of 6
8/9/2019 Wetlands Watch March 2010
1/6
8/9/2019 Wetlands Watch March 2010
2/6
JamrauCanal
Deh Akro-II
Wetlands
Lives & Livelihood
Deh Akro-II is typical stable sand desertcovered with sand dunes. Mean elevation of thearea is about 50 m above sea level. The sanddunes rise to an elevation of 5 to 10 m and lie inan east-west orientation. There are typical flat-bottomed valleys between the dunes, whichcontain perennial lakes. These lakes arerecharged either by seepage from Nara andJamrau canals or rainwater.
Shortfall ofFresh Water to Wetlands
The wetlands of Deh Akro-II basically formed
by the Seepage of the IrrigationCanal- i.e. Jam
rau Canal. Beside these seepage the rain water
is also fed these wetlands. Due to shortfall o
rain last 8 years and the canal water diversifica
tion to the agriculture area is the main reason of
shrinkage the wetlands in the Deh Akro II. The
PARTII
Due to shortfall of
rain last 8 years and
the canal water diver-
sification to the agri-
culture area is the
main reason of shrink-
age the wetlands in
the Deh Akro II.
8/9/2019 Wetlands Watch March 2010
3/6
lakes are not isolated from the main water body
i.e. the irrigation canal.
Out of 36 lakes, 5 are sweet water and rest of the
31 lakes are brackish. Other surface water
source is irrigation water system in the area, lo-cal communities, who are settled there; do culti-
vate their ancestral lands through irrigation ca-
nal system of Jamrau canal, which emerges
from Nara main canal from Jamrau head in the
south-east of the sanctuary.
Four of the lakes of Akro-II wetland complex
have completely dried (Akro, Sahanwari,Pakhe-wari, and Akanwari), while many other
lakes have shrunk to 40-50%. Water quality has
also deteriorated in most of the lakes.
Drought prevails in the area since last 8-9years. Only few rain showers were received
during monsoon in 2001. Due to long spell of
drought, area has received severe water short-
age. Ground water table has gone down from
5-8 m to 20-30 m and water level in the lakes
has decreased up to 50%.
The drought condition has severely affected
the human and livestock population of Deh
Akro-II. Many deadly diseases have occurred
in the human and livestock in the areas, as well
as nutritional issues badly affected to the biodi-
versity of the area.
Drought Problems
The lakes are not
isolated from the
main water body i.e.
the irrigation canal.
Ground water table
has gone down from
5-8 m to 20-30 m
and water level in the
lakes has decreased
up to 50%.
8/9/2019 Wetlands Watch March 2010
4/6
This area is devoid of any perennial surface
fresh water resources. The main surface water
sources are surface water lakes, which are
formed due to surfacing of ground water or
seepage from Nara and Jamrau canals in its
south and east. These lakes cover an area of
about 5000 ha and are formed in an inter dunal
valleys one after the other. Their sizes, shapes,
water quality and depth is different and largest
one is about 750 ha, while smallest one is about
40 ha.
Water quality in most of the hand pumps was
sweet, and depending upon the recharge cycle
through rainfall or irrigation canal system.
Ground water is recharged either through rain
water or through Nara and Jamrau canal seep-
ages, but due to long dry spell in the region,
ground water has gone down from 58 m to
2030 m. Water shortage in the canal system
has also reduced the seepage recharge system,
therefore groundwater quality has generally
turned into brackish and raised threats to hu-
man health.
Their sizes, shapes,
water quality and depth
is different and largest
one is about 750 ha,
while smallest one is
about 40 ha.
In the desert, a fresh water layer and perched
fresh water aquifer are the only source of wa-
ter supply. Water is extracted through hand
pumps.
8/9/2019 Wetlands Watch March 2010
5/6
They further expressed
their deep concerns on the
large scale deforestation
from the sanctuary area.
They said that due to defor-
estation and over greasing
on herbs and shrubs of the
wetlands, there have been
large scale degradation and
deterioration of the natural
habitats of already threat-
ened species.
They appealed to the con-
cerned authorities to take
sustained efforts for the
early recovery and rehabili-
tation of the wetlands and
their threatened biodiver-
sity.
The seminar addressed by
Nisar A. Brohi, Ameer
Hamza, Rauf Samoon, Salih
Billo and others.
A large number of indige-
nous wetlands commu-
nity, noted civil society
representatives, and journalists community
participated in the pro-
gram.
The speakers of the
program said that Deh
Akro-II wetlands have
had multidimensional
threats, even to their exis-
tence. The main threat to
the wetlands biodiversity is
the diversion of water from
wetlands to the agriculture
lands which was once flow-
ing to wetlands from Jam-
rau canal in the past.
The all natural wetlands
and their biodiversity have
badly suffered and many
local species vanished once
for all. However, more than
7 wetlands out of 36 have
dried up completely.
World Water Day[2 0 1 0
At Deh Akro-II Wetlands Complex
Water, Wetlands and Forests
On the eve of World Water Day 22nd March 2010,
Sangat Development Foundation has organized a seminar on Water,
Wetlands and Forests at Deh Akro-II Wetlands Complex, Nawabshah
The all natural wetlands
and their biodiversity
have badly suffered and
many local species
vanished once for all.
However, more than 7
wetlands out of 36 have
dried up completely.
8/9/2019 Wetlands Watch March 2010
6/6
RECOMMENDATION OFTHE SEMINAR
Special efforts should immediately be
made for the fresh water supply to the
wetlands as their biodiversity should beprovided relief.
All concerned stakeholders, depart-
ments and organization working on
wetlands should jointly take efforts for
the early recovery and rehabilitation of
habitats in order to save the lives of the
rare and endangered species of the
sanctuary.
The concerned department and the local
communities of the wetlands should de-
velop joint mechanism or constitute
watch committee consisting on wildlife
officials and local village representa-
tives to work to stop the illegal hunting
from the area.
Over grazing is one of the main threats
to the herbs and shrubs, which provideshelter to the birds and small animals,
therefore, some areas to be identified
which should be declared Protected
Zones.
Wood for fuel is also the main issue in
the area, alterative energy resources
should be provided to the local commu-
nity, as the tree cutting to be stopped.
Our Contact
Flat # 7, Sharif Building Market RoadNawabshah, Sindh, PakistanTel & Fax: 92+ 244-362011
Email: [email protected],
Over grazing
Deforestation
7 wetlands out of36 have dried up
completely
Illegal Hunting
