Wetlands are very necessary for ensuring climate stability, water availability, food security, and community resilience; hence, all stakeholders should come forward with concrete measures to protect them so that ecology and biodiversity on the earth can be sustained.

This was stated by Rafiul Haq, an ecologist, while addressing a seminar to mark the World Wetlands Day 2026, organized by Green Media Initiatives with support of Accountability Lab Pakistan and the Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology at the FUUAST Gulshan Campus in Karachi on Monday.

Mr Rafi said that Pakistan has 225 wetlands covering 9.7% of its land area, with 19 of them designated as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention.

He said that these diverse ecosystems, ranging from alpine lakes to coastal mangroves, are crucial for migratory birds and biodiversity, but nowadays they face threats from climate change, pollution, and water scarcity, he informed. Rafi stressed the need to take steps for protecting wetlands which are being affected by population rise, industrialisation, and wrong agricultural practices, along with deforestation. He informed that Pakistan’s forest cover has declined to 1.5 percent of its total land area, which is very low as per international standards. The forest hacking is adding to unstability of wetlands.

Mr Rafiq said that water bodies reduce temperature in their surroundings, hence,  we should protect them with solid steps by all stakeholders. Mr Rafq further said that wetlands in Pakistan face threats from climate change, floods, droughts, rising use of pesticides, changing land use, and deforestation. Immediate steps are required to avert these threats by ensuring effective and efficient actions. He advised that wetlands should be used naturally to sustain them, like fish in water bodies should be caught after a period of time so that it could grow and feed humans.

Dr Asma Ibrahim, a wetland expert, said that the world is now about 1.1 degrees centigrade warmer than it was in the 19th Century – and the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen by 50%, which is dangerous for biodiversity and wetland survival. She said that as a consequence of reduced water flows, the natural ecosystem of the Indus Delta has been seriously affected by saltwater intrusion due to backwash from the sea. There is no Indus water in Indus Delta presently, which is the matter of great concern.

Dr Asma said that Indus delta is sinking due to rising sea level. As a consequence of reduced water flows, the natural ecosystem of the Indus Delta has been seriously affected by saltwater intrusion due to backwash from the sea. The resulting antadverse impacts on the ecology and economy of the Indus Delta have contributed to the loss of millions of dollars. Besides problems are arising due to water withdrawal, irrigation itself has created several ecological problems. The most serious – waterlogging and salinity – has resulted from sub-optimum use of water in a badly managed irrigation system, she added.

Asma informed that near Thatta, the river bank is alternately shelving the steep, and  marks of the alteration, are very visible. The destruction of banks continues without intermission, and in the dry season, when the level of the river is low, the upper portion slides into the water, she said.

Asma said The realization of the close relation human beings share with the environment could be one reason for the sudden development of this phenomenon. Without a second thought, one can say that the survival of mankind on this earth becomes doubtful in the absence of the environment and the natural resources. While such discussions and realizations are the intellectual byproducts developed in the current century, the history of bonding between human beings and the environment begins right from the origin of the human species, she concluded.

Huda Ikram, Senior Political Adviser, British Deputy High Commission Karachi, said that the UK is working with Pakistan to boost health and education, and it is also providing funding to the country; however, such funding has reduced to some level, she added. Ms Huda said they also wanted to work for the Indus Delta protection.

She said that it would be good that we should first pay prior attention to the issues carefully, instead of resolving them after public outcry. Youth could play greater role in resolving climate change and other issues, she added.

Kashif Ali, Executive Director, Transparency International Pakistan, said that Pakistan needs to ensure better climate governance to mitigate, and adapt to climate change. Mitigation is aimed at resolving the climate issue from its root causes while climate adaptation is the process of adjusting to effects of climate change to moderate harm, and avoid damage. He also stressed the need to expand the carbon credits policy.

It needs multi-level efforts to reduce carbon emissions through the government, and private sector. Climate change is a big issue in Pakistan that needs to be dealt through good climate governance, he stressed.

CEO Green Media Initiative Shabina Faraz said that students should come forward to save environment by planting trees in their homes, use paper bags for purchasing instead of using plastic bags which are causing environment pollution. She said that Karachi population has risen to three crores, so we all should make hectic efforts to save the city from environment degredation. There is a dire need to plant trees in this megaloplis, she added.

Muhammad Abubakar, Program and Communications Manager (ALP); Syed Faisal Karim, Anchorperson/ Multimedia Trainer also spoke on the occasion.

Note: This blog was originally published on PipenewsAgency on February 2nd, 2026 and can be accessed here.