Pakistan acts as both a source and transit route for illegal trade in reptiles, mammals and medicinal plants
Community session with women to discuss possible factors of illegal snow leopard trade PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
On the occasion of World Wildlife Day 2026, WWF-Pakistan has called for urgent action to combat illegal wildlife trade and unsustainable harvesting practices, warning that both are putting Pakistan’s biodiversity and natural heritage under increasing pressure.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organization said wildlife trafficking remains a serious global conservation challenge, with Pakistan serving as both a source and transit route for the illegal trade. From reptiles and mammals to high-value medicinal plants, illegal extraction continues to deplete natural resources and weaken fragile ecosystems on which local communities depend.
WWF-Pakistan stated that it is working with government departments and partner organizations to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve interagency coordination, and strengthen the capacity of frontline staff and justice officials to effectively prevent and prosecute wildlife-related crimes.
WWF-Pakistan Senior Manager Conservation Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry said the organization has developed a comprehensive education plan and strategy to prevent illegal wildlife trade. Nationwide trainings are conducted on SMART monitoring, species identification, wildlife crime investigation, ranger safety, safe handling of animals and community engagement. He added that more than 1,200 people, including community members, students, journalists and local leaders, have attended awareness sessions and webinars.
The organization highlighted recent conservation efforts in Deva Vatala National Park, carried out in collaboration with local communities and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department. These efforts led to the rescue and release of several species, including rock pythons, Indian pangolins, barking deer and Alexandrine parakeets, demonstrating the impact of coordinated enforcement and community management.
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WWF-Pakistan Senior Director Programmer Rab Nawaz said effective conservation requires both strong enforcement and informed communities. He noted that strengthening institutional capacity and involving local stakeholders is essential to prevent wildlife crime and protect vulnerable species.
Referring to the 2026 theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conservation of Health, Heritage and Livelihood,” he said Pakistan is home to a wide variety of medicinal and aromatic plants, including Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari), Viola odorata (banafsha), Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi), widely used in traditional and (Jatamansi) herbal industries. In arid regions such as Balochistan and Sindh, Commiphora wightii (Guggal) is harvested for its resin. In contrast, high altitude species such as Ephedra and Bergenia ciliata (Zakhm-e-hayat) are collected from northern forests.
However, WWF-Pakistan warned that increasing commercial demand has resulted in unsustainable harvesting practices. High-value species such as Kuth, Jatamansi and Guggal are often uprooted, limiting natural regeneration and threatening both ecosystem stability and the livelihoods of communities dependent on these resources.
Globally, more than 20 percent of medicinal plant species are now threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change and illegal trade, underscoring the need for coordinated conservation efforts at national and international levels.
