Pakistan serves as both a source and transit route for the illicit trade in reptiles, mammals and medicinal plants.
Community awareness session with women to discuss possible drivers of illegal snow leopard trade PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
On World Wildlife Day 2026, WWF-Pakistan has called for urgent measures to combat the illegal wildlife trade and unsustainable harvesting practices, warning that both are putting Pakistan’s biodiversity and natural heritage under increasing pressure.
In a statement released Tuesday, the organization said wildlife trafficking remains a serious global conservation challenge, with Pakistan serving as both a source and transit route for the illicit trade. From reptiles and mammals to high-value medicinal plants, illegal mining continues to deplete natural resources and weaken the fragile ecosystems on which local communities depend.
WWF-Pakistan said it is working with government departments and partner organizations to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve inter-agency coordination, and build the capacity of frontline wildlife personnel and law enforcement officials to effectively prevent and prosecute wildlife crimes.
Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, senior director of conservation at WWF-Pakistan, said the organization had developed a comprehensive training program and strategy to prevent illegal wildlife trade. Nationwide training is provided on SMART monitoring, species identification, wildlife crime investigation, ranger safety, safe animal handling and community engagement. He added that more than 1,200 people, including community members, students, journalists and local leaders, participated in awareness sessions and webinars.
The organization highlighted recent conservation efforts in Deva Vatala National Park, carried out in collaboration with local communities and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department. These efforts led to the rescue and release of several species, including rock pythons, Indian pangolins, barking deer and Alexandrine parakeets, demonstrating the impact of coordinated enforcement and community management.
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Rab Nawaz, senior program director at WWF-Pakistan, said effective conservation requires both strong enforcement and informed communities. He noted that strengthening institutional capacity and involving local stakeholders is essential to prevent wildlife crime and protect vulnerable species.
Referring to the theme of 2026, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conservation of Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”, he said that Pakistan is home to a diverse range of medicinal and aromatic plants, including Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari), Viola odorata (banafsha), Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi) and Saussurea costus (Kuth), widely used in traditional medicine and medicinal plant industry. In arid regions like Balochistan and Sindh, Commiphora wightii (Guggal) is harvested for its resin. In contrast, high altitude species such as Ephedra and Bergenia ciliata (Zakhm-e-hayat) are harvested from the northern forests.
However, WWF-Pakistan has warned that growing commercial demand has led to unsustainable harvesting practices. High-value species such as Kuth, Jatamansi and Guggal are often uprooted entirely, limiting natural regeneration and threatening both the stability of ecosystems and the livelihoods of communities that depend on these resources.
Globally, more than 20 percent of medicinal plant species are now threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change and illegal trade, highlighting the need for coordinated conservation action at national and international levels.
