Together with communities, working towards environmental sustainability
Shafaq Masud
environmental sustainability
Shafaq MasudPakistan Wetlands ProgrammePakistan Wetlands Programme,
Pakistan
C t tContents
Spread of wetlands in PakistanSpread of wetlands in Pakistan. A brief introduction to the Programme.Daran Community initiative.Impacts.pWhat Worked?Where to from here?Where to from here?
More than 225 significantsignificant Wetlandsin Pakistanin Pakistan
High Alpine Wetlands with K2 mountain at the back
The Federal Ministry of Environment’sPakistan Wetlands ProgrammePakistan Wetlands Programme
SheosarSheosar Lake, Lake, GilgitGilgit--BaltistanBaltistanPakistan Wetlands ProgrammePakistan Wetlands Programme
The Ramsar Convention’s Definition of Wetlands
Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen,, ,peatland or water, whether natural or
artificial, permanent or temporary, with waterp p ythat is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt,including areas of marine water the depth ofg pwhich at low tide does not exceed six metres.
Development objective of the Development objective of the Pakistan Wetlands ProgrammePakistan Wetlands Programme
. . . to conserve globally significant . . . to conserve globally significant wetlandswetlands biodiversitybiodiversity in Pakistanin Pakistanwetlands wetlands biodiversitybiodiversity in Pakistan in Pakistan while alleviating poverty.while alleviating poverty.
Daran Community InitiativeA story about saving the marine turtles for aA story about saving the marine turtles for a
sustainable tomorrow!
Graph 1: Daran Community % distribution of Livelihood sources
T tTransport business11%
IndependenAgriculture Independent
and Salaried
g& Livestock
rearing11%
fishermen 78%
Green TurtleGreen TurtleGreen TurtleGreen Turtle
Ghost Nets Endless KillersKillers
Green Turtle Hatchlings Misled by lights
Daran Community Initiative l d lImplementation model
Capacity-
PWPWetlands
Conservation
Capacitybuilding and awareness programmePWPPWP
Committeep gPWP
Village ConservationCommittee
Social M bili
Committee1. Ownership of administrative Social
M biliMobiliser authorities to ensure implementation;
2 Direct link between
Mobiliser
Daran Community2. Direct link between communities and the decision makers.
Contents
Contents
Impacts
Marine turtle conservation data record at Daran village
Years Nest Protected Safely Hatchling Released
2007 563 1 0162007 563 1,016
2008 383 3,368
2009 225 6,189
2010 145 8,283
Grand Total 1,316 18,856Grand Total 1,316 18,856
Contents
Contents
Graph 2: School Enrollment Status of Daran Primary School
18
20
12
14
16s
8
10
12
r of s
tude
nts
2
4
6
Num
ber
0
2
Girls 3 5 5 7 8 8
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Boys 6 7 7 9 11 11
Total 9 12 12 16 19 19
What do the people say?
‘Before this we did not know the importance ofBefore this we did not know the importance ofthese turtles living with us on this beach. We
ll th ht b t th t tl li inever really thought about these turtles as livingthings. We use to take their eggs for fun, teasethem and chase them back to the sea so theywould not lay eggs. We would ride on its backy ggand pull their legs ….it was a fun season for us!…..
But now we have come to understand thatBut now we have come to understand that everything in nature has its reason to live and its own importance in Allah Tallah’s (God)its own importance in Allah Tallah s (God) system. Now I work for their safety…I have gotten a job because of this at my home beach’
Rashid a Turtle WatcherRashid, a Turtle Watcher
‘ I have come to know that these turtles havean important role for our coasts as they arean important role for our coasts as they arenatural scavengers and they keep our marinewater clean and healthy which is in returngood for us….so they are actually helping us’g y y p g
Ghaffor a community residentGhaffor , a community resident
‘It i ll d f li f th t‘It is really a good feeling for me that my husband is working in our home village for g gprotecting these turtle who have good relation with us since long-time ago and they are partwith us since long time ago and they are part of who we are. I am happy as my children are also going to school in our village I think thealso going to school in our village, I think the [wetlands] program is a blessing for us’
Sh i h ifShazia , a housewife
What worked?What worked?
A participatory governance system thatA participatory governance system that empowers the grassroots
Banking on a symbiotic relationship
Average monthly savings and expenditure per household
Average monthly savings and expenditure per household
9000
household9000
household9000
USD 147000
8000y
(Rs) USD 14
7000
8000y
(Rs) USD 14
7000
8000y
(Rs)
y (R
s)
USD 92 USD 784000
5000
6000
cur
renc
y
USD 92 USD 784000
5000
6000
cur
renc
y
USD 92 USD 784000
5000
6000
cur
renc
y c
urre
ncy
2000
3000
4000
Pak
ista
ni
2000
3000
4000
Pak
ista
ni
2000
3000
4000
Pak
ista
niP
akis
tani
1000
2000
Average income Average monthly
Uni
t in
P
1000
2000
Average income Average monthly
Uni
t in
P
1000
2000
Average income Average monthly
Uni
t in
PU
nit i
n P
Average income
generation per
house hold
Average monthly
expenditure per
house holdSavings
E di
Average income
generation per
house hold
Average monthly
expenditure per
house holdSavings
E di
Average income
generation per
house hold
Average monthly
expenditure per
house holdSavings
E diExpenditure Expenditure Expenditure
Finding opportunities even during disasters
Sound community dynamics
‘I found Daran community members er h mble andmembers very humble and supportive for marine turtle conservation. They have good knowledge about theknowledge about the conservation issues in their vicinity and [have] shown their genuine interest for conservationgenuine interest for conservation of marine turtles’
Where to from here?
“The beauty and genius of a work of art may bey g yreconceived, though its first material expression bedestroyed;y
a vanished harmony may yet again inspire they y y g pcomposer;
but when the last individual of a race of living thingsbreathes no more, another heaven and another earthmust pass before such can be gained”
William Beebe, The Bird, 1906