The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to officially designate Galiyat in Abbottabad and Bashkar Garam Chashma in Chitral as “Biosphere Reserves” under Section 30 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity Act, 2015. The decision, approved by the provincial cabinet, will be formalized through a Gazette Notification.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister hailed this as a major achievement and emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to safeguard these critical ecological sites for future generations.
These two sites were added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves on June 14, 2023, bringing Pakistan’s total to four internationally recognized biosphere reserves.
The other two include Lal Suhanra in Punjab, known for its diverse desert ecosystem, and Ziarat Juniper Forest in Balochistan, home to some of the world’s oldest juniper trees. Collectively, these reserves contribute to the global network of 758 biosphere reserves.
The designation aligns with Pakistan’s environmental commitments under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami program, which focuses on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and wildlife conservation.
These biosphere reserves will help protect biodiversity, restore degraded lands, and enhance sustainable environmental practices.
