KARACHI: Immediate attention to Haleji Lake stressed
KARACHI, Feb 26: Conservationists, registering their serious concern over fast degradation of Haleji Lake, have called for an elaborate management plan for the site
, holding the status of wildlife sanctuary and a designated Ramsar Site making its conservation obligatory for the state.
Addressing a symposium held at the lake on Thursday in connection with the 'World Wetland Day' observed on February 2 each year, speakers observed that the venue for the event was extremely pertinent in the backdrop of its fast deteriorating condition mainly due to poor management and lack of coordination among concerned departments.
The programme, jointly organized by Sindh Wildlife Department, IUCN - The World Conservation Union and WWF-Pakistan, provided an opportunity to the community members of localities around Haleji Lake, conservationists and representatives of the Sindh Wildlife Department, Sindh Fisheries Department, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Zoological Survey Department and scientists from Sindh University to explicitly discuss the issue and come forward with concrete recommendations to conserve the lake - once considered to be a 'Paradise of Birds' with millions of migratory birds and water fowls of more than 78 varied species visiting the site till only a few years back.
Sindh Secretary for Environment, Shamsul Haq Memon in his speech on the occasion said the theme From Mountains to the Sea - Wetlands at Work for Us, for the 'Wetland Day 2004' offered people an opportunity to seriously contemplate the factors responsible for threats the wetlands of Sindh were exposed to.
"The theme is very appropriate, more so in the case where wetlands face increasing threat of ceasing to work for us," he said. Mentioning the shrinking provision for safe drinking water in the country due to population explosion, widespread pollution, contamination of drinking water originating from urban centres, and agricultural fields, he said this had severely affected fresh water sources, including wetlands scattered across the country.
This, he said, was despite the fact that these wetlands were critical breeding, rearing, wintering and staging grounds for a number of globally important bird species while people, livestock and wildlife were all dependent on them for survival.
The secretary reminded the audience that with global warming on the rise, these essential wetlands were drying up. As each year less fresh water was reaching the Indus delta mangrove ecosystem vital for continued existence of countless human communities, their livestock and the wild animals were also severely affected.
With regard to Haleji Lake, Mr Memon observed that due to water shortage all over the country, irrigation department could not release required quantities to recharge the wetland and maintain the needed water depth consequently leading to silt accumulation near the feeder canal regulator and weed growth along with reduced eutrophication had infested quite a large area of the lake.
The secretary observed that the condition had led to the disappearance of useful aquatic flora which was the feed for waterfowl ultimately causing its departure.
Following the discussion, the participants recommended scientific analysis of the decline in the number of waterfowl, birds and aquatic species besides impact of exotic species of both flora and fauna.
Ecological survey of Haleji Lake, followed by its socio-economic survey and baseline survey to assess existent potential, was also suggested. This was besides due realization of the fact that studies conducted by the WWF-Pakistan and Karachi University be also made public and be utilized for the benefit of the very lake and the concerned communities dependent on it.
Alternative employment opportunities for local communities and empowerment of women was among some off the other recommendations. The programme was addressed among others by Mohammad Hussain Bhagat, Dr Tahir Qureishi, Munaf Qaimkhani, Rahat Jabeen, Hamid Iqbal Javaid, Ayub Sheikh, Prof Naim Ahmed Khan, A. B. Kalhoro, Ahmed Ali, Mr Sherafgan and Ghayaz Ahmed.
Earlier, Najam Khurshid of the IUCN-Pakistan elaborated the objectives of the programme meant to protect the Ramsar Site. On the occasion, a committee was constituted to review the measures adopted for the conservation of the lake. -APP
