A quarterly magazine of WWF - Pakistan

A quarterly magazine of WWF - Pakistan 

Vol 34, issue 1, 2010

Special Report: 

The 

landslide 

lake 

Contents 

WWF - Pakistan Natura 

Wetlands 

as indicators of 

climate change 

10 

Mumtaz Malik 

4 

Environment 

friendly pest control 

Asad Imran 

Cover photo 

Ghulam Rasool / WWF - Pakistan 

12 

Editorial Board 

Dr. Ejaz Ahmad 

Dr. Ghulam Akbar 

Where has all the 

water 

gone? 

Naufil Naseer 

Editor 

Zabreen Hasan 

Design 

Nadia Aine 

Legal Consultants (honorary) 

Hassan and Hassan Advocates 

14 

The 

dolphins 

Rizwan Mahmood 

and the fishermen 

Published Quarterly by 

WWF - Pakistan 

P.O. Box 5180, Lahore -54600 

Tel : + 92 42 111 993 725 

Fax : + 92 42 35862358 

www.wwfpak.org 

Price 

News 

Feed 

Humaira Ayesha 

Waqar Naseem 

Uzma Khan 

Uzma Saeed 

Nasir Malik 

Waseem Ahmad Khan 

16 

Rs. 150 

18 

Biogas 

is the way... 

2 


March 2010 

Ahmad Khan

21 

28 

30 


The 

landslide 

lake 

Rina Saeed Khan 

People 

and 

plants 

24 

28 

Mapping 

for the next 

generation 

Urooj Saeed and Kaif Gill 

Young 

Natura 

The green 

turtle 

Editorial 

The sacred earth 

Hey folks, I’m back! 

Six years it’s been since I left WWF - 

Pakistan. I did all sorts of things: I worked 

for a newspaper, I worked for NGOs, I 

worked in the environment sector, in the 

development sector. I consulted. I made 

documentaries, I wrote, I directed. 

And then I came back. 

There’s something about nature 

conservation that pulled me back, that’s there 

in my bones and just won’t come out. I feel 

a connection to the earth, a connection that 

all of us have and few are fortunate enough 

to feel. It’s a tangible thing for me, something 

that wrenches my heart when I see a dried 

up lake, or a felled forest, or an injured 

animal. When the earth hurts, I hurt… 

Six years are a long time, and to my 

delight, things are different now. There’s a 

lot more awareness, people seem more 

knowledgeable about environmental issues 

that the country is facing. They know about 

the water crisis in the country, and how our 

rivers are drying up. They’re more aware of 

climate change, and how it’s not just a 

looming predicament to be dealt with 

sometime in the future. 

They know it’s already here. 

Hmmm. In a post apocalyptic world, 

what might our lives be like? No medical 

facilities, no education. Everyone for himself. 

The law of the jungle prevails. 

I just don’t want to think about it. 

If I can’t even think about it, how will 

I live through it? 

Let’s not let it happen. Let’s pull 

ourselves together and do something about 

it. It doesn’t have to happen. There’s still 

time to stop the change the earth is going 

through, and to reverse it. 

Think about it. A wonderfully lush green 

earth, with flowing rivers and clean air. 

Abundant animals roving the land, lovely 

birds flying above. 

Our descendants building a good, 

responsible, rich life on the planet they’ve 

inherited from us… 

March 2010 WWF - Pakistan Natura 

3

A shrinking lake 

Photo: Rizwan Mahmood/WWF - Pakistan 

Wetlands 

as indicators of 

climate change 

Mumtaz Malik gives us an extraordinary look at how climate change 

is affecting wetlands and, ultimately, humankind 

4 


March 2010

Climate change is by far the biggest environmental concern 

of the world, specially in the last two decades. Scientific research, 

observations and records have established that global temperature 

is rising, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, hurricanes and 

coastal storms are becoming more frequent, there is a reduction 

in quantity of monsoon rains with a change in their timings and 

place of occurrence, and signs of prolonged droughts are visible. 

The major cause for rise in global temperature is accumulation 

of CO2 in the atmosphere. A thick layer of CO2 forms a blanket 

over the Earth’s atmosphere and does not permit the sun’s rays 

to escape into space after they are reflected from the Earth’s 

surface. The rays trapped in the CO2 blanket cause a rise in Earth’s 

temperature leading to climate change. 

And when you look at wetlands, the signs that the earth is 

changing are easy to read. 

The relationship between climate change and wetlands can 

be best understood by understanding how wetlands work. The 

Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, 

adapted a unanimous definition of wetlands: “Areas of marsh, 

fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent 

or temporary, with water that is static, flowing, fresh, brackish 

or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at 

low tide does not exceed six meters." 

Here, the water cycle about which we learnt in school applies. 

Wetlands are as important to humanity as is water itself. They 

store water and help in its dispersal over land. They act as safeguards 

against floods by absorbing excessive water and fight against 

drought by releasing gradually the stored water. They provide 

water for energy and irrigation, support fisheries and are a source 

of other natural resources including fuelwood, fodder, timber and 

reeds. Wetlands serve as centers of biodiversity and provide healthy 

recreation through ecotourism. Together with all their benefits 

they support livelihood of millions of people living around them. 

Although climate change affects all aspect of life and 

ecosystems, its impact on wetlands, as aready mentioned, is more 

pronounced. This impact is visible in the following forms: 

i. Enhanced frequency and intensity of 

hurricanes and coastal storms; 

ii. 

iii. 

iv. 

Untimely rains, and floods; 

Drought and acute shortage of water; 

Glacial melt; 

v. Loss of biodiversity. 

Photo: Ghulam Rasool /WWF - Pakistan 


5

Enhanced frequency and intensity of hurricanes and 

coastal storms 

Warmer atmospheric temperatures on the surface of the 

sea cause heating up of the air. The warm air, being lighter 

in weight, rises up creating a low air pressure at sea surface. 

When this low air pressure reaches a certain threshold it 

results in development of a hurricane. The effect of the high 

intensity hurricane reaches the coast in the form of a coastal 

storm, bringing intense and strong rains in the coastal areas 

with gusty winds, accompanied by high tides. 

Hurricanes and coastal storms have become more frequent 

over the past few years. A hurricane developing in the Arabian 

Sea a few years ago hit the districts of Thatta and Badin and 

caused colossal damage to local fisheries and fishermen’s 

livelihoods. 

The tsunami which hit the coastal areas of Indonesia, 

Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka in 2004 

killed thousands of people and destroyed property worth 

billions of US$. 

Untimely rains and floods 

Another aspect of climate change is untimely rains and 

resultant floods. Increase in atmospheric temperature due to 

global warming affects formation of clouds and occurrence 

of rainfall with respect to place and time. Monsoon rains are 

not received according to schedule and climate change also 

affects the quantity of rainfall. Sometimes excessive rains 

are received at the end of summer or during the fall season. 

These rains damage crops and the floods resulting from these 

rains play a large role in damaging wetlands. 

The floods silt up the wetlands and wash down the 

species found there. Flash floods received in northern parts 

of Pakistan including Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral wash away 

everything in their way. 

One advantage of floods is that a huge quantity of 

freshwater is drained into the sea thus diluting the salt content 

of water in the deltaic region. Reduction in the salinity of 

water improves the wetlands in coastal areas and makes them 

more suitable for growth of mangrove forest and breeding 

of fish and shrimps. Rivers over flowing their margins in 

flood recharge their flood plains and dependent wetlands. 

