RAWALPINDI, Feb 1: Having a biodiversity park on the out- skirts of the city could have hardly come to the mind of the people of this city plagued with enormous problems like poverty, absence of civic amenities, congested roads and massive pollution.

But thanks to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (Unescap), the park is a reality today. It has been set up at a cost of $1.7 million, under the UN body's 5P project (pro-poor private-public partnership).

Spread over 28 acres, donated by the city's only oil refinery, in Morgah, the park showcases aquatic life, a butterfly farm, an aviary, trees, plants, herbs and creepers unique to Potohar region.

This region has amazing flora and fauna. The three components of the Morgah Bio-diversity Park are its core, periphery and the frame. The core spanning 28 acres comprises plantation, bird and animal life and ponds, whereas the periphery consists of adjoining villages of Morgah and Kotha Kalan with a population of about 40,000, where vegetation cover would be promoted.

The frame consists of the "biodiversity hot spots" of the twin cities and will be integrated with the core. Flora and fauna from spots threatened by development in the region, like the upcoming Islamabad International Airport, would be brought to the park for conservation and exhibition.

Almost eight acres have been allocated for the purpose of creating this biodiversity bank. The project would not only address the problem of dwindling species of plants and animals, but also provide incentives to human population to preserve biodiversity around them.

An official associated with the project said: "Conservation of biodiversity is a relatively new concept for the people here, but through our project, we hope to create required awareness."

Biodiversity constitutes the most important working component of the ecosystem. It maintains ecological processes, creates soil, recycles nutrients and has moderating effect on the weather.

Biodiversity is particularly important for the poor as it offers food security, traditional medicine and shelter. "The poor depend more on biodiversity than the rich.

It provides shelter and food besides meeting their energy requirements. In fact, 90 per cent needs of the poor are met from biodiversity resources," said Unescap Environment Section chief Mohammad AslamKhan.

Biodiversity loss has been enormous in Pakistan, with only 5 per cent of the area left under forest. The condition of biodiversity loss in Potohar is even more critical.

Unescap says step by step it is making headway in the mammoth task of preserving the existing biodiversity of the Potohar plateau and restoring it to its past glory.

The biodiversity park project would also serve the purpose of income generation. According to the projections provided in UN literature, the income would go up from Rs45,000 in 2005-06 to Rs1,58,000 in 2008-09 with 50 per cent of this income accruing to the community.