ECOSF participated in webinar on “COVID-19 and its Relationship with Nature – Build Back Better” organized by the UNESCO and WWF Pakistan

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UNESCO Pakistan in Collaboration with WWF Pakistan organized a Webinar on “COVID-19 and its Relationship with Nature – Build Back Better” on July 21, 2020. The objective of this webinar was to recognize the important linkage between the mismanagement of biodiversity and ecosystems and the risks of pandemics and infectious diseases to humans. On behalf of the ECOSF, President ECOSF Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro along with his team participated in the webinar. ECOSF is an Observer/Stakeholder of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and promotes the approach being advocated by the IPBES and the concept of the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Ms. Patricia McPhillips Director UNESCO Office Pakistan gave her welcoming remarks and highlighted the role of UNESCO in the global fight against the COVID-19. Dr. Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF Pakistan underlined the important role of ecology and biodiversity to ensure the protection and growth of a healthy, globally biodiverse planet.

Prof. Dr. Zabta Shinwari, Vice Chair of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) stressed over the need to dispel the misinformation and pseudoscience while promoting ethical responsibility to fight global pandemic. Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Director ECO Logical Ltd. emphasized that there is dire need to address the root causes of zoonotic diseases by respecting the ecosystem and not encroaching the biospheres of other animal species.

Prof. Dr. Bilquees Gul, Director Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi and Dr. Babar Khan, Director (Wildlife) WWF Pakistan also spoke during the webinar. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Nazifa Butt Manager, Climate and Energy Programme at WWF.