Agricultural production, riverine forests and wetlands in 

flood plains of the River Indus owe theirlives, in large part, 

to annual flooding of the Indus. 

Drought and shortage of water 

Absence of timely rainfall or its inadequacy leads to 

drought. Impact of drought can be easily seen in wetlands. 

Reduction in river flows, drying up of ponds, lowering of 

water level in water reservoirs, drying up of springs and 

lowering of the underground water table, all represent drought. 

To mitigate the effects of drought the government has to 

initiate water harvesting measures for irrigation. Construction 

of small dams for water storage in submountanous tract is 

imperative. Water storage lakes and ponds are also constructed 

in low rainfall and desert areas to meet the needs of drinking 

water for communities and their livestock. No doubt this 

infrastructure gives rise to new wetlands but development of 

a wetland ecosystem and acclimatization of flora and fauna 

in that ecosystem is a long term process. Moreover, the 

storage of water upstream decreases the downstream flow of 

water thus adversely affecting the downstream wetlands. 

Shortage of water in such wetlands or their drying up due to 

scarcity of water leads to a reduction in their productivity 

and inflicts irreparable loss to their biodiversity. 

Another adverse impact of reduced river flow in drought 

is on deltaic and coastal wetlands. A severe reduction in flow 

of freshwater into the sea raises the salinity of water in the 

6 


March 2010 

Photo: Ghulam Rasool /WWF - Pakistan

delta region which is not tolerated by mangrove forests, the fish, 

shrimps and other fauna of these wetlands. Prolonged drought 

makes living conditions for both flora and fauna difficult and 

leads to disastrous results. Some species may adapt to new 

environmental conditions and may flourish with changed 

behaviour. These species are, however, not as beneficial for the 

wetlands and humanity as those having lived in that ecosystem 

over a long period of time. 

Several small and large dams constructed upstream of the 

Indus River and its tributaries store water either for irrigation 

or power generation. The resultant meager discharge of water 

into the sea represents the aforesaid scenario. Residents of several 

rainfed areas of Pakistan including parts of Balochistan, Cholistan, 

the Salt Range and similar areas collect water in large ponds for 

their daily use, the humans, their livestock and wildlife using 

the same for drinking and bathing. 

These ponds dry up in prolonged droughts. People have to 

migrate to other areas along with their livestock in search of 

water. They return to their original dwellings only when fresh 

rains fill up their ponds. 

Glacial melt 

The glaciers are major reservoirs of fresh water. Snow on 

the mountains starts melting at the beginning of summer. This 

increases water discharge of mountain streams and rivers thereby 

meeting the water requirements downstream. Snow melt keeps 

the wetlands alive till the arrival of monsoon. If the monsoon 

rains are late the water level in wetlands begins to drop and a 

stage is reached when the water discharge in streams and rivers 

is reduced, lakes begin to dry and the water level in the manmade 

reservoirs falls to an extent that adversely affects power generation 

and supply of irrigation water. In Pakistan, however, glacial melt 

keeps mountain streams and rivers running and meeting the 

minimum need of the communities despite delayed rains. 

Pakistan has some of the largest glaciers outside the polar 

regions. These glaciers remain frozen as long as the atmospheric 

temperature is below 0 0 C. Above this temperature glaciers start 

melting and recharge wetlands. 

A lost shell where a lake once stood 

Photo: Rizwan Mahmood/WWF - Pakistan 

Global warming will accelerate the process of glacial melt. 

This will not only result in shrinkage of glaciers but will also 

lead to floods by sudden rise of water level in the rivers. Glaciers 

will last longer and so will be the water reservoirs when winter 

snow on the mountains is enough to compensate for the glacial 

melt. If this balance is not maintained, excessive glacial melt 

will lead to exhaustion of glaciers bringing an end to precious 

frozen water reserves. This will seriously threaten our economy 

and even our survival. It has been observed that the upper layers 

of Arctic snow have started to melt under global warming. This 

has lead to rise in sea level. This will result in submergence of 

many coastal communities and endanger fresh water coastal 

wetlands. 

Loss of biodiversity 

The Ramsar Convention addresses conservation of wetlands 

as habitats for biodiversity, particularly as waterfowl habitat, 

meaning thereby that the primary function of wetlands is that 

they provide a specific life support system to unique biodiversity. 

Healthy and productive wetlands and wetland biodiversity are 

mutually supportive and interdependent. Climate change adversely 

affects wetlands in many ways and so do the wetlands affect 

their biodiversity as briefed below: 

1. Frequent hurricanes and coastal storms caused by 

climate change increase the salinity of coastal wetlands. 

As a result these wetlands lose their suitability as 

breeding grounds for many species of fish, shrimp and 

mangrove vegetation. High frequency of storms keeps 

on adding to the salinity of wetlands ultimately rendering 

them unfit for species of plants and animals dependent 

upon these wetlands. High intensity storms push the 

sea water even deeper into the inland fresh water 

wetlands, rendering them saline. This endangers species 

like the marsh crocodile, the Indus dolphin and 

freshwater turtles dependent on these wetlands; 

2. Drought caused by delayed rains results in lowering 


7

Water, the most precious commodity: 

no matter how far you may have to carry it. 

Photo: Ghulam Rasool/WWF - Pakistan 

of water level in wetlands. Prolonged drought due to 

climate change leads to complete desiccation of some 

wetlands, exterminating aquatic life completely. The 

dried up vegetation becomes prone to accidental and 

deliberate fires and a whole wetland may be lost. The 

birds and animals capable of migration leave the area 

in search of other habitats. Wetlands of the salt range 

in Punjab and Zangi Nawar in Balochistan are amongst 

such wetlands which suffered tremendously from 

prolonged droughts and have dried up in the past. 

Salinity of deltaic wetlands in Thatta and Badin districts 

of Sindh also increases due to extremely small discharge 

of Indus water into the sea. This has an effect similar 

to the one already given on mangroves, fish, shrimp 

and other species as do the sea storms, though to a 

lesser extent. All this endangers the livelihood of poor 

fisherman communities as well. 

3. Siberia and the Central Asian Republics experience 

intense cold and most of the wetlands there freeze in 

winter. This compels waterfowl and other aquatic birds 

to migrate to wetlands which are semi cold and warm 

in winters. These birds return to their breeding grounds 

at the beginning of summer. So that if warmer wetlands 

are drying up, these birds have nowhere to stop on their 

great journeys. 

4. Global warming caused by climate change would 

result in the early onset of spring season in wetlands 

of the northern hemisphere with prolonged summer. 

Contrary to this the wetlands of the southern hemisphere 

i.e, the wintering grounds of waterfowl will experience 

short winters and early springs. This change in season 

will result in delayed arrival of migratory birds to 

wetlands of Pakistan and their early return to breeding 

grounds. Thus the duration of stay of migratory birds 

in wetlands of Pakistan will be significantly reduced. 

This will reduce the biodiversity status of our wetlands. 

Hunters in Pakistan have observed that over the past 

few years the migratory waterfowl reach their wintering 

wetlands quite late, their number has also declined and 

some traditional wetlands have also been abandoned. 

Global warming will on the other hand result in 

prolonged stay of aquatic birds in their breeding grounds. 

