regional Office is in Bangkok Thailand. The IUCN Asia Regional Secretariat has over 300 staff located in country and liaison offices in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.