Issues of Climate Changes stressed by Speakers:

ISLAMABAD(APP): Speakers at the 6th meeting of South and Central Asia MAB Network (SACAM) here Wednesday stressed the need to address the issues related to climate change.

Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan Science Foundation and Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) started 6th Meeting of South and Central Asia MAB Network (SACAM) to discuss the “Impacts of Climate Change on Natural Ecosystems”.

The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed was the chief guest on the occasion. Kamran Ali Qureshi, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, who is also Chairman of the National MAB Committee, also attended the meeting.

Dr Muhammad Rafique, Country Focal Person for Man and Biosphere (MAB)Pakistan, said that around 15 countries of the region and 40 climate changeexperts from Pakistan are participating in the meeting.He said that climate change has affected almost all of the physical and biological components of the Planet, which is also visible from biodiversity loss and wetland degradation. Dr Muhammad Rafique said the platform will provide an opportunity to scientists and government officials to form better strategies for addressing the issue of climate change.

The meeting would also discuss the important themes related to weather, economies, agriculture, wetlands, biodiversity, natural resources, and ecosystem, he said.The country focal person said that SACAM encourages countries to focus on climate change and sensitize the policy makers, researchers and planners to focus on the climate change of the region. He said that the meeting aims at minimizing the impact of climate change on the natural resources and livelihoods.