Sindh Strategy 66 CHAPTER 6 Wetlands
Wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems in the world with extensive and rich food webs and biodiversity. Due to their location on the flyway to Central Asia and South Asia, Pakistan»s wetlands serve as the breeding and wintering grounds for migrating birds from Central and Northern Asia. BACKGROUND Wetlands are important sites of biodiversity in Sindh; nine protected wetlands under the RAMSAR Convention are located here ƒ the Indus Dolphin Reserve, Kalri Lake, Drigh Lake, Haleji Lake, Jubho Lagoon, Nurruri Lagoon, Deh Akro, Rann of Kutch, and the Indus Delta. Sindh»s coastal and estuarine wetlands serve as critical breeding, rearing, staging, and wintering grounds for migrating birds and house a number of globally important fish and shellfish species. During the migration season, thousands of water fowl belonging to 108 species use this habitat. Freshwater wetlands too host a vast array of flora and fauna endemic to Sindh. Wetlands have significant economic importance for local communities, who harvest several wetland species of fauna and flora for food and for economic gain. Sindh»s wetlands feed an ever-increasing human population and a substantial dependent population of wetland species, both plant and animal. If wetlands are degraded the people dependent on them are also adversely affected, along with the interconnected ecosystem. Sindh Strategy 67 Today Sindh»s wetlands are being adversely impacted because of the decreasing discharge of water and sediment downstream of Kotri Barrage. This is especially true of the coastal and estuarine wetlands, which need a certain amount of freshwater to be sustainable. As no sediment nourishment takes place, the rate of erosion increases, coupled with seawater intrusion due to low environmental flows.
Sindh Strategy 68 ISSUES Water Scarcity and Pollution Biodiversity loss in wetland habitats is being hastened by the diminishing supplies of water downstream of Kotri Barrage. The water that does reach the natural inland wetlands is drained from agricultural land and carries silt, fertilizer, and pesticide residue, causing additional problems of silting and eutrophication. A case in point is an important artificial wetland of Sindh, the Haleji Lake, which is facing eutrophication. The lake is rich in nutrients and supports a dense plant population. However, aquatic animal life in this area is threatened by the lack of dissolved oxygen. Seepage from agricultural lands and the canal irrigation networks has formed many artificial wetlands that have become important for migratory birds such as cranes and ducks. But waterlogging and salinity affect many of these to the extent that they can no longer support animal life. The adverse effects of the LBOD and the RBOD are also evident. Coastal wetlands are suffering from the lack of freshwater, which is translating into losses in the fisheries sector in Sindh. Wetland habitats are also being threatened by catchment degradation, soil erosion, and siltation, making it increasingly difficult to support the species that depend on these areas for their survival. Human Settlements and Migration Hunting, unplanned growth of human settlements, illegal occupation, disturbance from recreational activities, and reclamation for urban and industrial development are some of the other problems being faced by wetlands. For example the coastal wetlands of Mai Kolachi, which are habitats for shrimps and various species of fish and birds, have been reclaimed for city expansion, adversely affecting the fisherfolk of Baba Bhit Island. Similarly Manchar Lake has suffered the same fate. Thousands of people inhabiting this lake area were forced to migrate to other parts of Sindh due to the devastation caused by agricultural pollutants. Another important wetland, the Kalri Lake is also being degraded due to inadequate management and maintenance. Nurruri Lagoon that provides livelihoods to about 4 000 people in surrounding villages, chiefly through fisheries, is a similar case. Invasive plant species, such as typha and occasionally tamarix, are perceived to be hindering the growth and diversity of native flora. Population pressures, including accelerating agricultural and industrial pollution, offer further challenges. Inadequate Legislation There are no common property laws relating to wetlands; this makes conservation and management of these areas very difficult. There is no adequate legislation or enforcement of laws relating to fishing rights of local communities, which leads to exploitation of resources and encroachment by other actors. Overexploitation Wetland areas have decreased due to the overexploitation of their resources. There are few alternative income-generating sources for local communities; this means they rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. Only recently, after ecological and environmental surveys, has some awareness regarding the importance of wetlands been created. PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS Institutional Strengthening Effective management plans that integrate indigenous knowledge with the principles of wetland conservation are essential for the protection of these important sites. For this purpose, capacity building of the organizations responsible for wetlands throughout Sindh is necessary. There is also a need for increased coordination among governing agencies as well as NGOs such as WWF working in the field of wetland management. Furthermore, collaboration is necessary with the agricultural sector to minimize the use of harmful chemicals and fertilizers that harm wetland fauna and flora. Organizations active in the field of wetland
