BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF PAKISTAN

GROUP MEMBERS

• Rana Mohsin Wahid• Maheen Raza• Fatima Shahid

CONTENTS• Biodiversity• Types of Biodiversity• Endemic Species in Pakistan• Threats to Biodiversity in

Pakistan• Endangered Species in Pakistan• Extinct Species in Pakistan• Hotspots in Pakistan• Measures to Conserve

Biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY

• Also known as Biological Diversity• Refers to all species on Earth• Includes animals, plants, microbes and their ecosystems

• 15 Million species present on Earth• Only 1.7 Million life forms are known to science• Others are still to be discovered

TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY1.GENETIC DIVERSITY

• Variations of genes within species.

• Each specie have its own genetic composition.

2. SPECIES DIVERSITY

• Species - Group of individuals that can interbreed• Species Diversity is variety of species in a region.• Many different plants and animals contribute to more species biodiversity

3. ECOSYSTEM BIODIVERSITY

• Variations among ecosystems• Wetlands• Grasslands• Hot deserts• Cold deserts• Temperate forests• Tropical forests• Others

ENDEMIC SPECIES OF PAKISTAN

• Species which are common or native to a certain region.

• Mammals found only in Pakistan

Indus river dolphin Pale grey shrew Wooly flying squirrel Chiltan wild goat

Pale grey shrew Wooly flying squirrel

• Reptiles unique to Pakistan

Pakistan Rock Thal Skink Blind Snakes Dwarf Snake

Thal Skink Blind snake

• Endemic amphibians

Batura Glacier green toad Baloch green toad Hazara frog Pakistan sand frog

Baloch green toad Batura glacier green toad

• Freshwater fishes found only in Pakistan

Indus catfish A river loach A snow carp A hill trout

Indus catfish Snowcarp

• Insects native to Pakistan are:

Silk moth An owlet moth Tiger beetle Tortoise beetle

A silk moth Tiger beetle

• 5600 species of vascular plants found in Pakistan.• 400 species are endemic.

THREATS TOBIODIVERSIT

Y INPAKISTAN

• Forests are cut down for

resins, fuel, building material, paper etc.

• Deforestation destroys forest ecosystems.

• Flora and Fauna are also lost.

• Balochistan juniper forests are at risk in Pakistan.

1. DEFORESTATION

2. OVERGRAZING• Results into loss of topsoil.• Water and Wind erosions• Vegetation reduction reduces wildlife populations.

3. HUNTING• Long tradition in Pakistan.• Migrating birds shot for target practices.• Others are hunted for their meat.• Large scale hunting is a threat to biodiversity.

4. CLIMATE CHANGE• Rapid mad-made climate change speeds up extinction process.• Species get little time to adapt.

5. IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE

• Threat to forests.• Forests take away with them unique species of plants and animals.

6. POLLUTION• Toxic chemicals and heavy metals.• Effects the species abundance.• Can lead to extinction.

ENDANGERED SPECIESOF

PAKISTAN• Plants and animals soon to die out.• Never to be seen again on Earth.

INDUS RIVER DOLPHIN

• One of the most recognized sea creature.• At risk due to development of dams.

MARKHOR

• National animal of Pakistan.• At risk due to deforestation.

MARCOPOLO SHEEP

• Found in northern areas of Pakistan.• Target for hunters.

SNOW LEOPARD

• Overgrazing damages grasslands leaving less food for its prey.

BLUE WHALE

• Largest animal on planet.• At risk due to: Hunting Accidental collision with ships Global warming

Balochistan Black Bear• Found only in Balochistan.• Endangered due to hunting and deforestation.

GREEN TURTLES• Second largest species of marine turtle family.• Facing extinction due to low growth rate and environmental problems.

BLACK FIN-LESS PORPOISE• Unique sea creature.• Does not have fins.• At risk due to pollution.

Extinct Species of Pakistan

• 4 mammals have so far disappeared from Pakistan.

TIGER

SWAMP DEER

LION

INDIAN ONE-HORNED RHINO

HOTSPOTS IN PAKISTAN

• Region having biodiversity under threat.• Part of Pakistan is included in Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.• Sulaiman Range Alpine Meadows• Korakoram West Tibetan Plateau Alpine Steppe

SULAIMAN RANGE

KORAKORAM WEST TIBETAN PLATEAU ALPINE STEPPE

• Over Exploitation of natural resources• Unsustainable development• Disturbance to the Environment• Sixth extinction crisis• Rate of extinction is 1000 to 10000 times higher than it would be naturally

MEASURES TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY IN PAKISTAN

• Conserved through people’s participation• National Conservation Strategy• Ban on hunting and trade of endangered species• Areas designated to conserve endangered species

• Farming practices should not jeopardize species survival• Usage of pesticides and fertilizers should be reduced• Urban-Rural development must not ignore the nature• Man should not alter the climate

• Many non government organizations involved in biodiversity conservation.• Among them are: World Wide Fund for Nature ,Pakistan

Pakistan Wildlife Conservation Strategy

International Union For Conservation of Nature

THE END