Pakistan Wetlands Programme A trendsetter in Wetlands Awareness

Najam Ul Huda Khan WWF - Pakistan

More than 239 significant natural wetlands in Pakistan covering an area of 11% of the country

Distributary/Link Canals

3%

Irrigation Barrages

2%

Estuaries and Bays w ith Mangroves

1%

Rocky Cosatline, Ishore Reefs,

Cliffs1%

Deep Water Dams1%

Estuaries and Bays w ithout Mangroves

8%

Perennial Alpine Rivers

4%

Saline Seepage Marshes

9%

River Deltas12%

Low land Perennial Rivers

13%

Low land Ephemeral

Rivers13%

Rice Paddies33%

Based on the hydrological, geomorphological, chemical, or biological factors, 22 distinct types of wetlands were classified and representative areas were delineated

Qamer F.M., Ashraf M.S., Hussain N., Saleem R., Ali H., Mirza H., Akram U., Raza S.M. (2009): Pakistan Wetlands GIS – a multi-scale national wetlands inventory, 33rd International

Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, May 4-8, 2009, Stresa, Italy.

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an inter-governmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Pakistan has no legal definition of wetlands . . .

Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.

In the case of Pakistan, this definition will include glaciers and the areas of wetlands that fluctuate in size to include the 10-year high water levels Source: Pakistan National Wetlands Policy.

Global Environment Facility (GEF). GEF Implementing Agency: UNDP Pakistan. GEF Implementing Partner: Federal Government of Pakistan. Federal Ministry of Climate Change Project Implementing Agency: WWF-Pakistan.

. . . to conserve globally significant wetlands biodiversity in Pakistan

while alleviating poverty.

Development objective of the Pakistan Wetlands Programme

Immediate Objectives of the Pakistan Wetlands Programme

1. Create and maintain an enabling environment for effective and sustainable conservation of natural wetlands at federal, provincial/territorial and local levels.

2. Implement sustainable wetlands conservation at four representative sites that will serve as replicable models for subsequent nationwide wetlands conservation initiatives.

Uchhali Lake, Salt Range

10 principal outputs

National Wetlands Management Strategy

Wetlands Environmental Assessments

Outputs 7–10: Demonstration Site Management

Training & Capacity Building

National Awareness Campaign

Makran Coast

Central Indus

Salt Range

Northern Alpine

National Wetlands Conservation Policy

Financial Sustainability

and Fundraising

GIS-based Wetlands Inventory

10 9 8 7

5 3 4

2b

6 Re

plica

ble

Dem

o Si

tes

PMU and Technical Resource

Centre

1 2a

National

Centre

Financialand

Fundraisin

based Wetlands Inventory

Wetlands EnviroAssess

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6

Brief of Salient Activities of Programme

At this terminal stage, the Pakistan Wetlands Programme (PWP) has achieved output 1 to 6 through numerous relevant interventions.

Starting with the development of a robust programme coordinating mechanism, the PWP ensured institutional embedment of wetlands conservation through the formation of effective site offices, Village Conservations Committees (VCCs) and Wetland Management Committees (WMCs) at all the demonstration complexes.

Programme Steering Committee (PSC) Programme Management Committee (PMC) Programme Management Unit (PMU) Programme Support Unit (PSU) Technical Resource and Equipment Centre (TREC)

1.49

3.39

5.28

6.71 8.00

8.36

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Per year Overall

Despite the shortage of expert survey staff, 642 surveys were conducted in a total of 73 wetlands including all the Ramsar sites.

Eleven different categories of surveys have been conducted under the PWP programme. These include the following surveys

48

55

56

57

58

60

60

61

64

64

68

Large Mammals Limnology/Hydrology

Small Mammals Socio-economic

Anurans/Reptiles Aquatic Vegetation

GIS/Remote Sensing Ichthyology

Invertibrates Ornithology

Terrestrial Vegetation

Break up of surveys by Demonstration Site

NAWC 39%

CIWC 38% SRWC

13% MCWC

7%

ICT 3%

CIWC: Central Indus Wetlands Complex; NAWC: Northern Alpine Wetlands Complex, SRWC: Salt Range Wetlands Complex; MCWC: Makran Coastal Wetlands Complex; ICT: Islamabad Capital Territory

Over 75% of the wetlands of Pakistan are lakes and therefore majority (65%) of the surveyed wetlands have been lakes.