This will place increasing demand on wetlands for 

food, shelter and other resources with consequent 

degradation of habitat and negative impact on 

biodiversity. 

5. Only a limited number of plant species can grow 

in an aquatic environment. Reduced water level in 

wetlands will create comparatively dry conditions and 

will lead to invasion of wetland habitats by alien plant 

species. Fauna of the wetland may also be affected 

likewise. Such species of flora and fauna adversely 

affect wetland productively with consequent impact on 

biodiversity. 

6. Changing habitat conditions due to climate change 

may compel certain species to migrate to other suitable 

wetlands, or, they may adapt to changed climatic and 

habitat conditions. This adaptation may require them 

to change their behavior and lifestyle and may also 

lead to genetic changes. The last option for the species 

is death. Adaption is a very important strategy of species 

8 


March 2010

survival. Most of the species which we see today have 

evolved and adapted to their habitat conditions and 

environment over a long time. Species which cannot 

adapt to changing environment have difficulty in their 

survival. However sometimes the change in environment 

is so sudden and harsh that species hardly get any time 

for adaptation. In such cases death becomes inevitable. 

IUCN, Birdlife International and Wetlands International 

assessed the status of wetland biodiversity and the degree of 

threat faced by it. They reached the following conclusions: 

1. Eight hundred and twenty-six species of aquatic 

birds were assessed. Seventeen percent of this i.e 

140 species were found to be threatened; 

2. It was found that aquatic birds were threatened 

more than other species of birds and the number 

of populations of aquatic birds was on a decline; 

3. An assessment of mammals dependent upon 

freshwater wetlands revealed that 39% of them 

were threatened. All the species of river dolphins 

were found threatened; 

4. Thirty-three percent of all freshwater fish 

species were found threatened; 

5. Of all species of freshwater amphibians, 26% 

were found threatened; 

6. Ninety species of freshwater turtles were 

assessed. Seventy-two percent of these species i.e 

65, were found threatened; 

7. Six of the seven species of marine turtles were 

found to be threatened; 

8. Sixty percent of all the species of crocodiles 

are threatened; 

9. Twenty-seven percent of coral forming species 

were found to be threatened. 

numerous benefits of the wetlands. Although it is not possible 

to save the wetlands from the impacts of climate change altogether, 

certain mitigative measures can certainly minimize or reduce 

the climate change impact. Some of the actions proposed to save 

the wetlands from climate change are as follows: 

1. Protect the forests in the catchments of wetlands 

to conserve soil and water; 

2. Carry out massive aforestation to safeguard 

against soil erosion and reduce the accumulation of 

CO2 in the atmosphere; 

3. Reduce the use of fossil fuels in daily life to 

reduce production of CO2; 

4. Carry out plantation in riparian areas around 

wetlands and along rivers to safeguard against 

destructive floods; 

5. Save mangrove forests and coastal wetlands 

from degradation so that they can act as barriers 

against seawater; 

6. Protect wetland biodiversity and save it from 

unsustainable use; 

7. Forests help in reducing CO2 level in the 

atmosphere. Save them from over harvesting and 

enhance the acreage under the protected areas system; 

8. Discourage the draining of wetlands for 

agricultural, industrial and urban development 

purposes; 

9. Save the wetlands from agricultural, industrial 

and urban pollutants; 

10. Promote awareness amongst people about useful 

role of wetlands and create among them an 

understating and spirit of protection for wetlands 

and wetland resources. 

Future Strategy 

It is a hard and bitter fact that adverse effects of climate 

change are looming over our wetlands. If appropriate steps are 

not taken to mitigate these effects, we will be deprived of 



9

Environment 

friendly pest control 

Asad Imran examines an alternative way to kill off 

those pesky pests without harming ourselves 

or our environment 

Today’s farmers face multiple problems created by the current 

model of agriculture, such as decline of soil organic matter and 

nutrient-holding capacity, over-exploitation of groundwater, pesticide 

resistance, and toxicity to farmers and communities from pesticide 

exposure. After years of using non selective pesticides in abundant 

amounts, farmers now require increased applications of pesticides 

for the same level of pest control. The effect is multiplied by lack 

of information about active ingredients and their modes of action. 

In the absence of adequate government extension capacity, local 

pesticide retailers are the most common sources for advice on pest 

management. Majority of pesticides used today are still parathyroid 

and older-generation organophosphates (Kole and Basu, 2005), 

many of which have been banned or are declining in use in developed 

countries. 

Given the inability of extension service and private sector 

industry to educate farmers with appropriate information about 

products that have been used for decades, the knowledge gap for 

10 


March 2010

training farmers in better farming is even greater. For example, 

having depended on broad-spectrum pesticides for decades, 

farmer understanding of pest complex and crop ecosystem is 

very basic, especially with respect to predatory insects. For this 

WWF – Pakistan, under its Pakistan Sustainable Cotton Initiative 

project, is training the farmers through Farmer Field Schools, 

or FFS, to adopt Better Management Practices to grow better 

cotton through reduced/need based use of agro chemicals. 

Insects are considered key pests in cotton: this is the reason 

behind the extensive use of pesticides. The cotton crop ecosystem 

presents a complex of predators, pests and pathogens which live 

in the same habitat and belong to the same ecological community. 

Nature tends to create a balance in this ecosystem yet human 

interventions cause imbalances. Awareness raising among the 

farmers regarding this balance of nature is part of the participatory 

training that farmers get through FFS. 

During the weekly sessions of FFS, participating farmers 

perform the Cotton Eco-System Analysis, or CESA, in the cotton 

field which includes making close observations of the soil and 

crop. They also learn to identify different pests and beneficial 

insects and make decisions to adopt different pest management 

measures only if the economic threshold level, or ETL, of a 

certain pest is high on the population of predators/beneficial 

insects is low. One result of the training and greater awareness 

about pests and pesticides is the growing desire of the farmers 

to control pests by natural or biological measures. 

Use of homemade, organic based botanical extracts offers 

a solution to replace chemical/synthetic pesticides. The history 

of the use of botanical extracts in Asian cultures for the protection 

of field crops and stored grains is a long one. Although the 

introduction of chemical pesticides has radically reduced the 

use of botanical extracts, their use has not substantially reduced 

the pest losses: rather, use of synthetic pesticides has raised a 

number of ecological and health related problems. At present, 

WWF - Pakistan is supporting cotton growers in using botanical 

extracts to control pests. During the 2009 cotton season, farmers 

used 45,000 litres of botanical extracts/solutions on approximately 

28,000 acres of cotton crop. 

Botanical pesticides are extracted from various wild plant 

parts like stems, seeds, roots, leaves and flower heads of different 

plant species. Unlike synthetic pesticides, botanical pesticides 

have a broad spectrum of activity, are easy to process and use, 

have a short residual effect and do not accumulate in the 

environment or in fatty tissues of warm blooded animals. 

For making botanical solutions for managing cotton pests 

like thrips, whiteflies, mites, aphids, jassids, army bollworm 

and the like, farmers are now using their indigenous knowledge 

and wisdom about local herbs and plants. Farmers use different 

local plants such as Datura alba, Allium cepa or onion, 

Azadiracha indica or neem, Calotropis, citrullus colocynthis or 

bitter apple, Allium sativum or garlic, Nicotian tabacum or 

tobacco, Withania coagulans, Dunal or Indian rennet, and 

Capsicum annuum, or chilli. 

