BAHAWALPUR:Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies (CIDS) of Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) and Houbara Foundation International (HFI) Saturday organized a joint activity of seed balls broadcast in the Cholistan desert with the onset of monsoon rains.
The main objective of this joint activity was to conserve the indigenous flora of the Cholistan desert especially the plant species which are preferred as feed by Houbara bustard (Taloor) and Deer (Blackbuck, Chinkara).
Due to overgrazing, drought, overexploitation of vegetation for fuel, timber, and medicinal purposes, the Cholistan desert is losing its biodiversity. Therefore, it was planned to broadcast the seed balls of indigenous desert plants (tree, shrub, herb, & grass) consisting of almost 10,000 seed balls by using more than 50,000 seeds.
The seeds of indigenous plants were collected from the Cholistan and the seed balls making process was carried in the Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies laboratory. Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies is already working on the establishment of a seed bank and conservation of desert plants in its experimental area.
Seed ball broadcast is an excellent conservation technique to conserve desert to its original form. Prof. Dr Athar Mahboob, Vice-Chancellor of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur appreciated Director Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies Prof. Dr Tanveer Hussain Turabi, Dr Muhammad Abdullah, Director IUB Biodiversity Park, Fort Derawar and his team for their conservation efforts on Cholistan desert.
Further, he said that Cholistan is a unique ecosystem that is losing its native flora and fauna ultimately losing its potential to support wildlife. Seed broadcast is an excellent conservation technique to conserve the desert and it has been linked with Prime Minister’s Clean and Green Pakistan campaign.
In this activity CEO, Green Bahawalpur team Waqar Yaqoob, Chairperson Botany department Dr Nargis Naz and students of IUB Environmental Protection Society also participated. In the coming days Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, Houbara Foundation International, Department of Forestry, Botany, Green Bahawalpur Team and IUB Environmental Protection Society will continue to work jointly to conserve the biodiversity of the Cholistan desert.