2018(19) Session Events

World Wetlands Day 2019

The Environment Society Celebrates World Wetlands Day 2019

The students’ Environment Society organised a seminar regarding the World Wetlands Day in partnership with Islamic Relief Pakistan on 6 February at the Department of Environmental Sciences. This event was published in several national newspapers including in The News and the report can be found here: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/428770-seminar-held-to-mark-world-wetlands-day

The main theme this year is about ‘Wetlands and Climate Change’ as approved by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The purpose of the seminar was to create awareness amongst the students and encourage conservation measures for wetlands in Pakistan which need to be done on a priority basis to combat the climate change impacts.

In the introductory and welcome speech, Dr Asif Khan Khattak, who is the Organiser of the Society, welcomed the guest speakers from different organizations including WWF, Islamic Relief and the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar. Dr Asif Khan Khattak, in his presentation, shared personal experiences regarding wetlands from the UK and USA. He emphasized on the need to improve further wetland conservation measures in Pakistan, as they play important roles as habitats and ecosystems from the high-altitude mountains in the north to the sea level in the south. He also explained the two-way relationship that climate change and wetlands have.

Dr Shahla Nazneen, from the Department of Environmental Sciences, who is also the Co-organizer of the Society, gave a talk on the different types of wetlands. Mr Shah Faisal, a guest speaker from Islamic Relief Pakistan highlighted the role of his organization in wetland conservation and management and how wetlands can play important roles in the current water scarcity problems under changing climates. Mr Ijaz, another guest speaker from WWF shared his views on different wetlands in Pakistan and enlightened the audience with different Ramsar Wetlands sites present in Pakistan. The President Shanzae Majeed and the General Secretary Sanya Kiran, of the Environment Society, at the end of the talks, held a Question/Answer session. The President of the Society gave closing remarks and thanked the invited speakers.