Steps afoot to preserve greenery, bio-diversity in Capital

Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Imtiaz Inayat Elahi Saturday said that concrete steps are being taken to increase greenery and preserve the rich bio-diversity of Margalla Hills National Park. Talking to media persons here at a ceremony organised in connection with World Environment Day 2011, he said that the authority, in collaboration with its partner organisations, is taking measures to make the federal capital green.
Referring to the theme of World Environment Day- 2011 Forest: Nature at Your Service, he said CDA has already increased the target of tree planting saplings from 0.8 million to one million to make the Capital greener. In addition, a programme for conservation of Banyan trees has also been initiated, he added. He said that 500,000 saplings were planted during the national tree plantation drive in Spring 2011, and sought co-operation of the residents for making Islamabad green and preserve rich bio-diversity of Margalla Hills.
He informed that agreements with public private partnership have been inked to preserve bio-diversity of Margallah Hills, and wildlife would be provided natural environment. Chairman CDA said that the authority is striving hard to increase the green cover and preserve green character of the federal capital, adding that CDA is focusing on planting the indigenous species, especially fruit and flowering trees including Chir, Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak, Jacaranda, Olive and Jaman etc.
He boasted that National Park is unique because of its abundance with 616 plant species, 250 of birds, 38 mammals and 13 species of reptiles. He stressed the need for making collective efforts to preserve the rich fauna and flora of the capital. He said there are only fewer places blessed with the close proximity to nature as Islamabad.
He informed there are 66 species of wildlife, 18 mammals, 45 birds, and three reptiles in the Marghzar Zoo, which was established in 1978 and covers an area of 25 acres. He said there are total 600 birds and animals that include 92 mammals, 508 birds and 16 reptiles in Islamabad, adding an awareness raising programme for educating the youth has been initiated in addition to introducing wildlife in public parks like Daman-e-Koh and Rawal Lake View Park.
Talking about the Islamabad city, he claimed it is the only planned city of Pakistan, adding its green character distinguishes it from the rest of the cities of the country. He said that more than 50 percent plants out of total sapling have grown due to strict monitoring and further measures would be taken to improve survival rate of the saplings. "Today's Green Islamabad is the outcome of laborious and consistent efforts of CDA employees, which they made during the last 50 years in planting, protecting and nourishing the trees in the capital", he concluded.