"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" (Margaret Mead)

Even though the picture is dismal, activities for the conservation of the environment do take place. There are many NGOs working for the conservation of the environment. The Government has also established certain rules and regulations and proper authorities for environmental conservation. Following are a few examples of environmental work. 

Mangla Watershed Project 1961

This project was set up to increase the life of the Mangla Reservoir, by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). After intensive studies, appropriate techniques were underlined to protect landholdings from soil erosion. The landowners were consulted and the watershed area was divided into sub-watersheds, which were then worked upon, according to the degree of erosion, slopes and gullies. The result was a decrease in the sedimentation of the Mangla reservoir by 19%. Now the reservoir's life has increased from 110 to 170 years.

The Wildlife Enquiry Committee (WEC)

In 1969 the government formed the WEC, to recommend the legal and administrative measures necessary to protect the country's wildlife. The WEC drafted legislation on which the provincial wildlife acts and ordinances were enacted and various categories of protected areas were created. The Committee also formed the National Council for the Conservation of Wildlife (NCCW), responsible for coordination and liaison work at the provincial and federal level. The NCCW has had a major role on getting the wildlife concerns incorporated into national policies. 

The World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan (WWF P)

The Pakistan Wildlife Appeal, a voluntary organisation became affiliated with WWF-International in 1970 and that is how WWF-P came into existence. One of its first efforts was the recommendation for the creation of the Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park in Balochistan. Since then WWF-P has come a long way and now has a presence in almost all environmental issues. It has now become one of Pakistan's largest NGOs.

Ramsar Convention Signed

The Ramsar Convention is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat . It was formed to prevent the encroachment into wetlands and ensure their conservation. The Government of Pakistan signed the convention in 1976 and as such has designated 8 wetlands in the country, such as Haleji and Kinjhar lakes. 

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES)

This convention is a breakthrough to prevent the exploitation of endangered species of wild animals and plants by international trade. Pakistan became a signatory to this convention in 1976, and this provided NGOs working in this sector opportunity to monitor illegal traffic in endangered species. 

Indus Dolphin Project (IDP)

In 1977 the Indus Dolphin Project was born after Giorgio Pilleri's scientific expedition (1974) revealed that in the stretch of 170 km of Indus there was a total of only 150 dolphins. This discovery led the government to mark them as endangered species and declare the area between the Sukkar and Guddo barrages as dolphin reserve. The IDP still continues today and has resulted in controlling the decline of this endemic mammal. The numbers have now reached the 500 mark. 

Orangi Pilot Project (OPP)

The Orangi Pilot Project is one of the first NGOs in Pakistan to promote participatory development. Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan with a dedicated team energised the residents of Orangi to transform their locality. Orangi was an urban slum in Karachi and its condition was similar to other such urban dwellings. Through the project open sewers were replaced by a low cost sewage system. The residents did most of the work with the OPP staff providing technical assistance. Other programmes in the areas of education, family planning social forestry and microcredit were also initiated. Today OPP and its team are working with 35 such areas and have also been requested by the government to assist the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board in upgrading its sewerage system. 

Marine Turtle Conservation Project

The Sindh Wildlife Department started this project in 1980 to protect the turtles that come to nest on Karachi's beaches. It is now in its seventeenth year of operation. The staff collects turtle eggs from the beaches and rebury them in secure enclosures. The hatchlings are then counted, weighed and measured and released into the sea. The project has managed to release 430,000 hatchlings into the sea and tagged 2,000 mother turtles. 

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP)

The main objective of this programme was to bring sustainable development into the northern areas. They aim to maximise the productive capacity of the land through interventions in the field of natural resource management and also enable communities to practice subsistence farming. AKRSP has a clearly defined participatory process and their efforts have borne fruit by changing the face of the northern areas. They have formed over 3000 village and women organisations that have savings of more than Rs. 336 million. AKRSP 's success has been the basis of other programmes such as the National Rural Support Programme and the Balochistan Rural Support Programme. 

Torghar Conservation Project (TCP)

This project was started by a group of volunteers in the Torghar Hills in Balochistan to control the illegal hunting of the markhor and urial, which had resulted in marked decreases in the two species. In 1994 an NGO called the Society for Torghar Environmental Protection (STEP) was formed to administer the project. Here too the community participation is visible. The local people were employed as game guards to protect an area of about a 1000 sq. km. Strictly controlled hunting is allowed to provide the locals with an income. There has been a trophy harvest of only 40 animals in twelve years and STEP has been able to enforce a complete ban on unauthorised hunting. According to a survey conducted in 1994 the population of both the species has gone up from 100 animals to 1900. 

Kirthar National Park

This park is one of Pakistan's protected areas and also a reason for many controversies. A plan to build the Indus Highway was initiated to link the Northern Areas to Karachi. Part of the road was to pass through the park, which would have seriously endangered its biodiversity. The issue was exposed by the media and NGO such as the WWF filed litigation cases against the construction through the park. These cases forced the government to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment, which revealed that the economic benefits of the highway were far less then the negative impacts it would have. 

National Conservation Strategy

In the 1980s World Wildlife Fund (WWF), United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and IUCN-World Conservation Union collaborated to formulated the World Conservation Strategy to 'save the world'. After IUCN started its work in Pakistan the government and IUCN worked to formulate the National Conservation Strategy for Pakistan over a three-year period. The NCS is a plan to integrate environmental concerns into Pakistan's economy. The implementation of the strategy started with the formation of institutions such as the Environmental Section in the Federal Planning and Development Division and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. 

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Pakistan ratified this convention in 1992 with 161 nations at the Earth Summit at Rio. Consequently, Pakistan became a contributor and beneficiary to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) set up under the convention. It is also taking initiatives in community level projects to conserve biodiversity. 

Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Project

The project has the capacity to produce 1,450 mw of electricity. With this project, the Water and Power Department for the first time took efforts to study the environment and to include environmental considerations. 

UN Convention on Combating Desrtification (CCD)

This is an international treaty for collaborative action against damage and poverty in drylands. Pakistan signed this in 1997 and is in the process of developing its National Action Plan to fight desertification, which afflicts about 45 million hectares. A local NGO, Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) is active in this area. 

Shehla Zia Case

This was a case filed against WAPDA to halt the construction of a grid station near a residential area. The judgement given was in favour of the citizens and became a landmark decision in the field of environmental law in the country. This case set the precedent for subsequent environmental cases. 

Maintaining Biodiversity with Rural Community Development.

IUCN - Pakistan and the Government of NWFP's Wildlife Department jointly implement this project. Rural communities are active partners in this project and over 40 villages were involved in the first two years. 

Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy (SPCS)

In 1996, The Government of NWFP approached IUCN to formulate and implement the SPCS. This was the principal plan to implement the National conservation Strategy. The strategy has spurred the governments of Balochistan and the Northern Areas to emulate this move. 

Pakistan Environmental Protection Bill 1997 (PEPA)

PEPA supplements the 1983 Environmental Protection Ordinance with more functions for the Environmental Protection Agencies, and new laws dealing with pollution. It also rationalises the Environmental Protection Council

Source:The Way Ahead-50th Anniversary issue IUCN Pakistan.