Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 3 March 2025

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 

MESSAGE FOR WORLD WILDLIFE DAY 

3 March 2025 

Humanity’s relationship with nature is at a tipping point.

Our addiction to fossil fuels and unsustainable use of resources is driving ecosystems to collapse and species to extinction, while investments in biodiversity protection are dwindling.

This is a recipe for disaster not only for nature, but for communities around the world counting on healthy ecosystems for their well-being and very survival.

It’s time to choose another, smarter path. 

This year, World Wildlife Day highlights the need for conservation finance.

Investing in healthy ecosystems is vital to providing clean air and water, regulating our climate, and supporting livelihoods.

This requires mobilizing public and private resources to conserve wildlife and habitats; honouring financial commitments and supporting vulnerable countries where biodiversity is most at risk; reducing financial pressure from debt distress and climate shocks; developing innovative solutions like green and blue bonds;

applying the United Nations’ Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to steer affordable financing; and ensuring that Indigenous Peoples and local communities — the first line of defense for our ecosystems — have equitable access to funds.

The recently adopted Pact for the Future includes a revitalized commitment to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030.

Getting there requires financing.  Together, let’s invest in a future where nature and people thrive together.

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FAO

PRESS RELEASE

FAO drives climate resilience and sustainable water management with new Initiatives in Balochistan and Sindh

Quetta/Sujawal, March 3, 2025 – In a major step toward sustainable resource management, the Government of Balochistan has officially notified the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Policy 2024, developed with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and funded by the World Bank under the Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Project (BIWRMDP).

The policy, along with the Balochistan Water Resources Management (WRM) Bill, establishes a legal framework to enhance institutional capacity, integrate surface and groundwater management, and promote gender-inclusive water governance. Dr. Robina Wahaj, Senior Land and Water Officer at FAO, emphasized, "This initiative aligns water management with climate adaptation strategies, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing governance challenges." Waleed Mahdi, FAO Balochistan’s Head of Office, called it “a milestone in sustainable and inclusive water governance.”

Meanwhile, FAO has also launched the Building Resilience and Addressing Vulnerabilities to Emergencies (BRAVE) initiative in Sujawal, Sindh, aimed at strengthening climate resilience, improving food security, and supporting communities vulnerable to climate change. Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented in Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab, BRAVE will reach 60 villages across three districts, benefiting approximately 9,000 households per district. The programme is led by IOM in collaboration with FAO, UNICEF, CARE International, ACTED, and Islamic Relief.

During a key meeting in Sujawal, government officials, research institutions, and BRAVE partners launched the Extended Technical Working Group (TWG), which will drive climate-resilient interventions across agriculture, livestock, rangelands, forestry, renewable energy, and aquaculture. Mr. Abdul Karim Sangrasi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sujawal, called BRAVE “a pivotal step in building long-term resilience against climate change.”

Mr. Julius Githinji Muchemi, FAO Sindh Head of Province, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment: “Through collaborative knowledge-sharing and innovative models, we aim to transform agrifood systems and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.”

Both initiatives highlight the critical need for integrated climate adaptation strategies to ensure water security, food resilience, and sustainable livelihoods in Pakistan’s most vulnerable regions.