In Tharparkar, a land often associated with scorching heat and scarce rainfall, a quiet miracle is taking root. Over the past few years, it has become home to one of Pakistan’s most ambitious community-driven biodiversity conservation efforts, led by Thar Foundation and IUCN Pakistan. Their collaboration spanning over a million tree plantations, the protection of critically endangered bird and plant species, enhancement of rangeland ecology, saline agriculture and environmental education for local communities is reshaping the desert’s story for both environmental sustainability and community wellbeing.

These initiatives took centre stage at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest event dedicated to nature conservation, where the IUCN and Thar Foundation’s model of community-driven environmental action in Thar drew international attention.

Taking Thar’s story to the world

At the Congress, IUCN Pakistan hosted a dedicated pavilion session to present the country’s biodiversity conservation success stories. The session showcased the Upscaling Green Pakistan Programme, innovative community-led ecotourism initiatives, efforts to strengthen coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation and the implementation of a gender action plan in environmental management.

Among the speakers was Amir Iqbal, CEO of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and Thar Foundation, who highlighted the Million Tree Plantation, saline agriculture projects, and vulture and flora conservation initiatives that are restoring ecological balance in Thar.

Amir shared, “Our biodiversity conservation projects with IUCN in Thar align closely with the broader national agenda. These projects show that sustainability has always been at the core of our business strategy. It strengthens our social licence to operate and reinforces our commitment to responsible growth.”

A forest........

© Dawn