The time has come for research institutions and the pesticide 

industry to embrace the contribution that they can make to 

sustainable farming through research and development of such 

organic based and environment friendly products. We can afford 

no more time: we must make sure that the pesticides in use are 

those that give the best results without harming ecosystems. 

Both photos: FTP/WWF - Pakistan 


11

Where has all the 

water 

Photo: EDRC/WWF - Pakistan 

gone? 

12 


March 2010 

Naufil Naseer reminds us of the problems we’ll have 

if we don’t do something about the way 

we think of water

Climate change (which basically means rising temperature 

and drop in humidity), uncontrolled harvesting of ground water, 

construction of private wells for irrigation, silt in water reservoirs 

and canals, toxicity due to industrialization and fertilizers, 

inappropriate waste water management. The list is endless and 

the challenges are many and all lead to water shortage in Pakistan. 

In 1951, with a population of 34 million, our water 

availability was 5300 cubic meters per person. In 2000 with a 

population surge of 148 million our water availability decreased 

to 1200 cubic meters. Now it’s even less. So what does it mean? 

Countries with annual water resources below 1700 cubic meters 

per person will experience water stress, below 1000 will 

experience water scarcity and below 500 will experience absolute 

scarcity. We are a water scarce country. 

Water is a scarce commodity world wide. Globally 97.5% 

of water on earth is salt water while the other 2.5% constitutes 

fresh water. Of this 2.5%, 69% is trapped as glaciers and 

permanent snow cover, 20.7% is present as ground water and 

moisture while 0.3% is available in the form of lakes and rivers. 

The flows of rivers in Pakistan have decreased over the 

years, adding further stress to water availability. The annual 

flow has decreased by half in the last one hundred years. 

Low water availability, as we all know, has environmental 

and socioeconomic impacts. Among the major environmental 

impacts are: 

· Loss of endemic flora and fauna; 

· Decreased sediment transportation to the coast resulting 

in coastal erosion; 

· Loss of floodplains and wetlands; 

· Changed hydrological regime; 

· Salination; 

· Pressure on available resources. 

The socioeconomic impacts are: 

· Lack of potable water; 

· Loss of crops, agricultural productivity, fisheries, traditional 

livelihoods; 

· Displacement of people; 

· Food insecurity; 

· Disputes and conflicts over water resources; 

· Pressure on available stock. 

The fact remains that Pakistan is a water starved country 

and is faced with severe water shortage and water quality issues. 

The reduction in fresh water is due to irrigation practices, 

pollution from industry, pesticides, improper waste management, 

policy gaps, lack of capacity, technology, resources and 

stakeholders participation. While we have a number of institutions 

and experts the focus is towards resources (economic growth) 

rather than conservation or quality. Adding to this scenario 

unavailability of accurate water availability data, lack of shared 

information among government departments, agencies ignoring 

economic, social and environmental cost and lack of integration 

and coordination builds upon the stress. 

Some of the recommendations that might cause a reversal 

of the situation are: 

· Formulation of water rights is a key element in sharing 

of water; 

· Reduction of water pollution by industries through 

promotion of clean production techniques and treatment 

of wastewater; 

· Awareness raising of people to treatment of water for 

domestic purposes; 

· Training of experts in water management; 

· Encouraging industries to work towards achieving ISO 

14000 certification; 

· Irrigation and drainage infrastructure is fairly financed 

by World Bank and Asian Development Bank. However, 

urban water treatment and wastewater treatment is largely 

ignored and requires urgent attention; 

· Promotion of public-private partnerships; 

· A new approach towards water mapping, particularly in 

irrigation where mapping of irrigated water in Pakistan 

is required to determine the water resources and needs 

according to the crop and the time of year 

As a final word, the need is to bring a shift in water 

management philosophy with a proactive approach to address 

water problems. This applies to governments and international 

agencies, all the way down to individuals. 



13

The 

All photos: Rizwan Mahmood/WWF - Pakistan 

dolphins 

and the fishermen 

Rizwan Mahmood and Liaquat Ali Khokhar show us what 

better fishing practices can do for the Indus dolphin’s survival 

The Indus river dolphin, Platanista gangetica minor, 

is a beautiful pinky-brown creature living in the murky 

depths of the Indus river. Various articles have been written 

about it in the recent past: therefore, we are only going to 

focus on the threat to its survival by fishing practices. 

In addition to the key requirement of water, the very 

survival of our very own river dolphin depends on the 

14 


March 2010

availability of an adequate amount of food, and protection. It is an endangered species endemic to the lower Indus Basin in Pakistan. 

For the past many years WWF – Pakistan, in collaboration with the Sindh Wildlife Department and other line departments, has 

been working for the conservation of this endangered species. Apart from providing safe refuge to the dolphins by declaring its 

core habitat as a protected area, the survival of this species has been ensured by preserving the biological diversity of the lower 

Indus river ecosystem and ensuring the sustainable use of riverine resources. 

Fishing net entanglements and shortage of food are identified as major reasons for most of the dolphin mortalities. Therefore, 

to ensure ethical fishing practices in the core habitat of the Indus dolphin a new concept of Fishermen Sustainability Schools, or 

FSS, has been introduced. Through these FSS, Promotion of Better Fishing Practices, or BFP, provides opportunities to the local 

fishing communities to take necessary actions for the improvement and sustainability of natural fish resources. The fishing 

communities need to adopt a management plan which can address the root cause of the decline of fisheries. 

Issues related to illegal and unethical fishing practices are adequately dealt with through these FSS. Participating fishermen 

are sensitized regarding harms associated with practices like by-catch, fishing in breeding season, under size fishing, blasting and 

poisoning. 

Although the concept is new, it has already been warmly welcomed by local fishermen: feedback from different fishing 

communities is encouraging. The concept has started shaping new dimensions in fishing and started bringing change in current 

fishing practices among participating fishermen. 

In the first year of its inception, the FSS approach attracted 400 fishermen to participate. These FSS are bringing aggregate 

changes in the fishermen’s behaviour in order to achieve improved outcomes. The participating fishermen are being persuaded that 

it is in their own best interest to modify their fishing habits in line with BFPs, even when this is contrary to their short term interest. 

Keeping in view the practical value of BFPs, it is envisioned that this approach will significantly help in conserving the aquatic 

resources and maintaining the river ecosystem. It will also help attain the sustainability of fisheries resources for the future generations 

of human and dolphins. 

It is necessary to control illegal nets being used in the Indus river and its canals… 

Rahib Ali, Field Facilitator, Village Boraha 

We have to realize our responsibilities for sustainable fishing, FSS leads us to a better future… 

Bahadur Ali, Field Facilitator, Village Khanan Machi 

Laws and policies from the Fisheries Department are not implemented properly, so the Department should take action to 

implement laws and make possible coordination between itself and fishermen… 


15


Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award 

ceremony held 

March 29, 2010: WWF - Pakistan organised the Syed 

Asad Ali Conservation Award (SAAC) and the Living 

Planet Award ceremony on Monday 29th March, 2010. 

The Syed Asad Ali Conservation (SAAC) Award is given 

to pay tribute to Syed Asad Ali for his contributions to 

conserve wildlife and natural resources of the country. 

