Wetlands of Pakistan

1
By: Group 2
Group Members
 Adil Fayyaz • 15051561-035

 Kainat Safdar • 15051561-002

 Syeda Maheen Ali • 15051561-023

 Sana Bakht • 15051561-034

 Hunain Munir • 15051561-028

 Saira Adnan • 15051561-026

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Wetlands
 A wetland is a place where the land is covered by water,
either salt, fresh or somewhere in between.

 Marshes and ponds, the edge of a lake or ocean, mouth of a

river, all of these are wetlands.

 According to National Wetland Policy of Nepal (2003) those

water bodies which are perennial and created by under-
ground sources of water and or rainfalls are classified as
wetlands.
 4
Wetlands
 They may be natural or man made.

 Natural wetlands include rivers, streams, lakes, marshes, bogs

and swamps etc.

 Man-made wetlands include canals, ponds, paddy fields, fish

farms etc.

 They cover approximately six percent of surface area of the

globe and occur almost in every country right from tundra
region to tropical areas.
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Natural Man-made
Wetland Wetland
 6

Valuable Functions
 Wetlands are important source of food supply and they are
biological supermarkets as they are reservoirs of plant and
animal species .

 They preserve bio-diversity and also are ascribed as kidneys

of the landscape.

 They store nutrients and are regarded as most productive

ecosystems.
 7

Valuable Functions
 They work as reservoirs for water storage and provide
attractive tourist place.

 Coastal wetlands provide protection against storms Located

at the fringe of water and land, wetlands are rich and
complex ecosystems which support biodiversity, provide
worthwhile ecological services, and have great potential for
tourism.
 8

Theoretical Framework
“Wetlands contribute in no small way to our quality of
life - indeed, to our very survival.”
The values and benefits of wetlands are:
1. Flood control
 The most significant social and economic benefit that
wetlands provide is flood control.

 Peatlands and wet grasslands alongside river basins can act

like sponges, absorbing rainfall and controlling its flow
into streams and rivers.
 9

Theoretical Framework

2. Clean water
 Wetlands act as the Earth's filters, cleaning up water in a
number of ways.

3. Food supply

 Rice is the staple diet of nearly 3 billion people - half the

world's population.

 It is grown in wetlands across Asia and west Africa, and in

the United States.
 10

Theoretical Framework
4. Shoreline And Storm Protection
 Coastal wetlands – such as reefs, mangroves and
saltmarshes – act as frontline defences against potential
devastation.

 5. Materials and Medicines

 Wetlands yield fuelwood for cooking, thatch for roofing,
fibres for textiles and paper making, and timber for
building.

 Medicines are extracted from their bark, leaves, and fruits

etc.
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Theoretical Framework
6. Recreation areas
 Wetlands everywhere provide important leisure facilities -
fishing, shell collecting and bird watching, swimming etc.

7. Vital habitat
 It has been estimated that freshwater wetlands hold more
than 40% of all the world’s species and 12% of all animal
species

8. A Refuge For Migrating Birds

 The world's wetlands offer a welcome pitstop, offering
protection and food before the birds continue on to their
final destination.
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 13

Ramsar Convention (Rc)

 International treaty.
 Held on 2nd Feb.1971,in Iran, Ramsar.
Purpose:-
1. Conservation & sustainable use of wetlands.

2. Stop the encroachment and loss of wetlands.

3. And wise use of wetlands and its resources for the benefit
of mankind.
 Provide framework for National and International
cooperation.
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Importance Of Wetlands
 Wetlands help reduce the impacts from storm damage
and flooding.

 Maintain good water quality in rivers.

 Recharge groundwater.

 Store carbon, help stabilise climatic conditions and

control pests.

 Important sites for biodiversity

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CONTI…
 The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands.

 Thisincludes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers,

swamps and marshes.

 Also include wet grasslands, peat-lands, oases, estuaries,

deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas.

 Also include coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as

fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
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Classification Of Wetlands

Inland wetlands Marshes

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CONTI…

Swamps Rivers, Oasis

 18

CONTI…
Mangroves Bogs
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CONTI…
Coastal Wetlands
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Human-made Wetlands
 Rice Paddy  Fish Ponds
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Wetland Inventories Of
Pakistan
 USA’s fish and wildlife service (USFWS) has developed a
scheme of classification of the national wetlands inventory.

