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Deh Akro-II
Wetlands Watch
Monthly Newsletter
Vol: 1 No: IX
September, 2010
Monthly E-Newsletter: Deh Akro-II Wetlands Watch 2010
Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland
Complex
“Supply of Fresh Water to the
Wetlands”
Deh Akro-II desert wetland is located in
district
Shaheed
Benazir
Abad
(Nawabshah), Sindh Pakistan. It is a
natural wetland comprising 36 lakes and
a complex of four major habitats
types, desert, wetland, marsh and
agricultural lands. In 1988, the
wetland was declared a Wildlife
Sanctuary. Its total area is 20,500 ha.
This site also supports a small population
of marsh crocodiles. It is an important
feeding and spawning ground for several
indigenous fish species.
Marsh crocodile has been declared an
endangered species. Previously, Muggers
and Gavials inhabited Nara canal (Old
Hakra River) and its tributaries, but after
the emerging of these wetlands through
seepage from Nara canal during the early
1950s, crocodiles have taken refuge in these
lakes and are now breeding. Gavial is now
extant from Nara canal and from the wild
in Pakistan since 1976. Nara canal has a
crocodile population of about 200-250,
while the estimated population of
crocodiles in the wetland complex of Deh
Akro-II Wildlife Sanctuary is believed to be
between 550-600 animals. These crocodiles
permanently inhabit these lakes year
round.
However, due to construction of new
Jamrao canal on site, the seepage of water
has been drastically reduced and ultimately
made the wetlands water rubbish and salty.
The wetland complex has a unique
example
of
desert
wetland
ecosystem that hosts a variety of rare
and endangered wildlife species.
Deh Akro-II wetland supports more
than 18 species of mammals, 16
species of reptiles, 14 species of fish,
and 101 species of birds and
regularly supports over 20,000
waterbirds.
Monthly E-Newsletter: Deh Akro-II Wetlands Watch 2010
Which has threatened the marine lives in
the wetlands and also marsh crocodile a
rare and endangered species.
While realizing the burgeoning threats to
under way. Hopefully it would be completed
very soon.
Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland
Complex
Visit of Project Site by
Mr. Hussain Bux Bhagaat, Chief
Conservator, Sindh Wildlife
Department, Govt of Sindh
Mr. Hussain Bux Bhagaat, Chief
Conservator,
Sindh
Wildlife
Department,
Govt
of
Sindh,
accompanied by Mr. Ghulam Sarwar
Jamali, Deputy Conservator, Wildlife
Hyderabad region and Mr. Majeed
Thahim from WWF Pakistan paid visit
to the project site and held meetings
with the local community.
the marsh crocodile due to regularly
shortage and growing rubbish water of
the
wetlands,
SANGAT
Development Foundation with
support of Indus for all
Programme WWF Pakistan and
collaboration of Sindh Wildlife
Department has started working
on excavation of new fresh water
channel from Jamrao Canal for
the supply of fresh and sweet
water to the wetlands in order to
rehabilitate to the wetlands and
also provide fresh water to the
marsh crocodile and other
marine life of the wetlands.
About 4 kilo meters excavation
work for water channel has been
completed and remaining work is
While briefing to the visiting team Mr.
Nisar A. Brohi, Director, SANGAT
Development Foundation and focal person
of the “Community Based Wetland
Management
project
in
Monthly E-Newsletter: Deh Akro-II Wetlands Watch 2010
Deh
Akro-II
wetland Complex” said that the project
team making all possible efforts through
In order to involve the local youth, nature
study camp was held on the wetlands
where they were acquainted with the
nature and also apprised them with the
current threats to the biodiversity and their
possible role for the revival of the wetlands
in Deh Akro-II wetland complex. With this
also following activities were carried out
for the rehabilitation of wetlands and also
to support the local community:
community participation to revive the
glory of the wetlands and revitalize the
biodiversity of the area.
He further said that during the last
quarter many capacity building activities
undertaken in order to develop the
skills and understanding of the local
community with regard to the
possible impending threats to the
biodiversity of the wetland complex
as well as methods to be adopted for
the sustainable conservation and
management of the wetlands and its
biodiversity in Deh Akro-II wetland
complex Nawabshah.
In this regard training workshop for
local community for “Community
Based Wetland Management” was
organized to discuss the successful
strategies have been undertaken in the
other parts of the country and globally for
the
wetlands
developments
and
biodiversity conservation.
Date palm trees were disturbed in the
local community
Established Nature Club at Jamsahib
High School
Formed Youth Forum in Deh Akro-II
Participation in “Nature Festival 2010”
by Indus for All Programme, WWF Pakistan,
Celebration of International Biodiversity
Day on May 22, 2010
Mr.
Hussain
Bux
Bhagaat,
Chief
Conservator, Wildlife Sindh, appreciated
the efforts of the project team for the
wetlands rehabilitation and biodiversity
conservation in Deh Akro-II wetlands
complex.
Monthly E-Newsletter: Deh Akro-II Wetlands Watch 2010