Faiza Tehseen

Climate change continues to threaten the ecosystem services in the rural areas of Pakistan. Sustainable development and overall economic growth can be attained, thereby protecting and enhancing these services, said Executive Director of Center for Rural Change, Sindh Muhammad Saleh Mangrio, while talking to WealthPK. He said,"Ecosystem services are the benefits nature provides humans. These benefits include provisioning water and food security. Another part of the ecosystem services is the "regulating services" including climate regulation and disease control, cultural services, and supporting services like soil formation and nutrient cycling. All these services are indispensable for Pakistan, especially in rural areas. "In rural communities, agriculture is the foundation of almost all local economic activities. A healthy ecosystem ensures the essentials for productive farming, but the necessary elements are fertile soil, natural crop pollination, pest control and clean water regulation."

He said rural development through ecosystem services was vital for sustainable agricultural practices; climate-resilient infrastructure; and enabling the local communities to manage the natural resources. More than 60% of the population in Pakistan resides in rural areas. To ensure the long-term prosperity of rural communities, the conservation of sustainable sources and services management is important, and rural communities rely largely on ecosystem services. To support millions of Pakistanis living in the rural areas, the services provided by the natural ecosystems are direly needed for agriculture, livestock, and human well-being. Saleh said, "The rural areas in Pakistan, especially in regions like Sindh, are deeply intertwined with their natural environments. Agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, the backbone of rural economies, depend heavily on healthy ecosystems.

By adopting management practices that enhance ecosystem services, such as soil fertility, water purification, and biodiversity conservation, we can secure these vital sectors against the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation." He said implementing agroforestry systems could not only boost crop yields but also improve soil health and carbon sequestration. A community-based watershed management can ensure a sustainable water supply for agriculture while preventing soil erosion and enhancing groundwater recharge. Ecosystem initiatives in rural areas may include permaculture practices and ecotourism as well. There is also a need to introduce a multitude of programs to address ecosystem services, especially for the restoration of wetlands and degraded forests.

To shape a sustainable future for the rural areas, ecosystem services are vital to weave, which will help unlock rural growth, poverty alleviation, and environmental stewardship, he added. Saleh is also a social development and rural development expert working on the public sector projects with the Government of Sindh and internationally-funded agencies. Talking to WealthPK about the need for ecosystem services, Deputy Director of Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) Muhammad Atif Majeed said, "The development of rural areas for economic stability and growth widely depends on the ecosystem services, but to get real benefit from them, understanding is needed first. For this purpose, an awareness initiative must be framed and regular workshops should be conducted in the rural communities. Only then can the ecosystems be conserved, and people can get sustainable benefits from them."

Credit: INP-WealthPk