 According to this 225 wetlands are present in Pakistan… i.e.

1. Seasonally flooded agricultural land

2. Ponds—farm ponds, stock ponds, small tanks

3. Permanent water of estuaries and deltas

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CONTI…
 Significant and globally wetlands in 1976, only 9.

 Afterwards 2001, no. raised from 9-16

 According to Ramcar site, currently 19

 From these 19 wetlands 7 are situated in Sindh province. i.e.

 Badin and Kadhan Lagoons, Beroon Kirthar Canal, Charwo

Lake, Clifton Beach, Drigh Lake, & Sindhi Dhoro Lake, Hab
Dam, Haleji Lake.
 23

Wetland
Complexes of
Pakistan
 Wetland Complexes of
Pakistan
 The four major wetland complexes have been
demarcated in Pakistan.
1. the North Western Alpine wetland complex.

2. the wetland complex of Salt Range.

3. the wetland complex of Central Indus Plain.

4. the wetland complex of Makran Coast.

Wetland Complexes of
Pakistan
 The North Western Alpine
Wetland Complex
 Comprising an area of about 1760 sq km, 70 km
long and 23 km wide.

 This important complex is situated in the upper

Yarkhun River Valley at elevations ranging from
3,000 to 4,200 meters.

 Itconsists of a few of the highest wetlands on the

globe that are biologically active.
 CONTI…
 Amongst these six are located at an elevation of over 6,000
meters from sea level.
 The typical plant species found in the valley bottoms of this
complex are;
Myricaria elegans
Poplus ciliate
Salix viminalis
Hippophae rhamnoides.

 Major problem of the region is availability of fuel for space

heating and cooking.
 CONTI…
 Peat from the marshes, stream beds and surroundings of the
lakes which is dried, stored and burned when required.

 Additional livestock are shifted down the valleys where the

climate is relatively milder.

 Seasonal migration leads to over-crowding of domesticated

animals along the permanent water resources.

 Remote water bodies, like kettle lakes on perched plains,

become bare of emergent flora by the closing stages of
summers.
 Wetland
Complexes of
Pakistan
\\
 The Wetland Complex Of
Salt Range
 Theentire complex is 175 km long and runs from
Jehlum in the east to Kalabagh in the west.

 Uchali wetland complex comprising Khabeki and

Jahlar is of international importance recognized by
RC Bureau.
 The Wetland Complex Of
Salt Range
Sr Name Location Location Status
Province District
1 Kallar Kahar Punjab Chakwal Wild life
sanctuary

2 Khabheki Punjab Khushab Wild life

sanctuary

3 Ucchali Punjab Khushab Ramsor site

4 Jahlar Punjab Khushab Not

protected
5 Namal lake Punjab Khushab Wild life
sanctuary
 The Wetland Complex Of
Central Indus Plain:
 Extending among the Chashma in the North and Sukkur city
in the south, this complex lies along the main stem of Indus
River.

 Itincludes various braided streams and oxbow lakes and

seasonally inundated depressions in the flood plain.

 Itis 708 km long and 9-23 km wide and occupies an area of

9,700 km.

 Being home of Pakistan’s famous Indus Dolphin, the region

depicts a picture of exhaustive use of resource to meet up
survival oriented requirements of the people.
 The Wetland Complex Of
Central Indus Plain:
Sr Name Location Location Status
Province District

1 Akara Dam Balochistan Makran Not Protected

2 Astola Island Balochistan Makran Wild life

sanctuary
3 Astola sea Balochistan Makran Not Protected
mount

4 Jiwany Balochistan Makran Not Protected

Eustary

5 Kalmat Khor Balochistan Makran Not Protected

 The Wetland Complex Of
Makran Coast
 Astolaisland and Jiwani coastal wetlands are recognized as
wetlands of international value.

 Astola island also known as Haft Talar is situated about 25

km in south of the desert coast of Balochistan, and spreads
over 5,000 hectors and 6 km in length.