This year the SAAC Award was presented to Ayub Dablo, 

Asgher Ali Detho and Ashfaq Ahmed Ashufta for their 

efforts as conservationists in their respective areas. 

Ayub Dablo received this award for his contributions 

towards the plantation and conservation of mangroves 

over an area of more than 495 hectares in Keti bunder. 

Ashafaq Ahmad Ashufta was selected for his continued 

efforts to conserve the Kalij pheasant with the involvement 

of the local community in Jafferabad village of 

Abbottabad. Asghar Ali Detho, a game inspector at Pai 

Forest Game Reserve received this award for performing 

his duty of forest conservation fearlessly despite hurdles 

created by influential hunters. 

Iqbal Ahmad Channa, Minister for Special Education and Iqbal Ahmad Qarshi, President WWF - Pakistan, and Dr. Kausar Abdullah 

Malik distributed the awards, certificates and cheques of Rs. 50,000/- among the recipients. 

The Living Planet Award is given to organisations and researchers that have made a significant contribution to nature conservation 

through WWF - Pakistan’s Small Grant Programme funded projects. This award was given to the Society for Social Development 

and Conservation of Nature, Lasbella for sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources, to Daran Conservation Society for a successful 

community based Marine Turtle Initiative at Jiwani. Dr Sheikh Ajaz Rasool from University of Karachi received this award for 

his research on the water quality of Keenjhar and Haleji lakes. 

A certificate of appreciation was presented to Abdul Samad Dawood, CEO of Dawood Corporation for donating the amount of 

Rupees 2.5 million to WWF - Pakistan, and one to Rina Saeed Khan for receiving an award at the UN Copenhagen Conference 

on an article she wrote on Keti Bunder. Another certificate of appreciation was presented to Samma TV on extending financial 

support for students’ research on environment and biodiversity of Pakistan. 

Contact Humaira Ayesha, hayesha@wwf.org.pk 

Lecture on cancer awareness 

February 24, 2010: A lecture was held on Lymphoma Cancer Awareness for the staff of WWF - Pakistan by Searle Pharmaceuticals. 

Forty-seven staff members attended, and received information regarding early identification and detection of various types 

of cancers. It was stressed that early detection is the key to survival in any kind of cancer, and that regular check ups and visits 

to the doctor are essential. 

Contact Waqar Nasim, wnasim@wwf.org.pk 

16 


March 2010

Hussain Dawood Award 

announced 


After recently donating his wedding salami of Rs 2.5 million to WWF - Pakistan, Abdul 

Samad Dawood, CEO of Dawood Corporation, announced an award of Rs 200,000 

annually for five years to support the projects funded by WWF - Pakistan’s Small Grants 

Programme. This award has been named after his father, Hussain Dawood. 

Hussain Dawood, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern 

University, USA, and a graduate in Metallurgy from Sheffield University, UK, is Chairman 

of Dawood Hercules Chemicals Ltd., Engro Corporation Limited, Karachi Education 

Initiative and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, which is globally, the largest World 

Bank financial social fund. He also serves as a Member on the Boards of the Commonwealth 

Business Council, Pakistan Business Council, Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, Institute 

of Strategic studies and the Beaconhouse National University. Mr. Dawood is a Member 

of the World Economic Forum since 1992. He is the Global Charter Member of the Indus 

Entrepreneurs (TIE) and the Honorary Consul of Italy, in Lahore. 

The Italian government in recognition of his contributions as the Honorary Consul of Italy conferred upon him the Ufficiale Ordine 

al Merito della Repubblica Italiana on 3rd December 2008. 

The Scientific Committee of WWF - Pakistan, comprising eminent scientists, will approve the projects for the Hussain Dawood 

Award. Priority will be given to projects that help conserve some important natural wetland ecosystem in Pakistan. 

Contact Uzma Khan, ukhan@wwf.org.pk 

Spring funfair at FC College 

March 1, 2010: WWF - Pakistan participated in the Spring Fun Fair at FC College Lahore. The funfair was organised by the Earth 

Watch Club of FC College. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness among the students about environmental issues by 

engaging them in different exciting and interesting games/activities. A large number of students visited WWF - Pakistan’s stall 

where they were given individual memberships, free posters, brochures, magazines and information material about the Pakistan 

Wetlands Programme, Indus for All Programme and WWF - Pakistan’s projects in general. Students were also given an introduction 

to WWF and its functions. They took part in a quiz about the wetlands of Pakistan. Dunya TV took an interview of Hammad Afzal, 

IMP Officer as WWF - Pakistan’s representative. 

Contact Uzma Saeed, conservation@wwf.org.pk 

World Wetlands Day celebrated 

The World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 each year. For 2010, the Pakistan Wetlands Programme commemorated this 

day with a variety of activities aimed at government line departments, schools, universities and the general public. This year’s 

activities were related to the theme chosen by the Ramsar Bureau: ‘Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change’. They were not 

restricted to February 2 – they began on December 21, 2009, and ended on February 13, covering several cities. Underprivileged 

schools were especially targeted. Essay competitions, story writing, posters, 3-D models, quizzes and nature photography competitions 

were held, as were competitions in play performance, poetry, songwriting, music, handicrafts and videos. Apart from school activities 

there were radio discussions, awareness raising activities among waterfowl hunters, advocacy walks and wetlands related articles 

in newspapers. 

At the final celebration, at Bahria University in Islamabad, the Federal Minister of Environment and several officials from UNDP 

were lent their support. Here festivities included an environmental song by Tahir Naeem and a poem on turtles by Nasir Malik. 

Launch of Pakistan Forest Programme 

Contact Nasir Malik, nimalik@wwf.org.pk 

March 16, 2010: The Pakistan Forest Programme was launched by the Ministry of Environment and WWF - Pakistan in Islamabad. 

The occasion was marked by the presence of Minister of Environment, Hamidullah Jan Afridi, who lauded the efforts of WWF - 

P. He highlighted the fact that the Pakistan Forest Programme will corroborate the forest policy due to be presented in the Cabinet 

and will serve as a ‘Plan of Action’ proposed in the forest policy. Ali Hassan Habib (Director General, WWF - Pakistan) was present 

at the occasion and presented a copy of the Pakistan Forest Programme to Hamidullah Jan Afridi. This programme is an initiative 

of WWF – Pakistan. The formulation process of the Pakistan Forest Programme involved various rigorous consultations with 

different stakeholders of the forestry sector especially the forest departments of all the provinces. 

Contact Waseem Ahmad Khan, khanwa@wwf.org.pk 


17

Biogas 

is the way... 

Ahmad Khan examines renewable energy 

for wetland dependant communities 

18 


March 2010

In poor rural communities of Pakistan, where trees exist, they are cut down and used for fuelwood. Plants in any form whether 

trees, shrubs or herbs are source of retaining water for infiltration through their roots to replenish underground water sources. 

Seepage water, springs, water channels, streams, lakes and rivers all depend on thick vegetation covering soil and binding its 

particles together. Cutting of trees exposes soil to various factors that can cause its erosion and degradation. In these communities, 

deforestation has many facets and therefore is being carried out for reasons more economic in nature than simply getting fuelwood. 

