Sangat Sindh Report on World Environment Day Seminar

8/9/2019 Sangat Sindh Report on World Environment Day Seminar

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SEMINAR REPORT: HUMAN-CAUSED BIODIVERISTY LOSS AND CLIMATE DISRUPTION

World Environment Day

Human-Caused Biodiversity Loss and

Climate Disruption

Tuesday, June 5, 2007Serverabad, Nawabshah

Seminar Report

By

Nisar Brohi


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1. An Introduction

2. Objectives of the Seminar

3. Seminar Proceedings

3.1 Mr. Nek Soomro, Coordinator, Sangat Development

Foundation (SDF)

3.2 Mr. Nisar Brohi, Director, Sangat Development

Foundation (SDF)

3.3 Mr. Nawaz Brohi, Eminent Journalist

3.4 Mr. Inayat Udasi, Writer

3.4 Mr. Nazeer Ahmed, Educationalist

3.5 Mr. Mir Dost, Naib Nazim, Union Council

Jamsahib

3.6 Mr. Ashfaque Gupchani, Social Activist

4. Recommendations of the Seminar


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1.An IntroductionThe global warming and possible environmental

threats to the various Eco regions of the world are

todays striking issues in the world. The different

Eco regions of world have different problems andthreats in nature but one element is common that

human made causes probably do the most damage.

When we talk about the global warming, it has many

causes; such as excess burning fossil fuels,

Pollution, massive deforestation etc. Pollution is

one of the biggest man made problems and fossil

fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as

coal, or oil. When fossil fuels are burned, they

give off a green house gas called CO2. The CO2 isthe primary cause to global warming, on the other

side, the tress that convert CO2 to oxygen are

being demolished. There is no suitable replacement

of the trees as important for the Eco system. It is

fact that the global warming mainly caused by

humankind, and even still accelerating it. Only

drastic reduction of the waste gas emission and

large-scale afforestation can help to the normalcy

in the global warming.

The Indus Eco region has had a potential threat

even to its very existence. When we look at the

problems/threats to the Indus Eco region, there is

long list, which has badly affected on the

biodiversity of the Eco region. Due to construction

of dams and barrages at the upstream of the

country, has resulted into shortage of fresh water

flow to the lower riparian and riverine areas of

the Indus in Sindh. Which also ultimately

encouraged the sea intrusion in the coastaldistricts i.e Thatta and Badin. Over harvesting of

forests, water logging and soil salinity are also

major causes of the degradation of environment and

losses of biodiversity.


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As the case of Nawabshah district is concerned, it

was once famous for its both inland and riverine

forests. There has been massive deforestation under

the supervision of government agencies during the

last couple of decades, and also due to growing

land degradation and water shortages, common people

also resort to cutting of the forests as to clear

land for cultivation, because the forestlands are

rich in fertility. The common people dont care of

cutting the trees, being unawareness about the link

of trees with environmental maintainability.

The large scale deforestation by the Govt agencies

as well as the people, have created many

environmental problems in Nawabshah district, as it

is felt from the growing heat of the district,

being the top in the country, it is usually remains

high more than 50 centigrade. Many different warm-oriented diseases have occurred in the district and

have largely threatened to the ecology and

biodiversity of the district.

Sangat Development Foundation (SDF), being

responsible civil society entity has organized a


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one-day seminar on Human-Caused Biodiversity loss

and Climate Disruption June 5, 2007at Serverabad,

Nawabshah, on the eve of World Environment Day, in

order to discuss the role of the state and its

machinery as well as the role of the civil society

for the protection of environment and biodiversity.

The objective of the seminar was also to sensitize

the responsible social actors regarding their civil

and moral duties for the protection and development

of the Indus Eco region and forest trees in the

country for the stifling of the growing disastrous

ecological changes.

2. Objectives of the Seminar

To highlight the causes of global warming andenvironmental problems.

To develop the understanding of the common peopleon the environmental issues, especially the

possible threats to the Indus Eco region and

biodiversity

To create awareness to combat the burgeoningenvironmental challenges through community based

environmental upgradation and social forestry

To establish forest friendly watch committee forthe promotion and protection of forest trees inthe area.

3. Seminar Proceedings

3.1 Mr. Nek Soomro, Coordinator, Sangat Development

Foundation (SDF)

While welcoming the participants of the seminar Mr.

