International Day for Biological Diversity: our solutions are in nature

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“Never before since the adoption of this day in year 2000 by United Nations it was more relevant than today, since the day falls amidst the deadly disaster of COVID-19 has brought to human being to make us realize the focus on bio-diversity.”

This was stated by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, in his message on the International Day for Biological Diversity being observed on May 22. 

“The theme for 2020 ‘Our solutions are in nature’ is very appropriate given the fact that we are battling pandemic. It says it all. If we had recognized the importance of biological diversity, we would perhaps have avoided the loss of thousands of lives and jamming of global order,” he recognized. 

“It is hoped post pandemic, we shall emerge victorious by going closer to nature, adopt our lives in line with natural processes and coexist with other living beings. After all, the planet belongs to all and we must co-habit giving back the space of others we have occupied,” the former federal minister for Information & Broadcasting thought. 

“We have lost a lot and must reflect how we will repair, reorient and reconstruct our lives to build a future of life in harmony with nature. As the ecosystem affects our health, water, food and life we must rethink how we shall live in harmony with nature. The United Nations estimate that around 25% of all animals and plants species are threatened with extinction globally. Therefore, we must create awareness and build momentum to protect life in this planet,” he asserted. 

“The countries observe a week identifying various segments for the needed action but we in Pakistan are preoccupied in day to day issues without realizing our indifference will cost us lives and quality of life in future. The governments in centre and provinces could have launched e-visits to zoos, parks, forests, aquariums, museums and libraries to bring citizens specially youth closer to nature, animals, plants, ecosystems which are pieces of the biodiversity jigsaw. With that we would have united the people and also taken them away from the sufferings of pandemic apart from most needed disengagement from current low-level politics,” he pointed out. 

“If leadership in Islamabad had realized that all efforts on bio-diversity would mean healthy living conditions, richer varieties of food, clean drinking water for our people and way to achieve seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) they would have been seen busy highlighting it. They should know SDG-2 is Zero Hunger, SDG-3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG-10 Reducing Inequalities, and SDG-12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG-13 Climate Actions, SDG-14 Life below Water, and SDG-15 Life on Land,” he added. 

“All knowledge-based societies have programmes. Can our leadership stand up and tell the nation where they stand on this count of governance?” he questioned.