Sindh Strategy Mohammad Ali Qadri Many species of water fowl visit wetlands in Sindh conservation like WWF Pakistan and IUCN Pakistan should be encouraged to impart training to relevant government bodies to increase knowledge and technical expertise on the effective management of wetland sites. For the implementation of management plans in any agency, it is important to ensure that an effective monitoring mechanism with a feedback system is in place. The P&DD should allocate funds specifically for wetland management and conservation in its ADP. The provincial and district governments need to work in coordination with each other on the issues of wetland management. The P&DD should play the role of facilitator in the implementation of integrated management plans as well as on cross-cutting issues proposed by various line departments. Supporting Action Re-activating the National Wetland Management Committee, established by the Ministry of Environment in 1995, to oversee and integrate issues on a crosssectoral basis. Research and There is a need to undertake qualitative and quantitative research to collect baseline information on the current status of wetlands and the threats they face. Subsequently, conservation strategies and policies need to be implemented through organizations working in wildlife, wetland, and water conservation. It is necessary to map all current wetlands using GIS. Accessibility of information and reliable tools would make the monitoring process more accurate and useful. There are many areas related to wetlands that need further study, including the importance and use of desert wetlands. Research is also needed on the economic valuation of wetland services. This is very important as it would help in the formulation of adequate policies for wetland conservation. Supporting Actions Studying the damage caused by the disposal of untreated effluent on wetlands, pollution of the Indus River and its effect 69
on wetlands dependent on freshwater flows from the river, and the effects of climate change on wetlands. Conducting comprehensive EIAs before initiating any land reclamation projects on coastal wetlands. Research in this field should be action-based and conducted by relevant institutions with sufficient backward and forward linkages to ensure that their work is being translated on the ground. Ensuring that the P&DD has a block allocation in its ADP for outsourcing of research/feasibility studies on important issues related to wetland conservation. Increasing research on the effects of invasive/exotic species in wetland habitats as they have had a negative effect on the biodiversity of wetland species in the past. Conducting baseline studies on the importance of wetland biodiversity, including agrobiodiversity, insects, microorganisms and their role in supporting other life within wetland ecosystems. Conducting investigative studies on more sites that could be eligible for listing under the RAMSAR Convention. Legislation and Policy It is vital that all previous legislation and policies like the NCS (1992), the Wildlife Acts, NEQS, wetland and hunting laws are made more effective through monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that they are being upheld. In order for implementation of legislation there is a need for good governance. Positive results can be achieved if the responsibilities for implementation are clearly defined, along with supportive policies, rules, legislation, and institutional reform concerning common property resources. Currently the NEQS are being implemented on a self-monitoring basis which has proved to be ineffective. The most recent conservation policies of the GoP regarding the management of natural resources are: Conserving biological diversity and maintaining ecological balance; Sindh Strategy 70 Mohammad Ali Qadri Traditional boat houses still exist in many inland water bodies
Containing environmental degradation in the watersheds; Promoting income generation and selfemployment in rural areas; Promoting NGOs and private voluntary organizations to create public awareness; Integrated and participatory management of natural resources. Supporting Actions Establishing a provincial level Wetland Management Committee to oversee all activities related to wetlands in Sindh. Implementing the recommendations of the Biodiversity Action Plan and NCS through the development of stricter enforcement and monitoring mechanisms starting with the RAMSAR-protected sites in Sindh. Enforcing laws and standards (such as NEQS) on pollution-generating industries that release untreated effluent into water channels; they should be fined for noncompliance. Reviewing and updating wetland and hunting legislation and ensuring its implementation in wetland sites. Enforcing legislation to ensure comprehensive EIAs for all development projects near wetland sites and their potential affect on biodiversity. Incorporating indigenous knowledge into policies to make them more suited to the local environment. Conservation and Public Awareness Raising There is a need for increased awarenessraising activities among the community, policy-makers, and other sectoral stakeholders like the agricultural and industrial sectors on the importance of conserving the biodiversity of wetlands. The use of media and NGOs to spread awareness on the various species dependent on wetlands should be encouraged and the necessity for widespread and integrated wetland conservation activities at the grassroots level should be promoted. Another aspect should be to promote awareness and institutionalize conservation-friendly wetland management practices while seeking to enhance conservation incentives for poor households who depend on wetland resources. Tourism and There is a need to develop alternative income-generating opportunities for local people in key communities surrounding wetland sites. The development of a viable ecotourism industry after conducting proper EIAs would help in generating incomes and jobs for the local community. This would require the support of the government as well as the encouragement of the private sector to invest in the development of infrastructure and facilities to support this industry. This area would require an important overlap with the Department of Culture and Tourism, which would be able to provide the infrastructure and coordination facilities required to make wetlands an accessible and popular tourist attraction. Sindh Strategy 71