Soomro said the world currently is facing many

problems, and environment degradation is one of themain issues in the world. The primary cause of the

environmental disruption is the man made anti-

environmental actions, which have not only created

most serious environmental problems and threats to

the natural Eco system but also playing havoc with

the lives of the human population. The need is to


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address the problems of global warming by reducing

greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the fossil

fuels and the destruction of carbon-absorbing

forests.

There is direly demand of the time to launch acomprehensive campaign for the protection and

promotion of the biodiversity, which is only the

sustainable mean to meet the environmental

challenges in the country, as well as to ensure the

safety and security of our coming generations.

3.2 Mr. Nisar Brohi, Director, Sangat Development

Foundation (SDF)

Mr. Brohi giving a presentation on the Global

Warming and Possible environmental threats, said

the world is passing through its most critical

period of human history, coupled with

multidimensional threats to its very existence.

There is no exaggeration to say that human

population activities are the main cause of the

global warming and huge losses of biodiversity.

According to the scientists and climatologists, if

the current global warming trend would not be

arrested, it would be raised to 3 to 5 centigrade

in the next hundred years, which would be resulting

into 16 20 feet raising in the sea level. Due to

growing global warming trend, many ecological

changes are expected, which would certainly disturb

the world Eco system it all. Because of global

warming, the plains will have a lot more fires than

expected, the coastal regions will have disastrous

floods because of all the extra rain. As the

coastal community of Sindh has already been havinga lot of socio-economic catastrophes, and expected

coastal floods would certainly add more miseries

and force the inhabitants to leave their homes and

flee. A large portion of the polar ice cap might

melt making sea level rise 16-20 feet; some forests

in some world regions will dry up and become


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deserts by the middle of this new century. The snow

covered peaks will probably melt causing floods and

very dangerous mudslides around the globe.

It is also expected that in coming decades, there

will also be a dramatic changes in global weathercompared to the weather of today. As there will be

periods of drought followed by periods of dramatic

storms. A drought might occur when the plants have

just sprouted up from the ground. It is ultimately

the human population and biodiversity of the world

would suffer.

Due to the burgeoning global warming, human

population would host a number of warm-oriented

diseases, such as malaria, skin cancer etc. Malariais a disease that will increase in coming years. As

mosquitoes breed in warm, wet places, with the

increases of rain and warmth during global warming,

the population of mosquitoes will increase, making

the risk of increase of this disease. Skin cancer

is one of the main concerns of the world when

global warming hits.

Behind this entire dilemma, there is none but

irresponsible human actions, which createunfriendly weather increasing the large-scale

carbon emission. A survey reveals that due to human

irresponsible actions carbon emission per sector

annually is, in industrial process 16.8 percent,

power stations 21.3 percent, waste disposal and

treatment 3.4 percent, Land use and biomass burning

10.0 percent, transportation fuel 14.0 percent,

agriculture by products 12.5 percent, residential

and commercial and other sources 1.03 percent.

On the other side, the deforestation has also two

causes in contributing in the global warming, one,

due to deforestation, there is no absorption of

carbon emissions and other it is also responsible

for 25 percent of all carbons emission entering the


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atmosphere by burning and cutting of about 34

million acres of trees each year.

When we take stock of Sindh province, Sindh once

was biodiversity rich and forest prone area, and

had wide and flourished Eco-region and coastalbelt. But at present it has been facing burgeoning

threats not only to its Eco region and coastal belt

but also land and riverine forests.

In Sindh, forests occupy 2.5 percent total land

area. But on the other side, there are many threats

to forests, lack of government interest in

developing forest nurseries, the large-scale

deforestation under the supervision of the

government departments, no afforestation move, lowflow in Indus river, which badly hurt in the

riverine areas and as well as down stream Kotri the

coastal belt.

The forests and trees are not only beneficial for

the preservation of environment, but there are also

a lot of others benefits to our lands and

ultimately to the people. As the forest trees also

improve degraded soil, such as controlling soil

erosion, adding favorable nutrients to the soil,improving the soils physical and chemical

properties, and also reducing desiccation of crops.

As for as the case of Nawabshah district is

concerned, it once used to be hub of forest trees

but during last couple of decades, there has been

massive deforestation by the so called mafias under

the supervision of government and the common people

have also been involved in illegal cutting of

trees, Which has also created many environmentalproblems for the people of Nawabshah district. As

it is noted from the growing heat of the Nawabshah,

being in the top of country, more than 50

centigrade. Many different warm-oriented diseases

have occurred in the district and have threatened

the common people lives.


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On other side, it was expected that the local

government would have special focus on the forest

tree protection and promotion in order to maintain

and control the raising heat and warming. But,

unfortunately, they seem to be indulged in the

destruction of parks and tree in order to leveling

the ground for developing shopping markets and

buildings.

