Pakistan begins construction of snow leopard research center — Dawn

A foundation-laying ceremony for the Snow Leopard and Mountain Biodiversity Research Centre was held in the Passu area of Gojal, Pakistan. The institution is intended to become a hub for scientific research, environmental education and engagement with local communities in Gilgit-Baltistan.

As Dawn reports, the center is being built by the Passu Development Organisation with the support of WWF-Pakistan and WWF-Italy. The ceremony was attended by WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi, Karim, president of the Hunza Regional Council, former tourism minister Raja Shahbaz Khan, the Gojal magistrate, as well as conservation partners, officials and local residents.

Research into mountain ecosystems

According to the organizers, the center will serve as a base for researchers, students and conservationists studying the flora and fauna of Gilgit-Baltistan and neighboring mountain ecosystems. Particular attention is planned to be given to the snow leopard and its habitat.

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The center is also expected to promote the implementation of sustainable conservation practices and the dissemination of knowledge about the region’s ecological importance.

Participation of local communities

The facility is planned to be used as a platform for knowledge exchange and coordination of conservation work among local communities, scientists, conservation specialists and educational institutions.

Hammad Naqi said that the project demonstrates the importance of partnerships between communities, civil society organizations and conservation institutions. According to him, community involvement makes conservation more meaningful and sustainable, while the initiative could become a platform for research, education and community-based conservation activities.