Post Rio+20- Eco Tourisim Walk- Promoting Green Economy in Mountain Regions. Pirchanasi Muzaffarabad.

On July 15th, Asia Pacific Youth Force on Rio+20 and Pakistan Environmentalist Association (PEA) organized Post Rio+20 event “Eco-Tourism Walk” for promoting Green Economy in Mountain Regions as youth’s follow up of Rio+20 conference.

Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio+20 is volunteer commitment of Asia Pacific youth; mobilizing youth focusing on different issues of The Himalayas in the context of Rio+20; and so far have arranged several events at national, regional and most recently at global level in United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 2012, by organizing (as co-organizer) Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Sustainable Actions. Whereas, Pakistan Environmentalist Association is the national professional body, committed to lead, promote, develop and represent the profession of Environment in order to maximize the contribution of Environmentalists to conserve, restore and sustainable development in the Environment of Pakistan and organizing environmental activities through out the country.

Eco-Tourism Walk was organized in Sirran/ Pirchansi Muzaffarabad, to promote Green Economy in the context of Rio+20, aware local people of benefits of Eco-Tourism and share Mountain’s Youth Appeal that was developed by APYTF in Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Sustainable Actions during historic event United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Jenerio, June 15th 2012.

President PEA- Mr Zaigham Abbas gave introductory talk by explaining the need and benefits of Eco-tourism to the participants including environmental professionals, students, tourists and local people. He emphasized on youth to play their role in promoting environmental awareness, and share best possible solutions. He added that Green Economy is one of the major theme that was under discussion during the UNCSD and Eco tourism is one of the potential ways to promote Green Economy especially in Mountain regions; it will help strengthening livelihoods of local people, and environment conservation by creating awareness among locals and tourists. Ms Sameera Zaib, Coordinator Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa/Gilgit Baltistan PEA, and member Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio+20 shared “Mountain’s Youth Appeal” key messages from Rio+20. She highlighted that mountains are home to indigenous people and poor marginalized communities that lack access to education and support services; however mountains are rich in natural resources and essential for sustainable development but they are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and deforestation. She stressed to efficiently develop and run institutional mechanisms offering opportunities for youth to get basic education as well as higher education; to develop their professional capacity; and start enterprises and businesses which create green jobs in a responsible manner in fields like ecotourism, waste management, energy generation, etc and to be part of social, economic, and environmental processes. Other team member’s including southern and central coordinators PEA also addressed by sharing their ideas and views regarding importance of young environmental professional participation in such kind of environmental awareness raising activities.

Major activities during event were environmental walk, discussion with local communities, sharing of Mountain’s youth appeal from Rio+20, and environmental clean up activity etc. Environmental professionals, students, local people and tourists actively participated in the event and showed commitment to strengthen network and promote environmental cause.

At the end of the event participants urged the Government of Pakistan to consider and ensure youth’s involvement in making country’s Action plan, which is under preparation by the Ministry of Climate Change in the context of UNCSD outcome document- Future we want.