KARACHI: Highlighting the multiple threats the coastal areas face in Pakistan, speakers at a workshop called for developing and implementing comprehensive conservation plans in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Such plans, they said, would help protect depleting natural resources and livelihood of local fishers as well as tackle climate change.

Titled Participatory Conse­rvation Plans (PCP) for the Indus Delta, the workshop was held at a local hotel.

During the programme, the participants were given a detailed briefing on the conservation plans developed under the Sustainable Mangroves Management and Community Development in the Indus Delta project.

It’s supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and WWF-Germany and being implemented by World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P).

The initiatives are aimed at protecting depleting natural resources, livelihood of local fishermen and tackle climate change

These plans, it was pointed out, aimed at promoting sustainable resource consumption, improving biodiversity conservation and enhancing ecosystem integrity through integrated participatory management approaches.

“The plans also intended to mitigate the poverty of local fishers and farmers, reduce environmental degradation, improve socio-economic conditions, and enhance community livelihoods,” Manager WWF-P Jawad Umer Khan said.

A comprehensive set of management initiatives had been outlined to foster sustainable mangrove management and natural resource conservation through these plans, he added.

“As the plans are at the initial stage, WWF-Pakistan is seeking feedback and recommendations from relevant stakeholders to further improve and finalise them,” he said.

Commenting on the plans, Mr Khan said that they recommended various actions such as promotion of aquaculture, seaweed farming, eco-tourism and women’s involvement in handicraft production to diversify income sources and reduce pressure on fisheries.

“These initiatives include the implementation of measures to stabilise the shoreline and prevent erosion and promote alternative fodder and multi-purpose crops in mangrove areas.

“It also includes identification and plantation of suitable mangrove species that are resilient to environmental stressors and are conducive to biodiversity conservation. The plans also emphasise the use of nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges and enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems,” he said.

During the programme, participants shared concerns over the steep decline in freshwater flows, sea intrusion, coastal flooding, and other associated factors that had led to degradation of the fertile lands of the Indus delta and consequent loss of livelihood of local farmers and fishers.

Arif Ali Khokhar, Conservator Sindh Forest Department, said that the plans addressed the common features of overexploitation and degradation of natural resources in the coastal region of Sindh and that they were essential to conserve mangroves forests, improve biodiversity, and promote alternative livelihoods in the Indus delta.

“As a result of the joint efforts of the forest department, WWF-Pakistan, local communities, and other organisations, the mangrove cover has now increased to around 240,000 hectares,” he told the audience.

Dr Ali Muhammad Mastoi, director general Sindh Fisheries Department, said fisheries resources had been decreasing in recent decades due to mangroves degradation, unsustainable fishing practices, use of trawling, and water pollution in coastal waters of Karachi and the Indus river.

He emphasised that there was a need to promote sustainable fishing practices and provide alternative livelihood options to the local fishers.

Vinod Kumar, WWF- P project coordinator recalled that the Indus delta was once home to a myriad of fish species, birds, diverse animals, and thick mangrove forests when it used to receive ample flows of freshwater. Local communities in those days used to cultivate red rice, peas, mangoes, bananas, vegetables and raised livestock.

“However, with reduced flow of freshwater and increased pollution, this thriving delta started to dwindle. The mangroves’ cover in the Indus delta decreased to 86,000 hectares in 2005. These forests, however, are now being restored with the joint efforts of various departments and local communities.”

Part of the workshop was a discussion on the implementation strategies for the plans and roles and responsibilities of different departments.

The workshop participants included Niaz Memon, Additional Director, Social Welfare Department; Fayyaz Salih Hussain, Assistant Director, Sindh Envi­ronmental Agency (Sindh Environmental Protection Agency); Dr Asim Karim Director Fisheries, Sindh Fisheries Department, and members of local communities from Keti Bunder, Kharo Chan, and Shah Bundar.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024