Ministry of National Disaster Management Government of Pakistan

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group on Draft Access and Benefit Sharing Law and Preparations for 11th Session of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP11)
January 13, 2012. IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office

DRAFT MINUTES
A consultative meeting of the Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) was held to discuss the draft law on the Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) on January 13, 2012 at IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office. The meeting was organized by Office of the Inspector General of Forests (IGF), Ministry of National Disaster Management, Government of Pakistan and IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The objective of the meeting was to deliberate on priority issues related to biodiversity conservation in Pakistan and sharing of best practices. The meeting also took stock of the progress on preparations of draft Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Law for Pakistan and deliberated on the agenda for the upcoming eleventh session of the Conference of Parties (COP11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The detailed agenda of the meeting is attached at Annex-I. The meeting was chaired by Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General of Forests, while eminent scientists and experts from their relevant disciplines attended the meeting (list of members of BWG is attached as Annex-II). AGENDA ITEM-I Introduction of the Members/Participants

The members introduced themselves for the sake of convenience. AGENDA ITEM-II Welcome Remarks

Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General of Forests (IGF) in his welcome remarks mentioned about the importance of biodiversity conservation in relation to prevailing practices of conversion of ecosystems from one type to other through un-wise interventions, which have adverse impacts. Talking about the gaps in conservation practices, he said that the activities related to conservation of biological resources must be streamlined under the overall objective of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). He referred to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) as the most important constituent of all the conservation activities, which needs to be targeted. He stressed that certain benchmarks of GSPC needs to be fixed and rigorously followed, as it requires at least 15 percent of the representative plant species of an ecosystem to be conserved.

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

IGF informed that second tranche for funding under Global Environment Facility (GEF) is not coming soon for which, Pakistan must prepare in advance to better utilize funding opportunities for biodiversity related projects and programmes, which are consistent with CBD objectives. Referring to previous programmes including Mountain Areas Conservancy Project (MACP) and Protected Areas Management Project (PAMP), the IGF stressed on the need of conceiving such large programmes to avail funding under GEF. IGF mentioned that while species, habitats and now ABS is widely covered in CBD related projects important issues like GSPC, GTI and various PoWs like on PAs, Forests, inland waters, marine, Geo Engineering etc remain largely ignored. There is in particular a dearth of knowledge on taxonomy which is the backbone of all knowledge based interventions. So we mus target the ignored areas of CBD. IGF also stressed on providing copies of the last workshop on gap analysis for one PoW that was organized last year by office of IGF and that the final copy is a ready reckoner handbook for decision makers to target the ignored areas and fill the gaps in PAs. Mr. Mahmood Nasir also informed about the forthcoming components of BEAP in which inter alia ignored areas of protected areas (PA) systems review vis a vis local communities and recommendations of the last WPC are addressed. IGF also informed that efforts are underway to mainstream IUCN's WISP concerns in Pakistan AGENDA ITEM-III Review/Approval of the Minutes of last meeting of the BWG

The chair reviewd the minutes of last meeting of the Biodiversity Working Group held on July 26, 2011 and approved them with some suggestion on the key decision taken during the meeting. AGENDA ITEM-IV An Overview of Project Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation into the Juniper Forest Ecosystem Production Landscape

Mr. Inam Ullah Khan, Manager Junipers project of IUCN, presented an overview of the project that IUCN is implemting with support from GEF/UNDP and through Balochistan Forest Department and local communites in Ziarat valley. The goal of the project is to conserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods in Juniper Forest Ecosystems and the strategy adopted for this purpose is integrated natural resource management through community participation. Mentioning the progress that the project has made so far, Mr. Inam informed that the project has organized and mobilized the communites in Ziarat valley for tapping alternate sources of livelihoods as to reduce burden on local resources through trainings in grazing management, wildlife protection, ecotourism and guest management, efficieny in water use, medicinal plants, wildife survey, alternate energies, efficient use of wood and proposal writing. Under the project, various assemments of social and environemental aspects was done. An Ecotourism Centre and a Medicinal Plant Centre has also been established. Various wildlife and floral sureveys have also been conducted, while many assessments to conserve traditional grazing systems and manage treats to rangelands have been conducted. To develop and strengthen marketing linkages of MPC with Eastern medicine companies, the project has facilitated signing of a tripartite MoU between Hamdard, BFWD and IUCN. Nine medicinal plants species were identified against the fifty four earlier recoded and were documented in detail to be further processed for value