In order to maintain and control the burgeoning

heat and environmental problems of the district,

following immediate measures should be taken,

Massive afforestation move, through communityparticipation should immediately be launched in

the district. Legal action should be proposed for the

Protection of plants, forests and also ban should

be imposed for cutting of trees for next ten

years

During monsoon and spring season, the treeplantation campaign should not only be reserved

to the Official event/photo session, but

involving all stakeholders of the society, as

large scale plantation could be carried out.3.3 Mr. Nawaz Brohi, Eminent Journalist

While speaking on the occasion Mr. Nawaz said, the

people of Nawabshah has been confronting with major

environmental problems from many many years but

none has come forward to get them relief from this

critical conditions.

There are many reasons of warming but it is also

undeniable fact that due to massive deforestationmoves in the district by different Mafias have

also had a huge contribution in the climate

disruption. It is also matter of fact that the

community has itself also indulged in large scale

cutting of trees in the district. But there are


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very few people who are aware about beneficial

aspects of the forest trees.

It is now indispensable to launch environmental

education campaign for community workers in order

to educate them about the importance of forest andtrees for the maintainability of climate and also

benefits for their soil productivity.

Any move without community awareness and

participation for the betterment of environment

would be in vain. So, community and community-based

social worker should be taken on board to

collectively work for forest tree protection and

community based plantation.

3.4 Mr. Inayat Udasi, Writer

Mr. Inayat said, due to environment pollution many

problems have occurred from socio-economic to

health to the common people. He suggested that

there is badly need for special efforts for the

containment of global warming as well as local

Environmental facility through community-based

schools.

He was of a view that at the first step communitybased schools should be involved for the tree

protection and plantation and also the school

teachers and students should be provided trainings

for the protection and promotion of small level

nurseries, as tree loving community should be

established. No doubt the community-based schools

can play very paramount important role for the tree

nursery development.

3.4 Mr. Nazeer Ahmed, Educationalist

While speaking in the seminar, Mr. Ahmed said that

our community is facing many socio-environmental

problems since many years. Due to growing warming

and starching heat, common people hosted different

serious diseases, which resulted into more socio-


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economic miseries of the masses. Environmental

pollution has created many serious health problems

for the local community.

He suggested that Social forestry training should

be imparted to all stakeholders of the society inorder to develop tree friendly environment in the

district. The forestry would not only help in

absorption of toxic and carbon oxide emission

emanating from industrious, vehicles, power

stations etc, but also would create healthy

society.

3.5 Mr. Mir Dost, Naib Nazim, Union Council

Jamsahib

While speaking on the occasion, he first

appreciated the efforts taken by Sangat Welfare and

Development Organization for the community welfare

and development in the remote areas of the district

Nawabshah, and said that once our society was very

loving one for the trees, they used to take

precautionary measures for the nursing and looking

after the tress themselves, and also there was

trend of domestic nurseries but now there is very

little care for the trees.

He proposed tree plantation campaign in rural areas

involving the rural community and public

representatives for environmental protection. Until

and unless, the community and elected

representatives would not be engaged in the tree

plantation campaign, any move for the tree

plantation would not be successful.

3.6 Mr. Ashfaque Gupchani, Social Activist

Mr. Gupchani said that environmental issue is one

of the major problems facing by the world

population. If the required steps would not be

taken, that issue would have disastrous results on

the over all-human as well as living organisms. Due

to unsustainable development trend, it has created


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many problems in the society, and also having

colossal losses on the environment of the globe.

He said, it is high time that all possible measures

should be taken to contain the environment

degradation through involving all stakeholders ofthe society.

4. Recommendations of the Seminar

Sustained efforts for the reduction of theemission intensity of energy production

Sustainable policy to combat deforestation, andto promote the sequestering of greenhouse gases

though reforestation

Develop community based sustainable management ofbiodiversity

Provide alternative income generating activitiesto the local communities that reduce community

demands on the local environment, and avoid

unsustainable uses of forest or local wildlife

Encourage Agro-forestry, crop diversification andsoil renewal activities that help preserve

biodiversity

Public-private partnership policy for theConservation and sustainable management of

natural habitats, site protection and parks

management activities

Combat land degradation and diversification inarid and semi arid areas, such as pastoral

development, range management and village based

integrated land management

Encourage shifts to environmentally benign fueland transportation modes

Documents

Sangat Sindh Report on World Environment Day Seminar