To stop deforestation and reduce use of forest plants there is need of actions that are ecologically viable, socially acceptable 

and economically cost-effective. The Pakistan Wetlands Programme (PWP), while working on finding solutions to degradation 

of watersheds surrounding wetlands has tested many models that include alternate energy interventions. In collaboration with 

Pakistan Dairy Development Company, the PWP constructed its first biogas plant at Jhalar in Khushab District. This model, 8m 3 

in size, has gained popularity among the local communities. This has provided a basis for replication, and local organizations have 

started replicating it on their own. This model has now grown to about a dozen in Soan Sakesor Valley. 

In rural communities livestock is common and a majority of households keep cattle for various purposes including getting 

milk, as draft animals, as ploughing bulls, and for transporting goods. They collect their dung and women usually make dung cakes 

that are burnt after drying. This is one of the major fuel sources. 

All photos: Ahmad Khan/WWF - Pakistan 


19

Making of the dung cakes not only involves labour but also 

an exposure to pathogens that can cause several diseases. The 

burning of dung cakes not only releases carbon dioxide but also 

methane which could be a good fuel source. It is estimated that 

gases released from dung contain 60% methane. PWP is worked 

on promotion of biogas plants in the forested valley of Soan 

Sakesar, to save trees and other plants from indiscriminate 

cutting. 

The biogas plants are simple in operation. Each plant’s three 

main parts consist of a feeder, where dung and water in equal 

proportion are fed; a digester where dung and water are retained 

until an anaerobic ‘digestion’ of dung takes place and methane 

is segregated from it; and an accumulator, where segregated 

gas collects and is supplied to a stove for burning. After digestion 

of the dung, slurry comes out through the outlet pipe from the 

digester. The slurry generated as a by-product contains 1.8-2.4% 

nitrogen (N2), 1.0-1.2% phosphorus (P2O5) 0.6-0.8% potassium 

(K2O) and 50-75% organic humus. This makes it a true organic 

fertilizer and a substitute for artificial fertiliser such as Di 

Ammonium Phosphate, or DAP. A farmer can save money from 

use of slurry, as he will no more need to purchase fertiliser from 

the market. A small household-size biogas plant provides sufficient 

gas for daily working and heating needs. 

A small family uses 2-3 medium sized trees a year on 

average to meet their cost of heating and cooking. If a family 

uses Liquip Prophane Cylinders, or LPG, the cost is about 

Rs.1,500 a month on average. A biogas plant not only saves 

them money, but protects watersheds by saving trees from 

cutting, and conserves wetlands by ensuring sustainable water 

flows. 

Burning of fuelwood generates carbon laden smoke and 

causes indoor air pollution. This indoor air pollution results in 

health problems in those who inhale it for long periods. The 

health problems commonly observed include chest congestion, 

bronchitis, nasal congestion etc. 

The biogas flame is smoke free. The cow dung contains 

about 60-65% methane that gives it a heating value of about 

600 B.T.U. The natural gas has 80% methan with a heating value 

of around 1000 B.T.U. This is evidence that biogas has all the 

potential to be a good substitute for the gas piped out from the 

ground. The biogas potential and equivalence can be assessed 

from estimates that about 1.7 cubic metres of biogas equals one 

litre of gasoline and the manure produced by one cow in one 

year can be converted to methane which is the equivalent of 

over 200 litres of gasoline. 

20 


March 2010

Mapping 

for the next 

generation 

Urooj Saeed and Kaif Gill reveal the 

Decision Support System – 

a virtual platform to develop, share and 

disseminate information 


21

History reveals gradual development in the field 

of mapping and surveying. Human beings have been 

developing and using maps for more than 5,000 years. 

Early maps were carved on stones or painted on walls. 

These maps were mainly used for strategic planning 

during war. Over the past few centuries, advancements 

in engineering and computer technology have brought 

a boom in the mapping technologies. Today not only 

government agencies but private organizations and even 

individuals are using Geographic Information Systems 

(GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), WebGIS etc 

for planning and monitoring for social, commercial and 

environmental purposes. 

WWF - Pakistan is currently implementing a fiveyear 

Indus for All Programme, the first phase of a 50- 

year Indus Ecoregion Conservation Programme. It has 

been developed in collaboration with the Government 

of Sindh and other stakeholders for long-term 

biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation in the 

Indus Ecoregion. 

Conservation is all about place, as most of the 

research requires the use of data linked to geographic 

space. The need of geographic data varies according to 

the nature of studies employed. Even a very basic 

research report contains geographic coordinates 

(location) and a map of the study area. Hence it would 

not be wrong to say that mapping plays an integral part 

in successfully addressing today's conservation 

challenges. Under the GIS component of the Programme, 

an online interactive Environmental & Social Atlas for 

Indus Ecoregion and a Decision Support System (DSS) 

of three districts i.e. Thatha, Nawabshah and Sanghar 

22 


March 2010

has been designed and launched on the web portal. 

DSS has been designed to fill in the information gaps that 

were long felt at provincial level. It provides a user friendly 

interface for accessing geospatial data to facilitate the coordination 

of research, monitoring and environmental management activities 

in Indus Ecoregion and also to ensure that all stakeholders have 

quick and easy access to the maps and other spatial information. 

Decision Support System addresses three primary areas: 

· It is designed to ensure the collection and entry of 

long-term data, which allows establishment of patterns 

of temporal variance in the natural resource; 

· It is multi-scalar (from Indus Ecoregion to priority 

Project Areas) so as to provide appropriate information 

at the required level of planning and decision-making; 

· It is broad scale (covers the entire ecoregion) to 

maximize the value of the Programme to stakeholders. 

DSS provides a virtual platform to build, share and 

disseminate information in a decentralized and distributed 

fashion. It contains information about populated places, canals, 

drainages, roads, forests etc. The spatial and thematic aspects 

of the application enable the users to overlay various datasets. 

The application also contains district profiles of population, 

land use, health, education and agriculture. To provide a glimpse 

of the natural resources, district profiles of birds, fish and 

mammals have also been uploaded. 

Another interesting utility of this application is the availability 

of land cover maps of different dates for the Programme sites. 

Users can overlay different layers to see the changes in land 

cover patterns that have been taken place over the past few 

decades. 

One of the most pervasive barriers to conservation 

effectiveness has always been the lack of capacity in our society. 

During the development phase of the Decision Support System, 

seven training workshops were arranged for government officials, 

Programme staff and other stakeholders. The objectives of the 

training workshops were to get the response of the participants 

about the overall functionality of the DSS and also to acquaint 

the participants with the concept and usage of the DSS. 

This new system is going to help revolutionise information 

systems at the provincial level. 


23


The 

landslide 

lake 

All photos: Rina Saeed Khan 

24 


March 2010 

Rina Saeed Khan reports on the Hunza 

River landslide and lake

After the massive landslide in Hunza Valley brought down 

half a mountain on January 4, 2010, where Attaabad village was 

located, the federal government declared the area to be ‘calamityhit’. 

The landslide has formed a natural but unstable dam over 

a narrow gorge of the Hunza River. The blockage is around 200 

feet high at its highest point and around 1.5 km wide. With the 

river blocked by this dam, a large lake around 12 km long and 

more than 200 feet deep has formed, submerging a 10 km section 

of the Karakoram Highway and effectively cutting off Gojal 

Tehsil from the rest of the country. 

