Wetland Protection Committee 1st Quarter Review Meeting

The wetland protection committee first Project review meeting was held on April 6, 2010, in order to review 1st quarter activities carried by Sangat Development Foundation with coordination of Sindh Wildlife Department Sindh, and supported by Indus for All Programme-WWF Pakistan.

quarter activities carried by Sangat Development Foundation with coordination of Sindh Wildlife Department Sindh, and supported by Indus for All Programme-WWF Pakistan.

Mr. Nisar A. Brohi Director, Sangat Development Foundation gave a detailed presentation on the first quarter activities. He said that 10 community mobilization meetings were held in 10 sites villages with a view to create awareness in the community regarding community based wetland management approaches and also indigenous communities role in the conservation of wetlands biodiversity. Mr. Brohi further said that baseline ecological survey of the selected sites of Chhachh and Yari Wari wetlands was conducted for collecting current data about fauna and flora and also know the existence conditions of the fauna and flora. The ecological survey has documented very critical condition of fauna and flora on two wetlands sites, stating that due to climate change and drought

conditions many flora species have been depleted from the wetlands sites in Deh Akro-II area, which were once provided habitats to the fauna species. Due to stoppage of fresh water flow and seepage from Jamrao and Nara Canals1, the wetlands water has converted into salty, poisonous and become vulnerable to the fauna species, especially for the marine biology of the wetlands. The most endangered specie is the marsh crocodile residing in the wetlands. According to the survey a number of fauna species either died or stopped visiting to the wetlands. The survey suggested in its recommendations immediate and urgent measures to protect the rare and endangered species and also save wetlands and their biodiversity. Mr. Brohi further added that following major additional activities were also carried out to boost up the project activities.

• Formation of Village Based Wetlands Protection Committee in 10 Villages of the wetlands site.

1 The fresh water flow and seepage in the wetlands has been stopped due to increase of cultivation of agriculture lands in the sanctuary area.

• Organized Nature Walk on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2nd February under the theme of this year “Caring for Wetlands-an answer to climate change”

• Organized Tree activity Plantation on

the eve of Valentine Day,14th February 2010

• Held Mch Kachahri at Deh Akro-II Wetlands Site on International Mother Language Day 21st February 2010

• Celebration of World Water Day

March 22, 2010: Water, Wetlands and Forest

was

Mr. Ghulam Rasool Narijo.

Visit of Wildlife Sanctuary Staff of Deh Akro-II to Sangat Head Office,

The Wildlife S f Deh Akro-

pment Foundation

t

their full commitment and

The all committee members of theprotection committee were on consensus that it is indispensable, first to resolve the water supply issue of the wetlands, because the survival of the fauna and flora is associated with the fresh and sweet water provision to the wetlands. The wetlands protection committeepresided over by Mr. Saleem Raza Jalbani, Game Warden District Shaheed Benazir Abad and attended by Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Jamali, Deputy Conservator, Hyderabad Zone, Mr. Nisar A. Brohi and Ameer Hamza of Sangat Development Foundation, and Community representatives, Mr. Faiz Panhwar, Mr. Ali Nawaz Bhatti, and

Nawabshah

anctuary staff oII visited Sangat DeveloHead office Nawabshah on dated 8th April 2010. The team was led by Qaim Khan Dahri, Wildlife Inspector of Deh Akro-II.

They were given a detailed presentation by Nisar A. Brohi, Director, SangaDevelopment Foundation on the project interventions for the conservation and protection of the biodiversity of Deh Akro-II.

The local staff of the wildlife department expressedsupport in the rehabilitation efforts of the resources of the wetlands. They further said that community ownership approach would have larger positive impact on the wetlands and their biodiversity conservation.

The Conservator, Wildlife Department, Government of Sindh,

long with Game Warden visited the

Department, Government of indh, along with Mr. Saleem Raza

Mr. Nisar A. Brohi, Director, Sangat

he head office and

Mr. Brohi further said that all efforts are aimed that to develop the ownership

ommunities

aCommunity based wetland management project area in Deh Akro-II Mr. Hussain Bux Bhagat, Conservator, WildlifeSJalbani, District Game Warden, Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Jamali, Deputy Conservator, Hyderabad Zone, Mr. Aftab Akhund, Manager Partnership Fund, Indus For All Program WWF Pakistan and Mr. Usama Anwer, Site Manager, WWF, Nawabshah office visited Sangat Development Foundation Head Office Nawabshah and also paid field visit of the project area and also held meeting with indigenous community of Deh Akro-II

wildlife Sanctuary.

Development Foundation warmly welcomed the team in tlater on gave detailed presentation on the progress of the project and also shared the issues and challenges of the project area. He further said that first quarter project all activities have been successfully completed and also the project team

undertook additional activities such as village based wetland protection committees’ formation and folk Katchary in the area in order to ensure the effective involvement of indigenous communities in the conservation and protection of biodiversity of the wetlands.

approach of the indigenous cof wetlands and understanding of sustainable management and use of the natural resources of the wetlands for their next generations. Mr. Hussain Bux Bhagat, Conservator, Wildlife Sindh, appreciated the efforts of Sangat Development Foundation for mobilizing and organizing the localcommunities of desert wetland complex of Deh Akro-II and developing their understanding for their biodiversity of the Wetlands. Mr. Bhagat further said that the indigenous communities should be effectively involved and developed their ownership in conservation andmanagement of the wetlands resources as these resources could be utilized and use by the local communities on the sustainable basis.

While talking with the local communities of Deh Akro-II wetlands, the Conservator emphasized on the local community and their representatives that they should play their due role in the efforts of rehabilitation of wetlands and the protection of wetlands biodiversity.

He further said that the local community should avoid from unnecessary cutting of the plants and also over grazing of herbs

degradation and unsustainable

digenous tree species

g on the occasion

ue role in the protection and natural resources, the

and shrubs of the wetlands, because these flora resources are not only means of the livestock survival but also are the habitats for the fauna of the wetlands, such as birds, wild animals and also crocodiles. Therefore, there is need of sustained efforts for the conservation of wetlands resources. Mr. Bhagat further added that due to large scale use of natural resources of Deh Akro-II wetland complex, posing not only a major threat to the wildlife of the sanctuary but also resulted into a major climate change in this desert area. Due to unsustainable use and degradation of tree plants, the inhave largely been diminished from thelocal areas, causing shortage of food and fodder for the local community and livestock of the area.

Mr. Saleem Jalbani, District Game Warden, while talkinsaid that the community should come forward to protect the local species on the wetlands. Unless, the local community would not play their dconservation of the degradation of the wetlands and their biodiversity could not be stopped, the local community should realize the importance of the proactive role in the

protection and conservation as well as use of the wetlands resources.

make

Mr. Jalbani also raised the water provision issue for the wetlands, because lack of fresh water supply is one of main issues,which has extremely affected biodiversity of the wetlands. During the meeting in Sangat Office, it was decided that WWF, Sangat and Sindh Wildlife department would jointlyall possible efforts for the fresh and sweet water supply to the wetlands, as life on the wetlands should be restored and revived.