ISLAMABAD (March 03 2010): Federal Minister
for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad
Gondal has said that Pakistan will soon
have a National Rangeland Policy that would
prove to be a milestone in the history of
Rangelands Development in Pakistan. He
said that rangelands are historically
livelihood contributor, particularly in
mountain regions where LIVESTOCK shares more
than 70 percent of annual rural household
income, and animals derive as high as 90
percent of their feed from rangelands.
"The role of rangelands in environmental
conservation is rather more vital and
important. Their existence and health would
remain critical for conserving biodiversity
in Pakistan. Degrading rangelands mean
gradual loss of key climax plant species,"
added the minister. Gondal appreciated the
joint efforts of Pakistan Agriculture
Research Council (PARC), Ministry of
Environment and International Center for
Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and
the participants of the workshop from
regional countries China, Afghanistan, Nepal
and Bhutan. Zafar Altaf, Chairman PARC,
Secretary Ministry of Food &
Agriculture, Zia-ur-Rehman and Director
Programmes ICI MOD, Brend Degroot and Dr
Shahzad Jehangir from the Ministry of
Environment also addressed the gathering.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2010
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