The landslide killed 19 people, mostly women and children, 

in the village of Sarat near the river, which had been considered 

a safe area by the landslide experts who had visited Attaabad 

(perched high above the valley) and ordered its evacuation. 

Focus Humanitarian Assistance, an NGO affiliated with the Aga 

Khan Development Network had asked Attaabad’s residents to 

leave the village two years ago. Most of the people of Hunza 

are Ismailis who regard the Aga Khan, Prince Karim, as their 

spiritual head. 

Naik Bano, a resident of Sarat village, who is now an 

‘Internally Displaced Person’ (IDP), still sits in shock in the 

small room of the local high school in Karimabad which has 

been converted into an IDP camp. ‘We left Sarat after the 

landslide and came here with our belongings. There are two 

families living in this small room. We still have our house in 

Sarat but it is empty now – we dare not go back in case there 

is another landslide,’ she says, her four year old daughter on her 

lap. ‘My daughter has a rare skin disease – we used to take her 

to Gilgit for treatment but we cannot afford that now.’ 

There is a very high literacy rate in Hunza Valley thanks to 

all the schools set up by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. 

The IDP children are continuing with their studies in spacious 

tents outside the school provided by the Central Asia Institute 

in the US (President Obama recently donated some of his Nobel 

peace prize money to this NGO). Not only the IDPs, who number 

around 1,652, but the 25,000 population of Gojal is suffering 

due to the blockage of the KKH – their supply route is cut off. 

Traders who bought goods from China and sold it down country 

are stuck as are the traders who sold goods to the people of 

Gojal. Students who studied at colleges in Gilgit and other 

universities in Pakistan were stranded as well, although helicopter 

sorties flown by the Pakistan army have been airlifting students 

so that their studies are not affected. Those who fall sick and 

pregnant women have also been cut off from access to proper 

hospitals. It is not likely that the KKH will be re-opened anytime 

soon and their only route is a one hour boat journey across the 

lake and then over the landslide on foot and then back onto the 

KKH where there is transportation to take them down country. 

The journey takes a whole day as one has to wait for the boats 

to come (they only operate during daylight hours so if there is 

an emergency, nothing can be done). 

The people complain that there are not enough boats, 


25

26 


March 2010 

although the army is now planning to operate large 

rafts which can transport more goods and even small 

jeeps. 

‘In the beginning there were only around 2 

boats. I know of a woman and her new-born baby 

who both died because there was no boat to take 

them to a hospital in time,’ complains Bibi Shawar, 

the mother of three children, who lives in a makeshift 

camp in Ayeenabad, a village located upstream of 

the dam, a village that is slowly being submerged 

by the lake. 

Today, at the site of the landslide, four large 

earth lifting machines (borrowed from the Chinese 

contractors who were working on widening the 

KKH) are frantically lifting clay, rocks and soil to 

build a high spillway so that water can be released 

gradually from the lake. The work is being done by 

the army’s Frontier Works Organisation (who are 

responsible for maintaining the KKH). Chinese 

engineers who were working on the KKH are now 

at the site camp, and some can even be seen operating 

some of the machines. 

So far around 102,000 cubic metres of debris 

have been removed but a further 112,500 cubic 

metres still need to be lifted by the bulldozers. 

The people of Gojal are frustrated by the slow 

pace of the work. Shah Makeen, a fruit seller from 

Shiskat village, located upstream of the landslide, 

says his home is slowly being engulfed by the lake, 

which is rising at the rate of 1.5 feet per day. ‘I 

would say that in another two weeks, most of 

Ayeenabad will be flooded. The water has even 

reached Gulmit now!’ 

The Hunza River feeds into the Indus River 

and there are fears that if the lake is not drained 

soon, it could burst, causing massive flooding 

downstream all the way to Attock as was the case 

in 1858 when a similar massive landslide blocked 

the Hunza River for almost 4 years. It eventually 

burst and destroyed villages and bridges downstream 

as the torrent of water swept through the valley and 

beyond. At the time the British engineers did not 

have the technology to clear the debris, piled over 

hundreds of feet and full of large boulders. The 

Tarbela Dam had also not been built as yet 

Options for re-constructing the 10-12 km section 

of the KKH that has been affected by the landslide, 

so that it can be re-opened sooner are currently 

being discussed. According to General Farooq head 

of the National Disaster Management Authority 

(NMDA), the work to open the spillway is on track 

given the scale of the landslide, and it should be 

completed by April 15th unless the boulders are so 

big they require blasting. Computer modeling is 

also being done for a study that will show how the 

water will flow just in case the dam breaks. 

FOCUS is setting up an early warning system 

to alert villagers downstream just in case the worstcase 

scenario happens. They have already built a 

monitoring camp far above the lake and installed 

CC-TV and night lights to monitor any seepage or 

unusual activity in the dam. With the glaciers in the 

area starting to melt by end of March, the water in 

the lake is expected to start rising faster. According 

to Behroz Ross-Sheriff, a foreign based volunteer 

working for FOCUS who summarized a recent 

report on the lake: ‘There are four ways the dam 

could fail. The first is that the water spills over the 

top of the dam and erodes the dam quickly and the 

spillway doesn’t hold. The second scenario is water

coming through the dam as piping (holes in the dam) – if that happens, it erodes the dam from the inside, causing it to collapse 

on itself. The third is a big earthquake (the dam is located in a highly active earthquake zone) which shakes the dam and the last 

is another major landslide which could cause a wave of water to go over the top of the dam.’ 

While the last two scenarios are out of anyone’s control, engineers can do something about the first two. Engineering can 

certainly reduce the danger of the dam bursting. But the villagers upstream who are losing their homes, orchards and fields as they 

helplessly watch the water rise every day are afraid. ‘Our future is being destroyed in front of our own eyes,’ they say. 


27

People and plants 

Do you know what “ethnobotany” is? Well, I’m sure you know what “botany” 

is. Yes, it’s the study of plants. And “ethno” means people. So now can you 

guess? Yes! Absolutely! “Ethnobotany” is the relationship between people 

and plants! 

One kind of ethnobotany is medicinal plants, and the people who work with 

them. Medicinal plants are plants that you can make medicine out of. Before 

modern medicine was discovered and developed, people used to make 

medicines out of these plants and use them when they weren’t well. And it 

worked! 

People used these medicines for many, many years, even centuries. Nowadays, 

most people in cities don’t know anything about them, but people in villages 

do, because some of them still use these medicines. And they still work! A 

lot of modern medicines also use plants to make medicines out of. So 

medicinal plants are very, very important. 

Want to try something? There’s a plant called aloe vera. Plant one in a flower 

pot. When it grows, cut off one tiny part. It’ll give you the most amazing 

hand cream. 

And when you’re working with the plant, what will you be doing? Yes! You’ll 

be practicing ethnobotany! 

All photos: GIS/WWF - Pakistan 

28 


March 2010


29

The green turtle 

I’m sure you know that the green turtle is a marine turtle that comes to 

the beaches of Pakistan to lay its eggs, but do you know why it’s called 

“green”? Well, the fat under its skin has a greenish tinge, so when people 

first saw it, they thought, “Yes, that’s easy to name. Let’s just call it the 

green turtle!” 

