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Climate-Smart Greening of Gilgit-Baltistan: A Scientific Perspective



Harnessing Botanical Expertise for a Resilient Future:
How Scholars like Professor Dr. Sher Wali Khan Can Guide Gilgit-Baltistan Toward Drought-Resistant Landscapes

Gilgit-Baltistan—an awe-inspiring land of towering peaks, glaciers, wind-swept plateaus, and deep valleys—is also a region marked by harsh climatic realities. With arid conditions, erratic precipitation, fragile soils, and rising temperatures driven by climate change, its vast stretches of barren and undulating land remain vulnerable to erosion, degradation, and ecological decline. The urgent need to rehabilitate these landscapes through drought-resistant and ecologically suitable plant species has never been more pronounced.

In this context, erudite scholars like Professor Dr. Sher Wali Khan, Chairman of the Department of Plant Sciences at Karakoram International University (KIU), emerge as invaluable assets. His recent international recognition exemplifies how scientific expertise rooted in deep regional knowledge can transform both global understanding and local resilience.

A Landmark Contribution to Global Botanical Science

Karakoram International University recently celebrated a remarkable achievement by Professor Dr. Sher Wali Khan that has resonated across the global scientific community. The WELT Herbarium at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa unearthed nearly 200 unidentified and well-preserved plant specimens collected from the Karakoram mountains in 1957. For more than six decades, the absence of regional taxonomic expertise left these specimens un-accessioned and scientifically dormant.

On the recommendation of Canadian scholar Dr. Nina Hewitt, the Herbarium approached Professor Khan—whose distinguished command of plant taxonomy and knowledge of northern Pakistan’s flora made him uniquely suited for the challenge. Through high-resolution images of the specimens, Dr. Khan successfully identified nearly all the plants at the species or genus level, resolving a 68-year-old scientific puzzle.

His work transformed what was once a forgotten collection into a globally accessible resource for researchers studying the botanical heritage of the Karakoram. It also underscored KIU’s growing role in international scientific collaboration.

Bridging Global Expertise With Local Needs

While Professor Khan’s achievement strengthens the academic reputation of Gilgit-Baltistan on the world stage, its implications for the region’s future development are equally profound.

Gilgit-Baltistan’s geography consists largely of rugged mountains, steep gradients, rock-strewn plains, and barren slopes stretching across its upper and lower zones. Many of these areas face acute water scarcity, increased heat stress, and limited soil fertility—conditions that demand a new ecological strategy grounded in science.

Here is where scholars like Dr. Khan can play a pivotal role:

1. Identifying Indigenous Drought-Resistant Flora

Through decades of research on the biodiversity of northern Pakistan, Dr. Khan and his colleagues possess invaluable insights into native plant species already adapted to local climatic extremes. These include:

  • Xerophytic shrubs ideal for stabilizing slopes
  • Hardy grasses that prevent soil erosion
  • Medicinal and aromatic plants suited to arid zones
  • Indigenous tree species with low water requirements

Such species can be recommended for large-scale planting across barren landscapes where conventional agriculture is impractical.

2. Guiding Climate-Responsive Landscape Restoration

Plant taxonomy is not merely about naming plants—it is the gateway to understanding their ecological roles, resilience thresholds, and habitat preferences. Professor Khan’s expertise can guide:

  • Watershed restoration projects
  • Sand dune and slope stabilization
  • Urban greening initiatives in towns like Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza and other such central places.
  • Reforestation and afforestation programs tailored to microclimates

With climate change accelerating glacial melt and altering rainfall patterns, such guidance is vital for environmental stability.

3. Creating a Botanic Blueprint for Sustainable Development

Gilgit-Baltistan’s future prosperity—whether in tourism, agriculture, or infrastructure—depends on the health of its environment. By leading botanical surveys and ecological mapping, scholars like Dr. Khan can help formulate:

  • District-wise drought-tolerant plantation guides
  • Species suitability maps for degraded lands
  • Biodiversity conservation strategies

Such scientific planning ensures that development and ecological protection move hand-in-hand.

4. Empowering Local Communities and Institutions

Through teaching, research, and community outreach, Professor Khan and KIU’s Department of Plant Sciences can:

  • Train local youth in botanical fieldwork
  • Collaborate with government departments on environmental policy
  • Support farmers in adopting climate-smart crops
  • Strengthen village-level efforts in sustainable land management

This knowledge transfer is essential for long-term ecological resilience.

5. Enhancing Gilgit-Baltistan’s Global Scientific Standing

Dr. Khan’s recent work with the WELT Herbarium demonstrates how regional expertise can contribute to global research. Establishing Gilgit-Baltistan as a hub for high-altitude botanical knowledge can attract:

  • international collaborations
  • research funding
  • eco-tourism and scientific tourism

This positions the region not only as a landscape of mountains but also as a center of scientific excellence.

Conclusion: Science Lighting the Path to a Greener Future

The achievements of Professor Dr. Sher Wali Khan symbolize more than academic distinction; they embody a blueprint for how Gilgit-Baltistan can harness its intellectual capital to safeguard its ecological future. With vast barren terrains waiting to be rehabilitated, and with climate change exerting unprecedented pressures, the guidance of scholars like Dr. Khan is indispensable.

By identifying drought-resistant plants and leading strategic ecological restoration, experts in botany can help convert desolate landscapes into sustainable green zones—enhancing biodiversity, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring environmental security.

As Gilgit-Baltistan moves forward, it must look to its scientific community—its professors, researchers, and students—to illuminate the path toward a resilient, greener, and more sustainable tomorrow.

 


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