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

addition. He further added that to assess the impact of pesticides use in the project valley, a study was commissioned and has been finalized and added that efforts were being made to facilitate the nomination of Ziarat as a Biosphere reserve. Since Ziarat is home to the Suleiman Markhor which has been excessively poached communities have been mobilized to protectect them by demonstrating the economic dimension of conservations. To scope for trophy hunting programme, a wildlife survey was conducted in which 22 personnel of BFWD and 40 community members participated. Twelve (12) Suleiman Markhor were sighted against seven of them last year. Support was leveraged from PMAC & SUSG-CA.
AGENDA ITEM-V An update Biodiversity Enabling Activities Project

Mr. Naeem Ashraf Raja, Director Biodiversity, Ministry of National Disaster Management briefed the BWG on the Project Biodiversity Enabling Activities being implemented through support from Global Environment Facility (GEF). He

informed that a component of the project on developing the Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) has been given for implementation to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), while two other components on Capacity Assessment for ABS, Preservation of Traditional Knowledge and In situ/Ex situ conservation in Pakistan and ABS Law are being implemented by IUCN. Mr. Raja briefly explained the progress made so far under each of these components.
AGENDA ITEM-VI CBD-COP11 Agenda and Preparations

Dr. Mamoona Wali, Technical Officer (Biology), Ministry of National Disaster Management in her briefing told about the importance of the up-coming eleventh session of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP11). She mentioned about the details of the preparation by the Government of Pakistan and said that IUCN has submitted a proposal to the Ministry to support Pakistans participation in the COP. Through a group exercise, Dr. Mamoona requested all the members of the BWG to provide their inputs on the draft agenda of the COP, as to better position Pakistan to conduct negotiations. The members were requested to share the agenda with other relevant experts in their institutions and come back with comments. AGENDA ITEM-VII Briefing on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Law

Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Manager of the IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office briefed the BWG members on the progress on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Law. Mr. Cheema informed that a national consultation was organized by IUCN with Ministry of National Disaster Management during month of September, 2011. A group of experts are engaged in reviewing the draft law in light of the feedback obtained. He said that the provincial consultation will be organized for Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during January-February, 2012. AGENDA ITEM-IX Discussions and Way Forward

The members of the BWG held a detailed discussion on various priority issues related to biodiversity conservation in Pakistan.

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

AGENDA ITEM-X

Vote of Thanks

Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema delivered the vote of thanks. DECISIONS

The following decisions were taken by BWG:

1.

Minutes of the meeting on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation will be shared with BWG as to streamline biodiversity conservation activities in Pakistan. Also, the report on Gap Analysis in Protected Areas System in Pakistan will be considered for publication and the next phase will be to cover the gaps identifed therein. Director Biodiversity will take necessary action in this regard. Director Biodiversity and IUCN would explore possibility of reviewing all documents related to biodivesity conservation, the same will be provided to WWF to add to CHM. It was decided that the current BEAP project shall publish that Gap Analysis report and circulate to all provinces, members of BWG and other stake holders. Government of Pakistan would organize a side event at CBD-COP11, for which BWF would provide recommendations for finalizing the programme of this event. On the basis of his eperience Dr. Ghulam
Raza Bhatti will send his suggestions to Director Biodiversity.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

It was decided that discussions on the Cartegena Protocol may be brought under mandate of BWG. BWG members unanimously agreed and advised Director Biodiversity to process the case for signing of Nagoya Protocol by the Government of Pakistan. The BWG memebrs will provide comments on the draft agenda of COP11 after consultation with relevant experts in their professional circle. Members will provide suggestion for side even/stall during COP11 in India. Dr. Ghulam Raza Bhatti will
help in preparing a programme in this regard.

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

ANNEX- I
Time 09:30 09:35 09:35 09:45 09:45 10:10 10:10 10:40

AGENDA OF THE MEETING OF BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP

Description Introduction of the Participants Welcome Remarks Review of the minutes of last BWG meeting An Overview of the project Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation into the Juniper Forest Ecosystem Production Landscape An update Biodiversity Enabling Activities Project Tea / coffee break CBD-COP11 agenda and preparations An update on ABS Law Discussion and way forward Any other agenda item Closing remarks Lunch & Prayer Dr. Mamoona Wali Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema Chair/members BWG member Syed Mahmood Nasir Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema Mr. Inamullah Khan Presenter

10:40 11:00 11:00 11:20 11:20 11:40 11:40 12:00 12:00 13:00 13:00 13:10 13:15

Mr. Naeem Ashraf Raja

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

ANNEX- II
# 1.

