Islamabad: A two-day national seminar on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), organised by WWF Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), began in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The event brought together senior government officials, humanitarian organisations, development partners, academics, civil society representatives and private sector leaders to identify practical pathways for scaling up Nature based Solutions across Pakistan.
The seminar is aimed at strengthening partnerships and integrating NbS into climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development efforts.
Addressing the inaugural session as chief guest, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Amir Mohyuddin said Pakistan’s flood patterns are changing, with monsoon systems shifting westwards and disasters increasingly occurring in the form of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and urban flooding.
He said healthy forests, wetlands, rangelands and protected areas are vital for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
Mr Amir appreciated the efforts of WWF Pakistan and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in promoting innovative Nature based Solutions across the country.
WWF Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said the organisation has developed and expanded a range of Nature based Solutions, including floating treatment wetlands, gabion bunds, check dams and recharge wells, to improve water security, reduce flood risks, restore ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience.
He said that under the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) project, WWF Pakistan has implemented more than 320 Nature based Solutions interventions across 16 districts of Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab during the past five years.
He said the project has benefited more than 500,000 people. Building on these achievements, WWF Pakistan is preparing to implement the Recharge Pakistan initiative across the Indus Basin.
He said the project will directly benefit more than 680,000 people and strengthen the climate resilience of over seven million people.
Pakistan Red Crescent Society Chairperson Farzhana Naek said scaling up Nature based Solutions requires stronger institutional coordination, supportive policy frameworks, sustainable financing and meaningful engagement of local communities.
She reaffirmed the need for stronger partnerships among government institutions, humanitarian organisations, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector to accelerate implementation across the country.
During technical and panel discussions, participants reviewed successful Nature based Solutions initiatives from different parts of Pakistan.
They also discussed policy reforms, financing mechanisms, innovation and cross-sector collaboration needed to expand climate-resilient development and scale up Nature based Solutions nationwide.