Call for measures to protect bustard species
These views were shared during a workshop on the Multi-Species Action Plan (MsAP) for the conservation of bustard species worldwide, held at a local hotel in Islamabad on Monday.
This event was organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) in coordination with Bustards Without Borders (BWB). The Swiss Ornithological Institute supported the event through the Coordination Unit of the African-Eurasian Migratory Land Birds Action Plan (AEMLAP).
Member (Coordination) Pakistan Climate Change Authority (PCCA) Syed Ghulam Qadir Shah, and the chief guest at the event, remarked that bustards hold a unique place among the numerous species that make up this complex web of life. The decline of bustard populations is a clear indicator of the health of our ecosystems. Their presence signifies a well-functioning environment where the balance of flora and fauna is maintained. "By working to conserve bustards, we are not just saving a species, but we are safeguarding the ecosystems they inhabit and the biodiversity that supports all life, including our own", he added.
IUCN Bustards Specialist Group's Co-Chair, Dr Mimi Kessler, said that bustard populations are declining across much of their range. This underlines both the urgency and the complexity of our shared task.
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