ECOSF holds ECO Experts Meeting on Climate Change and Biodiversity

Go Back

Islamabad (29-30 November 2013): Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF), a newly established regional organization in collaboration with Ministry of Science and Technology, Climate Change Division, Govt. of Pakistan, ECO Secretariat, Tehran and ECO Institute of Environmental Science & Technology (ECO-IEST) organized a two day consultation meeting of experts on climate change and biodiversity a local hotel. Purpose was to review the status and plan for future to tackle the fast changing climate and its effects on biodiversity in the ECO region.

The meeting was inaugurated by the Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan & the Chairperson of the National MAB Committee. Other dignitaries who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Qunli Han, the Director (Science Sector) and Secretary of the "Man and Biosphere Programme", UNESCO Headquarters Paris, Dr. Asghar Mohammadi Fazel, President ECO Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Tehran- Iran, Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General (Forests), Climate Change Division, National Focal Person (NFP) on Biodiversity and Mr. Orkhan Zeynalov, Director (Energy & Environment) from the ECO Secretariat, Tehran.

The eminent experts / scientists on the subject from all ECO Members States including Pakistan attended the meeting and discussed the issues related to Climate Change and Biodiversity in the region. The technical sessions were chaired by Syed Mahmood Nasir, IG (Forests), Government of Pakistan. The recommendations of the meeting will be presented to higher forums of ECO and actions will be taken accordingly, considering the importance of the discussed issues in the region.

ECO is a 10-country intergovernmental/regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the Member States. In 1992, the Organization was expanded to include seven new members, namely: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan.

ECO Science Foundation (www.eco4science.org) established in December 2011 as a specialized agency of ECO with its own charter, legal personality and autonomy in management to function as a reservoir of highly skilled scientific and technical manpower and to facilitate promotion of scientific research among the member states. Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro (former Chairman PSF) has been appointed as the Founder President of ECOSF. Under his presidency, ECOSF has started different scientific activities related to its goals and objectives. Achieving the goals and objectives of ECOSF, and an "Experts Meeting on Climate Change and Biodiversity" in the ECO Region as the first major was organized in Islamabad- Pakistan on 29-30 November 2013.

The Secretary MoST Mr. Kamran Ali Qureshi recognizing the importance of the event said in his inaugural speech that climate change and its impact on biodiversity is a burning issue world over and being taken seriously at UN and other world forums.

He appreciated the efforts of ECO Science Foundation for strengthening science and technology cooperation among the ECO countries and for mobilizing international assistance such as from UNESCO, UNEP, FAO and IPBES for environmental conservation and promotion of the UNESCO-MAB and ecosystem services of biodiversity in the ECO region. He further emphasized upon the ECOSF, PSF and Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Climate Change Division and the ECO institutions to work together in harmony for the mutual benefit of the region. The Secretary also appreciated the efforts of ECO Secretariat Tehran and ECO-IEST for their support and assured of the cooperation from the government of Pakistan.

The ECO Science Foundation has already acquired the "Observer" status in the "Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and would be participating in the platform's second plenary meeting in Antalya- Turkey.

The ECO experts pointed out that the earth's mean surface temperature is projected to warm 1.4 to 5.8oC by the end of 21st century, with land areas warming more than the oceans and the high latitude warming more than the tropics. The associated sea level rise is projected to be 0.09 to 0.88 m. They further said that climate change is projected to affect individual organisms, populations, species distribution and ecosystem composition as well as its function.

The President of ECO Science Foundation informed media that the meeting unanimously decided to establish an ECO Network of Experts in Climate Change and Biodiversity, publish a book on "Biodiversity of ECO Region" and launch collaborative research among the ECO member states.