UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has urged the world community to espouse collaborative efforts for conservation of the Markhor, given its role in the overall ecosystem.

“For Pakistan, the Markhor holds a special significance as it is our national animal,” Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told a side event that focused on strategies for the protection of this iconic animal. “Markhors offer a significant opportunity to bolster the economy, foster conservation efforts and promote sustainable tourism and economic growth,” Ambassador Akram said at the event convened by the Tajikistan Mission to the UN in collaboration with UNEP and IUCN.

While Markhors’ population is declining globally, with less than 6,000 mature individuals left, he said their numbers in Pakistan have been increasing for the past 10 years, reaching between 3,500 and 5,000, “due to our proactive conservation programmes, and community engagement”.

“In Pakistan’s experience,” Ambassador Akram said, “strengthening community governance structures and promoting local ownership over sustainable natural resource use is a crucial first step to building more capacity for wildlife management activities.”

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2024