resources, Pakistan has immense biodiversity resources. The country has widespread 9 agro ecological regions, from which at least 6000 plant species, including 1000 medicinal plants have been reported. More than 20, 0000 species of insects, 195 mammals, 666 birds and 72 reptiles are making it ecosystems productive and many more plants & animals are yet to be explored here. All these facts have placed Pakistan as central location among Pale arctic, Oriental, African Zoogeographic and Sino-Japanese Regions. The Vice Chancellor further emphasizes that the country is also blessed with some of the world’s famous ecosystems e.g. the Mangroo Forest Ecosystem, the Chalghoza Forest Ecosystem of Suleman ranges, the Western Himalayan Moist Temperate Ecosystem of Hazara and adjoining areas of Malakand. All these ecosystems and the associated biodiversity had led to the birth of the famous ancient civilizations here. He stressed upon the participants that mother
earth is once again exposed to the accelerated extinction rate of biodiversity resources due to its irrational use. Conservation biologists describe the Sixth Extinction as the extinction of biodiversity resources due to the exploitative use of nature by the human race. Let we shoulder the world scientific community to minimize the threats towards extinction of genes, species and ecosystems. We are facing the challenges of maintaining, protecting, recovering and rehabilitation of our biological resources, to develop Pakistan’s economy and environment. Lack of information about biodiversity all over the world results in little public awareness and input in this direction. Although animal and plant systematic constitute a part of curriculum at University level, public at large remains quite ignorant about the biodiversity present around them and fail to understand its importance for their well-being. Overpopulation, with consequent urbanization,
deforestation, climate change, natural hazards like earthquake, thunderstorm, floods and wars also damaged our ecosystem and biodiversity badly. As a consequence, there is a massive loss of plant biodiversity and several plant species are at the risk of extinction. There is an acute need to educate public in general and young students in particular about the biodiversity around them and emphasize its importance in terms of economics and environment. The formal education can be imparted at school, college and /or university level. Indeed almost all schools and colleges are now introducing environmental studies as part of their curriculum. The informal education can and is being imparted through mass media, both print and audiovisual, therefore I believe that Traveling Expo will be extremely useful for all scientists, students, teachers, general public and conservationists for better planning for Biodiversity Conservation. Therefore this expo shall
highlight the importance of Biodiversity conservation and role of international community for conservation of biodiversity to develop a sustainable way of using it for today and the future. Hazara University being the custodian of the biodiversity resources of the Western Himalayas is taking every possible step to promote the cause of natural conservation of the region. Hazara University is exploring ways to conserve nature for better future of the present and coming generations. Our scientist has got the capability of exploring the living world, from viruses to human being. You would be glad to know that the results coming out of the research labs of Hazara University are appreciated at the highly reputed national and international fora.
