Pakistan Climate Change Minister to head up global snow leopard program

Congratulations to the Hon. Minister for Climate Change from Pakistan Mr. Mushahid Ullah Khan, who has been elected chairman of international steering committee of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program at the Bishkek meeting in the Kyrgyz Republic. Addressing the meeting, the minister assured the participants that Pakistan would join global efforts for protection and conservation of the endangered snow leopard, whose population has declined rapidly in the country because of illegal hunting. He also reiterated the will of the present Pakistani government and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said that Pakistan is seriously committed to the global efforts for protection and conservation of endangered snow leopard. The snow leopard expert community believes the key to saving the iconic cat in its fragile habitat lies in community education so it was encouraging to hear the minister say that a big part of the GSLEP strategy will be focused on educating rural mountain and herder communities about the need to protect snow leopards, engaging them in conservation efforts, and helping them have sustainable livelihoods. Full story in Pakistan Today.