Heavy monsoon rains, protection revives dried springs in Margallas: Rina.

ISLAMABAD -- Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan on Wednesday said the recent heavy monsoon rainfalls and better protection had helped revive the dried springs of the Margalla Hills National Park.

The Margalla Hills National Park is home to pristine ecology, wildlife and plant species that are sprawling over an area of 17,000 hectares facing acute threats due to wild fires, arson, poaching, hunting and tree cutting.

In an exclusive chat with reporter, the chairperson said that the preservation and protection measures by the IWMB through public and community mobilisation have helped control tree cutting and enhance green cover in the protected area.

Rina said the conservation efforts had also improved vegetation on the hiking trails and across the national park that replenished the aquifer of the Margalla Hills.

She added that massive rains and vegetation had revitalized the water level in the springs that were empty for the past many years. 'Water level has improved specially at Trail-6 where all water springs are filled with water stretching over some three kilometers area. Trail-6 is also a leopard preserve zone which is not open for public and hence has unprecedented green cover and plants in the area.'

The IWMB Chairperson said the IWMB rangers and patrolling staff also successfully removed Lantana camara which was an invasive species that used to suck lots of water from underground reservoirs.

She underlined that the IWMB staff patrolling was improved in the National Park to control tree cutting, pollution, littering in the protected area and bathing in the freshwater springs.

'The water in springs to remain till the months of November and December this year as the experts claim. The aquifer of Margalla Hills National Park has also filled to its maximum which is almost 30 feet deep,' she mentioned.

According to Professor Dr. Zahid Baig Mirza, Senior Board Member IWMB, she said the overflowing water springs indicated replenished aquifer which had attained its maximum level after rains.

She further shared the insights of Dr Mirza that the vegetation had also been protected that helped improve aquifer. The rare...