WWF for curbing illegal wildlife trade, unsustainable harvesting practices

KARACHI: On World Wildlife Day 2026, the WWF-Pakistan has issued an urgent call for action to curb illegal wildlife trade and unsustainable harvesting practices that are placing the country’s rich biodiversity under increasing threat.

Wildlife trafficking remains a serious conservation challenge globally, with Pakistan functioning both as a source and transit route for illegal wildlife trade. This endangers species and weakens already fragile ecosystems. From reptiles and mammals to high-value medicinal plants, illegal extraction continues to erode natural resources and ecosystem services that communities rely on.

To address this challenge, the WWF-Pakistan is working with partners and government departments to strengthen enforcement systems, improve inter-agency coordination, and build the capacity of frontline wildlife staff and judicial actors to effectively prevent and prosecute wildlife crimes.

“We have developed a comprehensive training curriculum and an Illegal Wildlife Trade Prevention Strategy and are conducting trainings nationwide on SMART monitoring, species identification, wildlife crime investigation, ranger safety, safe animal handling, and community engagement,” said Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Senior Manager Conservation at WWF-Pakistan. “More than 1,200 individuals – including community members, students, journalists, and local leaders – have been engaged through awareness sessions and webinars,” he added.

Recent field-based conservation efforts at Deva Vatala National Park, carried out in collaboration with local communities and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department, have resulted in the rescue and release of several species. These include rock pythons, Indian pangolins, barking deer, and Alexandrine parakeets – demonstrating the impact of coordinated enforcement and community stewardship.

“Effective conservation cannot succeed without strong enforcement and informed communities,” said Rab Nawaz, Senior Director Programmes at WWF-Pakistan. “By strengthening institutional capacity and engaging local stakeholders, we are improving Pakistan’s ability to prevent wildlife crime and protect vulnerable species before they disappear from the wild.”

Speaking about the 2026 theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving health, heritage and livelihoods,” which highlights another critical dimension of biodiversity conservation, Rab Nawaz added that Pakistan is home to a rich diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants. These include Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari), Viola odorata (banafsha), Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi), and Saussurea costus (Kuth), which are widely used in traditional medicine and the herbal industry.

In arid and semi-arid regions like Balochistan and Sindh, Commiphora wightii (Guggal) is harvested for its valuable resin, while high-altitude species like Ephedera and Bergenia ciliata (Zakhm-e-hayat) are sourced from northern forests for medicinal use.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026