Lakes 65%

Marine 8%

Man-made wetlands

27%

0%

0%

Break up of surveys by type of wetland

Pakistan Wetlands Geographic Information System (PWGIS) Pakistan Wetlands Geographic Information System (PWGIS)

Six GIS nodes established at provincial and territorial levels

Wetlands Atlas containing topographic, land cover and satellite image based maps of 70 selected wetlands in Pakistan was published.

Types of maps produced by the GIS laboratory Category Description Total maps Maps of demonstration sites Topographic / Land cover / Location Maps 93 Maps of wetlands Species Maps / Baseline Survey Maps 410 Maps produced under different Studies Mangrove Assessment, national Forest

Cover Assessment, Flood Assessment, etc, 366

Maps Developed for Wetlands Atlas Wetlands Atlas 102 Other maps Specific survey Maps (Species) /

Provincial Maps / Ramsar Site Maps/ Land use planning maps 391

Total 1,362

Targets and indicators of Pakistan National Wetlands Policy Objective Some of the Indicators Target Year Ensuring water availability for priority wetlands in Pakistan Water allocation for 7 to 12 priority wetlands done, Water quality in

25% of the polluted water bodies restored, up to 20% increase in protected wetlands 2030

Regulatory framework for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands developed and implemented Provincial wetland strategies and action plans implemented,

Biodiversity law drafted, Dissemination of guidance and training for wetland managers 2015

Coordination and collaboration between agencies and sectors on wetland issues emerged at local and international levels

Wetland focal points identified in each agency, NCCW in place and strengthened by new mandate, NWAC and provincial wetland committees established, 2012

Wetland research, education and data management promoted

Manuals for Pakistan wetland research and 2015 inventory produced, publication of the journal of wetland

management, wetland ecology modules prepared and taught in schools, Mapping of priority wetlands completed

Pakistan's capacity for sustainable wetland management built On-site and distance training courses and equipment’s provided to 2

priority wetland managers per province/territory, Restructured NCCW strengthened to undertake its key responsibilities 2015

Enhanced understanding, perceptions and attitudes towards wetlands promoted Reviews of communications strategies indicate increased levels of

awareness and effectiveness of the campaigns 2015 and 2025

Financing mechanisms for sustainable wetlands management secured Demonstrations of corporate support through development of at

least one model wetland site in each province/territory, Each province/territory has at least one wetlands and climate change related project being implemented 2015

Training areas identified during TNA in 2007

Training areas Percentage respondents

Administrative and financial management 84% Organisational communication and coordination 74% Natural resource management of wetlands 86% Socio-economic issues 66% Mass awareness and commitment to protecting wetlands 57% Wetlands data collection techniques 82% Wetlands protection and management 62% Policy regulation and implementation 57% Strengthening local planning for wetlands conservation 61% Evaluating and monitoring wetlands conservation plan 54%

0

50

100

150

200

250

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Num

ber o

f tra

inin

gs

A limited number of capacity building initiatives started as early as 2006 and took-off in 2007 after the training needs assessment (TNA).

professionals 7,511, 82%

non-professionals 581, 6%

CBOs 578, 6%

military personnel 342, 4%

Bureaucrats 159, 2%

0, 0%

Other 1660, 18%

Total: 217 training and capacity building initiatives - Of these, 117 were delivered by PWP in Pakistan - 70 by international experts abroad - 27 by other national institutions. - 50 certificate courses on sustainable wetlands - 25 certificate courses on environmental education.

5

18

57

110

145 149

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Distribution of awareness campaigns between 2007 and 2012

Photography: Ghulam Rasool / PWP

Art Competition

Photography: Ghulam Rasool / PWP

Photography: Ghulam Rasool / PWP

Photography: Ghulam Rasool / PWP

Photography: Ghulam Rasool / PWP

Photography: Ghulam Rasool / PWP

Campaign 43%

Competition 20%

Festival 9%

Presentation 7%

Walk 6%

Workshop 5%

Tour 7%

Other 3%

21%

Distribution of campaigns by type of campaign

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

International

Other

Distribution of events held from 2007 to 2012

300

4500

1300

3000

News Report Press Release Radio Broadcast TV Broadcast

Distribution of media events by type

Poster; 42%

Newsletter; 19%

Brochure; 13% Card; 9%

Booklet; 7%

Leaflet; 4% Web

Application; 3%

Other; 3%

Distribution of communication material

Seminal Publications

Newly Developed: 1. Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Salt Range Wetlands Complex Strengthened 1. Dolphin Wetlands Centre 2. Marine information centre, Jiwani

Thank You