Project to set up national parks in province approved
PESHAWAR: The government has approved a project for establishment and development of national parks in the province with the objective of conserving biodiversity, combating global warming and desertification.
The total cost of the project is Rs40 million out of which government has allocated an amount of Rs10 million in current Annual Development Plan (ADP), informed chief conservator NWFP Wildlife Department, Dr. Mumtaz Malik.
The project will be completed in a period of around four years in 2112.
Dr. Malik informed that under the project, two new national parks will be established in the province while the management of already existing national parks will be improved.
Presently, he said, in NWFP there are five national parks including Ayubia National Park, Saiful Malook national park, Sheikh Badin, Lolo Sur Dodi Pat and Chitral Gol National Park.
Out of these five national parks, he continued, the management plan of three parks including Sheikh Badin, Saiful Malook and Lolo Sur Dodi Pat are not still prepared and also there is need to improve their management.
Chief conservator NWFP Wildlife Department said in the prevailing circumstances the importance of national parks has been increased manifold.
Establishment of national parks fulfills requirements for implementation of three conventions of United Nations (UN) including Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Combating Desertification.
The national parks, he added, works as protected areas and thus protect biological diversity besides ensuring safety of different species and their habitat.
Similarly, the national parks also acts as Carbon Sinks and work against global warming.
The trees planted in these parks protect environment against pollution and also acts against climate change.
In order to combat with desertification, he said, the national parks protect soil from erosion not only within its surrounding areas but hundred of kilometres away from the park. Such parks also protect natural environment and enhance eco-tourism and play an important role in boosting local economy, he added.
Dr. Mumtaz Malik said launching of the project for establishment and improvement of national parks in NWFP reflects the seriousness of provincial government in environmental conservation and implementation of international conventions in this regard.