These turtles are really quite beautiful. When the females come to the 

beach to lay eggs, from September to March, they sort of “swim” up the 

sand, because they can’t walk: they have flippers for swimming, not feet 

for walking, because they live in the sea. The turtle digs a hole with her 

flippers, then another small one inside it called an egg chamber: she lays 

her eggs, closes up both holes, and “swims” back to the sea. This whole thing 

takes about two hours. 

That’s the last the turtle sees of her eggs. She doesn’t come back, unless 

it’s to lay another batch of eggs. 

When the hatchlings come out of the eggs, two months later, they start 

instictively making for the sea. It’s sad to know that very few of them make 

it: a lot of them get eaten by crows or dogs on the beach, and sometimes 

when not very nice people make bonfires on the beach, they get caught in 

the fire. 

Next time you’re at the beach and you see a hatchling trying to get to the 

sea, will you help him out? 

30 


March 2010 

Photo: Roger Hooper/WWF - Canon

Photo: Andrey Nekrasov/WWF - Canon 


31

Our Mission 

WWF aims to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: 

. conserving the world’s biological diversity 

. ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable 

. promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption 

WWF Offices in Pakistan 

Head Office 

WWF-Pakistan 

P.O. Box 5180 

Ferozepur Road, Lahore. 

UAN: 042 111 993 725 

Tel: 042 3586 2359-60 

Fax: 042 3586 2358 

E-mail: info@wwf.org.pk 

Regional Offices 

Karachi Office (Conservation) 

606-607 Fortune Center 

6 th Floor, Block 6 

PECHS, Shahrah-e-Faisal Karachi. 

Tel: 021 34544791-2 or 34555173-4 or 

3432 8478 

Fax: 021 3454 4790 

E-mail:karachi @wwf.org.pk 

Karachi Office (Marketing) 


C/o. Crescent Group of Industries 

12 th Floor, SIDCO Avenue Centre 

264-R.A. Lines, Karachi. 

Tel: 021 3569 3475 or 3567 4881-5 

Tel cum Fax: 021 3568 9604 

E-mail:userid@wwf.org.pk 

Islamabad Office 


House 60, Bazar Road 

Sector G-6/4, Islamabad. 

Tel: 051 260 2431-3 

Fax: 051 260 2430 

E-mail:islamabad@wwf.org.pk 

Peshawar Office 


House # 2-A, Circular Road 

University Town, Peshawar. 

Tel: 091 584 1593 & 585 2845-6 

Fax: 091 584 1594 

E-mail:peshawar@wwf.org.pk 

Quetta Office 


Killi Gishkori, Sabzal Road 

Quetta. 

Tel: 081 245 2251 

Fax: 081 245 2250 

E-mail.quetta@wwf.org.pk 

Muzafarabad Office 


Opposite Jamia Masjid, Old Chungi Chowk 

Near Kashmir Polytechnical Education Center 

Dimail Sydan, Garipan 

Ward # 5, Muzafarabad, AJK. 

Tel/Fax/Net: 05822 92 1905 

E-mail:wwfajk786@yahoo.com 

Gilgit Office 


NLI Colony, Near Imamia Eid Gah 

Shahrae Quaid-e-Azam 

Jatial, Gilgit. 

Tel: 05811 455 658 or 455 725 

Fax: 05811 455 688 

E-mail:qcic@glt.comsats.net.pk 

Project Offices 

Chitral Office 


SLT/WWFP, Governor Cottage Road 

Guldaar, Chitral. 

Tel: 0943 41 2396 

Fax: 0943 41 3905 

Nathiagali Office 

Mochi Dhara, Nathiagali 

Abbottabad. 

Tel cum Fax: 0992 35 5210 

E-mail:mwaseemwwf@gmail.com 

Nowshera Office 

C/o. Soan Valley Development Project 

Mardwal Chowk, Nowshera 

Khushab. 

Jiwani Office 

Project Office Jiwani 

Tehsil Jiwani 

District Gawadar. 

Tel: 086 4004028 

Sandspit Office 

Wetland Centre 

Opposite Hut No.103-N, Hawksbay 

Sandspit, Near Kakapir Village, Karachi. 

Tel: 021 235 3741-2 

Skardu Office 

Hussain Nagar, Alamdar Chowk 

Skardu. 

Tel: 05815 45 2003 or 45 2705 

Zhob Office 


D. I. Khan Road, Near Wadh Shekhan Pump 

Zhob. 

Tel: 0822 41 3376 

Gyps Vulture Restoration Project Office 

Block # 4, Changa Manga Forest 

Chunia. 

Cell #: 0343 401 2001 or 0333 606 0264 

Freshwater & Toxics Programme Site Offices 

Sukkur Office 

House # 30-B 

Professor Housing Society 

Shikarpur Road 

Sukkur. 

Tel: 071 563 3236 

Bahawalpur Office 

22/C-2, Shabbir Shaheed Road 

Model Town-A 

Bahawalpur. 

Tel: 062 288 8314 

E-mail:bahawalpur@wwf.org.pk 

Jhang Office 

53 Lalazar Colony, Phase I 

Near Government College of Commerce 

Jhang. 

Tel: 0477 650 725 

E-mail:jhang@wwf.org.pk 

Toba Tek Singh Office 

Opp: Sports Stadium 

Mahmoodabad 

Toba Tek Singh. 

Tel cum Fax: 046 251 0133 

PSCI Lodhran Office 

Aziz Town, Jalalpur More 

Bahawalpur-Multan Road 

Lodhran. 

Tel: 0608 364414 

PSCI Yazman Office 

Ahmad Sweet, Bunglaw Road 

Near Jamia Haqania Masjid 

Yazman. 

Tel: 0622 702914 

Indus For All Programme Site Offices 

Keti Bandar Office 

Adnan House, Rano Mori Stop 

P.O. Keti Bandar via P.O. Mirpur Sakro 

Thatta. 

Tel: 0298 61 0976 or 62 0406 

Kinjhar Lake Office 

House # B/112, Hasimabad Society 

Makli District 

Thatta. 

Tel: 0298 77 2318-9 

PAI Forest Office 

Bunglow # A-3, Mehran University College 

Engineering Technology Employees 

Co-Operative Housing Society 

Benazirabad. 

Tel: 0244 36 6364 or 36 6197 

Chotiari Office 

House # 129/2, Municipal Ward 15 

Housing Society 

Near Govt. Boys High School 

Benazir Road, Sanghar. 

Tel: 0235 54 2837 or 54 2791 

Pakistan Wetlands Programme Site Offices 

Programme Management Unit 

House # 3, Street # 4 

Sector F-7/3 

Islamabad. 

Tel: 051 261 0880-4 

Fax: 051 261 0878 

Salt Range Wetlands Complex 

Mohallah Iftikharabad 

Village Dhak, Nowshera 

Khushab. 

Tel: 0454 61 0117 

Central Indus Wetlands Complex 

House # 84, B-2 

Umer Block, Abbasia Town 

Rahimyar Khan. 

Tel: 068 500 2602 

Fax: 068 500 2471 

Makran Coastal Wetlands Complex 

Bunglow # 74, Phase 1 

New Town Housing Scheme 

Gawadar. 

Tel: 0864 21 1500 

North Alpine Wetlands Complex 

House # 787, Street # 5 

Iqbal Road Supply 

Abbottabad. 

Tel: 0992 51 4410 

www. 

wwfpak 

.org

A quarterly magazine of WWF - Pakistan

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?