LIST OF MEMBERS OF BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP

Name, Designation and Address Phone/Fax Email smn@yahoo.com

Syed Mahmood Nasir Inspector General of Forests Ministry of National Disaster Management Local Government Complex, Sector G-5/2 Islamabad Dr. Shahzad Jehangir Deputy Inspector General of Forests (I) Planning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2 Islamabad Mr. Abdul Munaf Qaimkhani, Deputy Inspector General of Forests (II) Ministry of National Disaster Management ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2 Islamabad Mr. Naeem Ashraf Raja Director Biodiversity Ministry of National Disaster Management ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2 Islamabad Mr. Aurangzeb Ashraf Awan Assistant Inspector General of Forests Ministry of National Disaster Management ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2 Islamabad Umeed Khalid Conservator Wildlife Ministry of National Disaster Management Building No. 14-D, 2nd Floor, F-8 Islamabad Dr. Mamoona Wali Mohammad Technical Officer (Biology) Ministry of National Disaster Management ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2 Islamabad 9245586 Fax: 9245598

2.

jahangir2000@hotmail.com

3.

9262270 0321-5259339 Fax: 9245585

amqaimkhani@yahoo.com

4.

9245596 0333-5201089 Fax: 9245598

naeemashrafraja@yahoo.com

5.

0345-5302294

aurangzebawan@hotmail.com

6.

051-9262270

umeed_khalid@yahoo.com

7.

0300-5934844

mamoonawali@hotmail.com

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

8.

Dr. Azhar Hassan Director General Pakistan Museum of Natural History Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad Dr. Shahid Iqbal Director Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department Mauve Area, Sector G-9/4 Islamabad Mr. Saeed Iqbal Seed Certification Officer Mauve Area Sector G-9/4 Islamabad Mr. Hubdar Ali Jatoee Director , Agriculture Farm and Major Crop Development Sindh Agriculture Extension Department Government of Sindh Shahbaz Building, Block-F Hyderabad Mr. Abdul Wahab Khan Director, Zoological Survey Department Ministry of Science & Technology Simly Dam Road, Kalma Chowk, Bhara Kahu, Islamabad Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Chief Conservator of Wildlife Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department Forest Offices, Shami Road, Peshawar Dr. Ghulam Raza Bhatti Professor and Director CBG, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Dr. Manzoor Hussain Associate Professor & Chairman Botany Department Government Postgraduate College No. 1 Abbottabad

9252082 9252086 Fax: 9252087

syedazarhassan@hotmail.com

9.

9260237 Fax: 9260234

10.

9260154 Fax: 9260234

saeediqbal65@hotmail.com

11.

229201266 229200053 Fax: 229200751

dir_majorcrops@yahoo.com

12.

0300-9076807

wahaab69@yahoo.com

13.

9211479 Fax: 9212090

chief.conservator@gmail.com

14.

0302-8311999 razabhatti@yahoo.com Fax: 0243-9280350 raza.bhatti@salu.edu.pl

15.

0334-5583289

mhussain8pk@yahoo.com hussainmanzoor@hotmail.com

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes

16.

Dr. Saifullah Khan Associate Professor Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Institute Karachi University Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Deputy Director General World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan No. 7, Street 34, F-7/1 Islamabad Dr. Abdul Aleem Chaudhary Rtd. Director General, Wildlife and Parks, Punjab 84-B-III, Johar Town Lahore Inamullah Khan Manager Junipers No: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3 Islamabad Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema Manager IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office No: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3 Islamabad Mr. Saadullah Ayaz Coordinator, Climate Change/Clean Air IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office No: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3 Islamabad Ms. Javeria Rehman IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office No: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3 Islamabad Mr. Shahid Mahmood IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office No: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3 Islamabad

300-2375938

drsaif65@gmail.com

17.

2809192-4 0332-2523982

eahmad@wwf.org.pk

18.

042-35171923 0300-4259687

aleemc1@gmail.com

19.

2271027-34

inam.khan@iucn.org

20.

2271027-34

mahmood.cheema@iucn.org

21.

2271027-34

saad.ayaz@iucn.org

22.

2271027-34

javeria.rehman@niap.pk

23.

2271027-34

shahid.mahmood@niap.pk

Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group- January 13, 2012 Draft Minutes