UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has urged the world community to espouse collaborative efforts for conservation of the Markhor, given its role in the overall ecosystem.

`For Pakistan, the Markhor holds a special significance as it is our national animal,` Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told a side event that focused on strategies for the protection of this iconic animal. `Markhors offer a significant opportunity to bolster the economy, foster conservation efforts and promote sustainable tourism and economic growth,` Ambassador Akram said at the event convened by the Tajikistan Mission to the UN in collaboration with UNEP and IUCN.

While Markhors` population is declining globally, with less than 6,000 mature individuals left, he said their numbers in Pakistan have been increasing for the past 10 years, reaching between 3,500 and 5,000, `due to our proactive conservation programmes, and community engagement`.

`In Pakistan`s experience,` Ambassador Akram said, `strengthening community governance structures and promoting local ownership over sustainable natural resource use is a crucial first step to building more capacity for wildlife management activities.`-APP