Zoological survey of Pakistan project approved

Zoological survey of Pakistan project approved

ISLAMABAD: (APP) The government on Tuesday approved a project 'Strengthening of Zoological Survey of Pakistan' under Green Pakistan Programme which would be executed at a cost of Rs 99.98 million.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved the project in its meeting held here, official sources in the ministry of climate change told APP.

The sources said, the Zoological Survey of Pakistan is an attached department of the ministry of climate change.

Its function included to conduct regular surveys, research and publish information on distribution, population dynamics and status of fauna of Pakistan, backstop federal and provincial policy makers on wildlife diversity, conservation, and management matters.

The department also facilitate implementation of law on international trade of endangered species through reliable census and provide data and information for reporting to wildlife related conventions (CMS, CBD, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands).

It is also responsible for standard zoological collections to support scientific research by other organizations and trainings and capacity building on conservation, and survey techniques." he added.

The major achievements of ZSP last year included studies on fauna of protected areas i.e. Machiara National Park, Ayubia National Park and Chumbi Surla Wildlife sanctuaries, studies on threatened species i.e. Punjab Urial, Blue bull and Wooly flying squirrel, mid-winter Waterfowl census of major wetlands of Punjab,

Sindh and KP, surveys of economically important faunal species such as Parrots, Falcons, Pangolin, Freshwater turtles, etc. used in international wildlife trade, status and threats to globally threatened Marbled Teal in Sindh, reconnaissance survey of freshwater turtles in Kabul River and Indus River System in Khyber Pkhtunkhwa, printing of awareness material on Pangolin.