Deh Akro-II Wetlands

Community is in
Action
 Deh Akro-II
Community is in
Action
The mobilization efforts of Community
Based Wetlands Management Project
launched by Sangat Development
Foundation with cooperation of Sindh
Wildlife Department and funded by
Indus for All Programme, WWF
Pakistan has started yielding results that
the local community of Deh Akro-II has
developed the ownership concept of the
wetlands of Deh Akro-II. They have
started working on wetlands
rehabilitation and their resources
While sharing their views on
conservation as well as sustainable use.
construction of first hut on Chhachh
Wetland, the indigenous community of
Deh Akro-II said that due to lack of
awareness, the local people no doubt has
degraded and destroyed the natural
resources of the wetlands. However, the
local community was also no an
effective mechanism to block the
frequent degradation and depletion of
biodiversity resources of wetlands in
Deh Akro-II wildlife sanctuary from
intruders and sheep herders.

In this regard, the indigenous

communities of Deh Akro-II wetlands
launched campaign for the protection of
wetlands resources. They have been
establishing (Jhoopras) huts on wetlands
with a view to use these “Watch and
Ward Points” for the safety and
security of the fauna and flora of
wetlands in Deh Akro-II.
The local community has committed to
regularly sit in these huts as playing as
Watch agents on the wetlands of Deh
Akro-II.
The local community further said that
frequent intrusion of outsiders has
significantly played havoc with the
natural resources of the wetlands.
Presently, the wetlands have
multidimensional threats, i.e. over
greasing, illegal hunting, deforestation
on the wetlands sites are the current
issues facing wildlife of the Deh Akro-II
Wildlife Sanctuary.
The local community further added that
they have formed village/wetland based
Watch and Ward Committees with firm
commitment to protect and conserve the
biodiversity of wetlands of Deh Akro-II.
Celebration of
International Biodiversity Day
In Deh Akro-II Wetlands Site
May 22, 2010
Sangat Development Foundation
Nawabshah has celebrated the
international biodiversity day with local
community of Deh Akro-II with titled
“Biodiversity, Development and
Poverty Alleviation”
While speaking on the occasion Mr.
Nisar A. Brohi, Director Wetland
Program of Sangat Development
Foundation said that community based
biodiversity conservation and
sustainable use is the only way to
sustainable development and poverty
alleviation from the area.
He further said that unsustainable use as
well as large scale degradation of natural
livelihood resources of the local
communities has caused depletion of
wetlands resources, ultimately increased
poverty ratio in the wetland community.
Mr. Faiz Muhammad Panhwar,
community representative and member
of the Wetland Protection Committee
(WPC) of Community Based Wetland
Management Project in Deh Akro-II said
that the local community has now
realized that without their effective
participation, the remaining fauna and
flora resources of the wetlands could not
be protected and preserved. However, if
these natural resources are conserved
and protected, their new generation
would be having honorable livelihood.
He appealed the local and indigenous
communities of the Deh Akro-II to play
their pro-active role in the protection and
conservation of the natural resources.
These natural resources are not only
essential for the survival of the human
community but these are also sole
livelihood means and feeding ground for
the animals and also local and migratory
birds species.
He also expressed his full commitment
that he would make all possible efforts
to play his due role in the conservation
of natural resources of the Chhachh
wetland which is on the site of his lands
and his residential place.
He also directed his farmers to be alert
on anti-natural elements who have bent
upon destroying the natural resources of
wetlands undertaking illegal hunting as
well as deforestation activities on the
wetlands.
He further added that if the local
communities would have formed Watch
and Ward Committees (WWC) in the
past and would have been playing as
watch agents on the wetland resources,
today’s condition of the fauna and flora
would have been in different.
He further added that the local wetlands
community should accept responsibility
and work for the revival and sustainable
management of the remaining natural
resources of the wetlands.
He offered thanks to Sangat
Development Foundation and WWF
Pakistan team for their timely
interventions for the conservation and
protection of the natural resources of the
wetlands.
The timely biodiversity conservation as
well as rehabilitation of wetlands would
have far reaching positive effects on the
wetlands and those indigenous
communities who and their livestock
have been depending upon wetlands
resources.
While speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ali
Nawaz Bhatti an indigenous community
activist said that there is still need of
large scale and long term mobilization
program for creating awareness in the
wetlands community.
The wetlands community ofcourse has
played havoc with the biodiversity of the
wetlands of Deh Akro-II but it has surely
been done due to unawareness of the
importance of the wetlands and their
biodiversity. But the local community
has now greatly realized the importance
of wetlands and they have expressed
their full commitment, and would be
leaving no stone unturned for the revival
of the glamour and vanity of the
wetlands as it was 30 years ago, he
added.
Mr. Bhatti also appealed to the Sangat
and WWF Pakistan for community
support until and unless the wetlands
biodiversity could not be revitalized and
revived.
Our Contact:
Flat # 7, 2nd Floor,
Sharif Building Market Road
Nawabshah, Sindh, Pakistan
Tel & Fax: +92-244-362011
Email:sangatsindh@gmail.com