Pakistan, with most of its land area classified as arid or semi arid is extremely vulnerable to the growing threat of desertification through drought and soil degradation. It has one of the lowest percentages of area under forest and with little slowing down of the trend of deforestation - one of the major causes of desertification – the situation demands extraordinary measures to be undertaken on an emergency basis. The World Environment Day 2006, with its slogan, “Don’t desert drylands,” poignantly brings home the urgency of this message.

Each year, the World Environment Day (WED) is commemorated by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, and is hosted each year by a different city. The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

The WED theme selected for 2006 is Deserts and Desertification and the slogan is Don't Desert Drylands! The slogan emphasizes the importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40% of the planet’s surface. These ecosystems are home to one-third of the world’s people who are more vulnerable members of society. The main international celebrations of the WED 2006 will be held in the City of Algiers in Algeria.

Drylands ecosystems receive very erratic rainfall, and as a result, are very fragile.

The transformation of habitats for human use, mostly agricultural, and overexploitation, including overgrazing, has led to the degradation of up to 20% of drylands ecosystems – with stark results: desertification and drought, the endangerment of 2,311 species, the loss of over 40 billion dollars a year in lost agricultural production and the resulting rise of social, economic, and political tensions. Poverty has forced populations which are dependent on natural resources to overexploit already marginal lands in order to sustain their livelihoods. Existing incentive frameworks do not encourage the sustainable use of resources. The urgency of these issues has been recognized in the decision of the United Nations General Assembly to proclaim 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.

A major portion of Pakistan’s area, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, also falls under this category and is especially vulnerable to the mounting threat of desertification from a variety of human activities. Nearly 60% of Pakistan’s area consists of rangelands that receive less than 200 mm of rainfall annually, and are considered arid. They support 93.5 million heads of livestock and a very large number of pastoral people. However, continuous shortage of fodder and water due to the recent drought has caused heavy losses of livestock and very adversely affected the life of the pastoral communities. Besides the drought conditions in the arid rangelands and low-availability of water in the Indus river system has made the situation even worse.

Overgrazing has brought down the productivity of rangelands to as little as 15 to 40 per cent of their potential. The arid coastal strips and mangrove areas are under increased environmental stress from reduced fresh water flows, sewage and industrial pollution and over exploitation of other natural resources. Substantial decline in floodwater in Sindh has led to rapid sea intrusion in the delta region, raising salinity levels in underground water and spurring cattle migration to irrigated areas. In NWFP and Balochistan, very serious damage includes dwindling vegetation cover. Excessive depletion of underground water resources has occurred, particularly in Balochistan, and will not be compensated without strong efforts for conservation, as well as immediate change in water use practices.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Pakistan has a strong focus on these issues, especially through the work carried out under its Balochistan and Sindh Programmes. These include rehabilitation of mangroves in the two provinces; the pilot testing of bio-saline agriculture and aquaculture techniques in Sindh; and the promotion of appropriate water conservation methods, including efficient irrigation and innovative water recharge techniques in Balochistan.

WED is a people's event, and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Pakistan is trying to take it to the people through holding a variety of appropriate events. A national roundtable on deserts and desertification organized by the Pakistan National Committee of IUCN members is going to take place in Islamabad on June 5. To be inaugurated by the Federal Minister of Environment, the roundtable brings together experts, community leaders and environmentalists to deliberate on this critical challenge and come up with actionable recommendations for the country. Other events to celebrate WED, in collaboration with member and partner organizations, include seminars – especially the ulema seminar on Islam and environment in Quetta – speech, essay, poster and drawing competitions for students, tableaus and environment cleaning drives would be in Quetta, Chitral, Abottabad, Gwadar and D.I.Khan. All these events are geared towards enhancing awareness regarding local environmental issues, associated global challenges and mobilizing people towards action.