ECOSF celebrated the World Environment Day 2020

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ECO Science Foundation celebrated the World Environment Day on June 8, 2020. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 to signify the importance of environment of our planet. Every year a specific theme is highlighted; this year the theme was “Biodiversity, it’s time for nature”. Recent events, from bushfires to locust infestations and now, a global disease pandemic–demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life in which they exist.

The objective of holding this webinar was to provide a meaningful platform to recognize the importance of our environment and biodiversity to inspire positive change.

Engr. Khalil Raza Scientific Officer moderated the panel discussion during the webinar. Mr. Raza introduced the panelists and participants on the importance of this webinar. He said biodiversity affects every aspect of human health, providing clean air and water, nutritious foods, scientific understanding and medicine sources, natural disease resistance, and climate change mitigation. The emergence of COVID-19 has made it clear that, when we destroy biodiversity, we destroy the system that supports human life.

President ECOSF, Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro in his opening remarks welcomed the speakers and participants to the webinar. Prof. Soomro emphasized that without biodiversity and nature, life on earth would not be possible. Prof. Soomro called upon scientific community, especially young professionals and scientists to work together at an individual and collective level to protect our planet and biodiversity for our future generations.

Prof. Alireza Sari, distinguished Professor of Marine Biodiversity at University of Tehran delivered his talk on “Current knowledge on Marine species diversity, challenges and threats”. Prof. Sari highlighted significant aspects of marine biodiversity of the ECO region. Prof. Sari underscored various anthropogenic pressures and threats on the marine biodiversity in the region. He proposed for integrative biodiversity monitoring and restoration strategies. Prof. Sari also called for scaling up research funding and strengthening collaboration amongst the scientific institutions using intergovernmental platforms, such as the ECOSF.

Prof. Munir Ozturk the Vice President, Islamic World Academy of Sciences, & Professor (Emer.) of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Ege University, Izmir-Turkey participated as a speaker in the webinar.  In his talk, Prof. Ozturk highlighted the important linkages between biodiversity and biomedicine and how our future depends on them. Prof. Ozturk discussed various evidences for the biomedical values of Earth’s species and shared how the traditional uses of different components of our biodiversity together with the most sophisticated scientific approaches could lead to breakthroughs in biomedicine. Prof. Ozturk also talked about his recently published book on “Biodiversity and Biomedicine – Our Future” which could be an important literary source to learn about molecular diversity of different species that presents the priciest reservoir for the future discoveries in medicine.

Prof. Shafqat Saeed, the Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture in Multan Pakistan delivered his presentation on the webinar theme. Prof. Saeed highlighted the critical aspects of pollinators and their role in biodiversity and our lives. Prof. Saeed underscored the decline of wild and managed pollinators in the region and its devasting impact on crop patterns. He concluded with a recommendation to use wide range of options to protect pollinators drawing on both scientific and indigenous/local knowledge.

Dr. Elnur Safarov the National Coordinator/Ocean Expert– International Oceanographic Data Exchange Center, Baku- Azerbaijan in his talk, presented the Modern Changes in Precipitation on the Caspian Coast of Azerbaijan. Dr. Safarov highlighted the significance of our oceans in the ecosystem and biodiversity and how recent changes in climatic conditions are changing the local weather patterns and their impact on precipitations in the region.

Mr. Saulet Sakinov Chief Technical Expert of the UNDP/GEF Project on National Communication on UNFCCC and Biennial Development, Kazakhstan delivered his talk on Climate Change Hazards for Biodiversity in Kazakhstan. Mr. Sakinov underscored how the changes in the climate will lead to extreme weather events that could have devastating impacts on the agricultural yields and overall food security in the country. He also shared an innovative project being undertaken on carbon sequestration in Kazakhstan.

At the end, floor was opened for the Q&A session where panelists responded to the questions raised by the audience.

The event was also broadcasted through Facebook Live which can be accessible at: https://www.facebook.com/ECOScienceFoundation/videos/691546541407937