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Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity in Pakistan: Current Challenges and Policy Recommendations

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The Food Security, Biodiversity, and Climate Nexus

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Abstract

Pakistan is located at the crossroads of three zoogeographic regions (Oriental, Palaearctic, and Ethiopian) with great altitudinal variation and diversity of ecological zones. The diversity of plant species, insects, terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate species, marine invertebrates, mammals, avian species, reptiles, amphibians, and marine and freshwater fish species is quite significant. This biodiversity is increasingly threatened by climatic changes. Therefore, in this chapter, we highlight recent trends in climate change at the global, regional, and local levels, along with an overview of possible impacts of such changes on different ecosystems and various components of biodiversity with special reference to Pakistan. We have also identified the gaps in existing institutional and policy mechanisms and proposed measures for the enhancement of biodiversity conservation in Pakistan. The latest rankings of Pakistan in terms of vulnerability to climate change are alarming. Pakistan launched the National Climate Change Policy in 2012, while the Biodiversity Action Plan was developed in 2000 and updated in 2015 as the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). These documents address the need and opportunity for mitigation and adaptation to climate change and conservation of biodiversity. Based on our analysis of these documents, we suggest designing and implementing a strong community awareness program along with capacity building of relevant departments; extending and managing the buffer zone and providing incentives to local communities living around protected areas; establishing corridors and maintaining connectivity with nature reserves in the mountainous areas; systematic afforestation and restoration of degraded ecosystems; and enhanced research on the response of different species of plants and animals to climate change. All this together can help improve the adaptive capacities of the communities and contribute to climate mitigation in addition to conserving biodiversity. It is necessary as well to consider the needs of different sectors—such as agriculture and resource extraction—and monitor policies that address climate change but could negatively impact biodiversity and local communities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely thankful to Dr. Michael R. Reed, Emeritus Professor, and former Director—International Programs for Agriculture at the University of Kentucky, USA, for reviewing the initial drafts, making helpful comments, and offering valuable suggestions. His sincere cooperation is highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry, Range Management and Wildlife, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Maqsood Anwar

  2. Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Muhammad Rais

  3. Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Mirza Barjees Baig

  4. Senior Environmentalist Expert, Economic Social & Environmental Council (ESEC), Director, Center for Environment, Human Security and Governance (CERES), Rabat, Morocco

    Mohamed Behnassi

Authors
  1. Maqsood Anwar
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  2. Muhammad Rais
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  3. Mirza Barjees Baig
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  4. Mohamed Behnassi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maqsood Anwar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), Rabat, Morocco

    Mohamed Behnassi

  2. Manager, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration Program, World Resources Institute, New Delhi, India

    Himangana Gupta

  3. Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mirza Barjees Baig

  4. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

    Ijaz Rasool Noorka

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Anwar, M., Rais, M., Baig, M.B., Behnassi, M. (2022). Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity in Pakistan: Current Challenges and Policy Recommendations. In: Behnassi, M., Gupta, H., Barjees Baig, M., Noorka, I.R. (eds) The Food Security, Biodiversity, and Climate Nexus. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12586-7_6

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