Conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Project description
Title: Conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (BKP)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Pakistan
Lead executing agency: Planning and Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Overall term: 2012 to 2015
Context
Pakistan is acknowledged to be one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots. The ecosystems and the services they provide play an important part in the ecological and economic situation of the rural population. However, these rich natural resources are seriously threatened by the impacts of climate change and other human interventions, and their loss would severely curtail people’s livelihoods. The Pakistani Government has acknowledged that the loss of biodiversity and the impact of climate change constitute threats to national economic and social development.
Objective
The capacities of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for addressing biodiversity as a core aspect of sustainable development have improved. Public and private actors alike can draw on a range of new experiences when pursuing the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity.
Approach
The project cooperates with the provincial departments of Planning and Development, and of Environment and Agriculture. To harness synergies between important actors, it also maintains a network of universities, international organisations and NGOs. Its activities concentrate on three main areas of intervention.
The implementation of pilot measures that directly benefit communities in the districts of Swat and Chitral is generating best practice examples for climate change adaptation measures. These will then be made available for broader dissemination.
The project supports the provincial government in developing a provincial biodiversity strategy and action plan in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The provincial policy framework will be further strengthened through the addition of a steering body for biodiversity.
Furthermore, the project plays a leading role in awareness raising and knowledge management activities, and in the networking of government institutions, universities, civil-society organisations and community groups, in all biodiversity-related areas.
Results achieved so far
A series of workshops has been held to sensitise government officials for specific topics, including biodiversity and agro-biodiversity, ecosystem-based adaptation measures, and vulnerability assessments to improve resilience to climate change. Communities in three pilot valleys received support in conducting vulnerability assessments, and are now implementing the adaptation measures identified. As well as establishing value chains for non-timber forest products and for agro-biodiversity products, the best practices identified will be used for wider dissemination.
The project has established numerous contacts with other relevant national and international organisations, with which it has also shared relevant information. Related to this, the project has joined the national focus group for REDD+ (reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) and will conduct initial training courses for government officials. It has become well known in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an entity engaged in the field of biodiversity and climate change.