n the once-vibrant district of Nizamabad, Umbrin recalls a time when River Chenab was wide and teeming with life. “The river used to be so expansive,” she says. “But as people started settling around it, the fields and forests—home to countless birds and mammals—began to disappear. Now, the river is shrinking, and the wildlife is vanishing.”

Biodiversity, one of our planet’s greatest treasures, is under severe threat. Despite the Punjab government’s efforts - managing 23 game reserves, 37 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks - the region’s biodiversity continues to decline. The reasons behind this alarming trend are complex; rooted as they are in both human activities and the ever-worsening climate crisis.

Every July and August, Umbrin witnesses the devastating impact of climate change firsthand. “The river overflows during the monsoon, flooding the areas around it,” she says. “Numerous wild mammals near the river die as a result, their habitats destroyed by the rising waters.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2021 report supports her observations, identifying Gujranwala as a high-risk area for flooding, a major contributor to biodiversity loss.

Dr Syed Zakir, a zoologist at the University of Gujrat, highlights the role of urbanisation in this crisis. “Urbanisation changes natural landscapes, turning them into human-made environments,” he says. “This not only reduces and fragments natural habitats but also creates barriers that prevent the movement of organisms, leading to the extinction of local species.”

He says urban areas increase the risk of invasive species outcompeting native wildlife, further threatening biodiversity. While some species may find new opportunities in these altered environments, most struggle to survive. “To combat this,” he suggests, “we need to make our homes wildlife-friendly, providing native food and shelter to support local species.”

Punjab’s urbanisation has been rapid and staggering. According to the 2017 census, 37 percent of Gujranwala’s population lives in urban areas. The province is expected to see the share of its urban population rise to 59 million by 2030.

Urban Planner Muhammad Faraz Sajid warns that poor urban planning exacerbates the situation. “Biodiversity is severely affected by inadequate drainage systems and the discharge of polluted factory water into natural bodies,” he says. He also criticises the government for legitimising illegal housing near water bodies, which disrupts ecosystems and hinders conservation efforts.

The IPCC’s recent report warns that climate change is causing unprecedented shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, leading to severe consequences for wildlife.

Dr Mohsin, a senior climate expert at the University of Gujrat, stresses that these changes are pushing fragile ecosystems to the brink. “Wildlife depends on specific conditions to survive,” he says. “Climate change disrupts these, causing larger floods, eroding water quality and degrading habitats for aquatic mammals.”

In the Punjab, efforts to protect wildlife are ongoing but face significant challenges. Deputy Wildlife Officer Hanfiya Yousaf notes that certain species, like the Indian fruit bat and Indus dolphin, are protected under Punjab’s Wildlife Protection Act. However, illegal hunting persists, often going unpunished due to lax enforcement. While the government has established wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, where hunting and habitat destruction are prohibited, these measures alone are not enough to reverse the damage.

Researcher Dr Altaf from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur says that human activities are rapidly depleting forests and wetlands, critical habitats for mammals along the Chenab. His studies reveal a stark decline in the diversity and density of mammal species in the region due to deforestation and urban encroachment.

Loss of tree cover in the Punjab is another significant factor. From 2001 to 2022, Pakistan lost 9,684 hectares of tree cover, reducing the natural habitats available to wildlife. The International Union for Conservation of Nature reports that 26 percent of Pakistan’s mammal species are now threatened with extinction.

WWF highlights that climate change is exacerbating these challenges by forcing many species to move to new areas, altering ecosystems and increasing the risk of extinction. They urge the government to create and manage protected areas more effectively, integrate climate change adaptation strategies into conservation plans and enforce wildlife protection laws.

Punjab’s first climate change policy, announced by Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, aims to address these issues. The policy outlines both short-term and long-term measures to combat environmental pollution and protect the region’s biodiversity. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on strict enforcement and public awareness.

The stakes are high. Biodiversity not only enriches our environment but also plays a crucial role in regulating climate and supporting ecosystems. If we fail to protect it, the consequences will be dire—for wildlife and for humanity.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Gujranwala.