 Itis the most significant island in the north of Arabian Sea,

and important for endemic reptiles as green turtles and
hawksbill turtle which are the most endangered species of
the island.
 Jiwani Coastal Wetland
Complex
 Jiwani coastal wetland complex is located around the Delta
of Dasht river in Balochistan which spreads over an area of
4,600 hectors.

 This wetland is important due to the presence of mangrove

forest where especially the species Avicennia Marina is
present.

 Endangered species of green turtles and Olive Ridley are

found.

 Thousands of migratory water birds visit the complex.

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Wetland
Degradation
And Loss
 37
Wetland Degradation And
Loss
 Wetland degradation is the damage of the functions caused
by human activities and wetland loss is the loss of their area
due to human actions (Moser et al, 1996)
 Wetland loss is the loss due
 To the conversion of wetland

 To non-wetland habitats

 A result of human activities

Causes of wetland loss and
degradation
 Biological alteration
 Removal of wetland or riparian vegetation
 Introduction of non-native/exotic species
Continued….
Chemical Alterations
 Release of pollutants and toxic substances
 Change in nutrient level
 Physical Degradation
 Filling

 Draining

 Dredging &stream channelization

 Peat mining

 Flooding&changes in sediment depostion patterns due to

dam construction

 ATV/Recreational uses
Rate And Extent Of Wetland
Loss
 56% to 65% of existing wetland has been converted to
intensive agricultural use in Europe and North America,
 27% in Asia,
 6% in South America
 2% in Africa,
 pointing to a total loss of 26% to agriculture globally
(OECD, 1996).

 The rivers of Pakistan, has been regulated to a great extent

by constructing headwork, barrages and dams.
 47
Rate And Extent Of Wetland
Loss
 Expansion of settlements, urbanization, drainage for
agriculture, hunting and pollution appeared to be the top
five major threats in the region.

 It has also been brought into the notice that aquatic weed
invasions influence about 182,118 hectors of wetlands in
Pakistan and badly affect the fish output (Gopal & Wetzel,
1995).
 49

Sustainable
Development And
Management Of
Wetlands In Pakistan
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Sustainable Development And Management

Of Wetlands In Pakistan
 RC was held in 1971, in acknowledgment of the importance
and worth of wetlands.
 Pakistan’s wetland program is working to protect and
promote globally significant biodiversity and has two main
objectives;
 To create and maintain enabling environment for
sustainable and effective conservation of natural wetlands
at local level.
 To implement sustainable wetland conservation strategy at
four representative sites that will serve as model for
subsequent wetland conservation.
 CONTI…
 The program is actively working in four representative areas
namely:
 Lakes of the alpine region
 Lakes of the Salt Range
 Coastal wetlands
 Riverine wetlands

 The program is working on two main dimensions:

1) Promote sustained yield management models that maintain
these survival oriented activities

2) Protect and conserve the biodiversity of concerned regions.

 CONTI…
 WWF Pakistan has established a wetland centre at Sandspit, located in west
of Karach, are aimed to
 Conserve the wetlands of Pakistan,
 Identify the wetland complexes,enhance biodiversity
 Create awareness among the people
 Prepare and implement national wetland conservation strategies
 Conclusion
 The chief driving forces at the back of wetlands working are their
hydrology and hydrodynamics.
 The main factors that are causing changes and can potentially
alter the natural hydrology of wetlands of Pakistan are
 Disruption of natural drainage systems

 Diversion of water flow

 Construction of infrastructure and dams in drainage basins,

overgrazing

 Deforestation
Wetlands Of Pakistan
 Suggestions
 Increasing awareness among the people about the conservation
and ‘Wise Use Concept’ of wetland resources.

 At the outset a national wetland inventory based on modern

scientific techniques should be prepared.

 Quantitative studies of wetland depletion and services losses

should be conducted.

 Wetland protection and sustainable use legislation should be

made practical and effective according to the instructions of
RC.
 Suggestions
 Information about wetland inventory should be utilized to
point out priority areas for protection and management and
action should be taken in the light of their evaluation.

 About wetland inventories should be made available

electronically, as in this way accessibility and regular
updating of information can be made easy.

 Devising a standardized, flexible and effective approach and

preparation of generic wetland inventory database.