Wildlife in Focus: IUCN Launches Province-Wide Surveys in Punjab

The meeting brought together key stakeholders including government officials, IUCN technical experts, and representatives from the Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department (PW&PD), aiming to finalise the zone-wise field survey strategy and build technical coordination between the implementing teams.

The event opened with welcome remarks by Mr Mudasser Hasan, Project Incharge (PWCP), followed by a detailed overview of the meeting’s objectives delivered by Dr Abdul Aleem Chaudhry, Technical Advisor, IUCN. He emphasised the importance of scientifically structured field surveys to strengthen baseline data on herpetofauna, a relatively understudied group of species critical for ecosystem balance.

Mr Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative of IUCN Pakistan, highlighted IUCN’s commitment to strengthening wildlife conservation efforts in Punjab through this collaborative project. His remarks were followed by contributions from members of the project’s Steering Committee and Mr Mobeen Elahi, Director General, PW&PD, who underscored the department's support for efficient implementation of this project.

The technical session featured interactive group discussions led by IUCN Key Experts in collaboration with PW&PD representatives. The survey teams developed zone-specific field plans and reviewed species identification protocols. These discussions were later consolidated in a joint session to finalise the overall survey strategy.

A training session on the QField GIS Application was conducted by Mr Waqas Ahmad, IUCN GIS Expert, to build team capacity for digital data collection and ensure standardised reporting from the field areas.

The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Mr Asim Jamal, Project Manager, PWCP, who acknowledged the contributions of all participants and reiterated the importance of collaborative effort in ensuring the success of the upcoming surveys.

This pre-survey meeting has laid a strong foundation for the field teams and reflects the collective commitment of all stakeholders to the conservation and sustainable management of Punjab’s unique herpetofauna diversity. The teams of experts have begun field surveys in Punjab, which are scheduled to continue through June 2026.