Efforts by local communities and civil society groups to protect and restore Pakistan’s Indus Basin, which gained momentum through the Government of Pakistan’s ambitious Living Indus initiative, have been recognized globally.
Pakistan’s Living Indus initiative, which aims to rejuvenate more than 30% of the country’s Indus River Basin by 2030, has been hailed as a flagship endeavor by the United Nations. This groundbreaking initiative was officially named one of the seven UN World Restoration Flagships, underscoring its significance in combating environmental degradation on a global scale.
The World Restoration Flagships awards are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) – which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. The awards track notable initiatives following global commitments to restore one billion hectares – an area larger than China.
Living Indus Initiative
The Living Indus initiative is a response to the alarming degradation of Pakistan’s Indus Basin, home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The Basin is also home to 195 mammal species, at least 668 bird species, and over 150 fish species, including 22 endemic ones and the endangered Indus Blind Dolphin, one of the world’s rarest mammals.
However, the region has been plagued by devastating floods, extreme heat waves, and escalating air pollution levels in recent years, posing significant threats to both the environment and the livelihoods of millions of people.
Living Indus Initiative in numbers
The initiative has already made significant strides by
- Restoring 1,350,000 hectares across 25 projects.
- Restoration completed with an estimated cost of up to USD 17 billion.
- 25 million hectares of the river basin to be restored by 2030.
With its designation as a World Restoration Flagship, the Living Indus initiative stands to receive additional technical and financial support from the UN.
The Living Indus initiative aims to advance the sustainable management of the Indus River Basin, striking a delicate balance between water resource utilization, ecosystem preservation, and socio-economic development. Through initiatives focused on responsible water management, pollution reduction, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement, the program seeks to ensure a climate-resilient future for Pakistan.
“Pakistan and its people have been living off the Indus Basin for 6,000 years. Today, 95% of the population, all the country’s agriculture and most of its industries depend on it,” said Julien Harneis, the former UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan. “However, it suffers not only from the impact of climate change but also from human-induced environmental degradation. The Living Indus Initiative brings together the government, civil society, the UN, and all the countries that support Pakistan to protect the Indus’ future.”
In the wake of catastrophic floods in 2022, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Pakistan played a pivotal role in convening stakeholders and spearheading the conceptualization of the Living Indus Initiative. Through collaborative efforts, a comprehensive plan comprising 25 interventions was formulated to repair and restore the ecosystem, paving the way for a more climate-resilient Pakistan.
Initiative to safeguard ecosystem in the face of climate disasters
Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ahmad Irfan Aslam said “The Living Indus initiative presents a unique opportunity to enhance the resilience of the Indus ecosystem in the face of climate change”. He lauded the holistic approach adopted by the initiative, which prioritizes community-led, gender-responsive, and transparent nature-based solutions for the restoration of the entire Indus Basin.
In recent years, Pakistan has experienced some of its most catastrophic floods and extreme heat waves on record, as well as spiraling air pollution levels, all of which are exacerbated by climate change and severely affect the lives and livelihoods of millions.
“Pakistan’s climate-induced disasters in recent years have been heart-breaking, causing destruction on a scale that no nation can, or should have to, accept,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “It is therefore important to recognize and support projects like the Living Indus initiative for the hope and resilience it can offer Pakistan and the region.”
As one of the prestigious World Restoration Flagships, the Living Indus initiative exemplifies best practices in large-scale ecosystem restoration, aligning with the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The announcement of its recognition coincides with the upcoming 6th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), where global leaders will convene to address pressing environmental challenges.