Tag: WWF – Pakistan

Karachi, June 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):‘Sea turtles along Pakistan’s coast face a host of anthropogenic threats which include habitat degradation, plastic pollution, and entanglement in fishing gears. As a result of the construction of huts along Sandspit and Hawksbay beaches in Karachi, Sindh, and Taq in Ormara, Balochistan, major nesting grounds of sea turtles are adversely affected. This was stated by Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor, WWF-Pakistan in the context of the World Sea Turtle Day observed on 16 June 2022. He believes that plastic waste, collapsing huts, and rubble pose a serious threat to nesting females and juveniles.

Since 2000, World Sea Turtle Day is observed every year on 16 June, with an aim to raise awareness about the dwindling population of sea turtles and their diminishing habitat. In Pakistan, sea turtles are known to nest on a number of beaches including Sandspit, Hawksbay, and Cape Monz along the Sindh coast and Taq (Ormara), Astola Island, Gwadar Headland, and Daran along the Balochistan coast. Thousands of female turtles visit these beaches to nest and lay eggs.

According to WWF-Pakistan, entanglement in fishing nets is the most serious threat to marine turtles. To collect data on the entanglement of turtles, WWF-Pakistan initiated a study in 2012 which revealed that 30,000 sea turtles were annually caught in tuna gillnet fisheries of Pakistan. This included roughly 25,500 Olive Ridley and 4,500 Green turtles in the offshore waters of Pakistan. It was estimated that about three per cent of entangled turtles were dying due to drowning or mishandling onboard fishing vessels. To protect the sea turtles, WWF-Pakistan trained a total of 100 skippers and crew members to safely release them and developed a modification in the operation of the gillnets which reduced the entanglement of sea turtles by 85 per cent. This is a major achievement toward the conservation of sea turtles along Pakistan’s coast.

Pollution is also another major threat to the sea turtle population in Pakistani waters. Popular beaches are littered with garbage, dominated by single-use and micro-plastics. WWF-Pakistan has also reported on the impact of diesel and petrol on the population of turtles, stating that exposure to these fuels results in deformation in hatchlings and thus, poses a serious threat to their survival.

According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, a number of steps have been taken by concerned government agencies for the protection of sea turtles along Pakistan’s coast. Through the efforts of WWF-Pakistan, fisheries-related legislation of both maritime provinces has been amended and sea turtles, as well as freshwater turtles, are declared protected. According to him, the declaration of Astola Island as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), actions taken by the wildlife departments of Sindh and Balochistan, efforts made by WWF-Pakistan, as well as awareness programmes initiated by some NGOs, have collectively resulted in an increase in the turtle population along Pakistan’s coast. However, he added that there is a need to declare all turtle beaches along the coast of Sindh and Balochistan as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). ‘This is essentially required for the conservation of marine turtles in Pakistan’, he stated.

Rab Nawaz, Senior Director Conservation Biodiversity, WWF-Pakistan called for better protection and conservation of sea turtles in Pakistan. He said that these unique and iconic animals have been in existence for more than 100 million years but are under serious threat. He also said that human activities such as the destruction of nesting sites and unplanned development, as well as climate change, are pushing turtles closer to extinction which calls for immediate steps for their conservation. He urged relevant departments for taking stringent measures for the protection of sea turtles including the declaration of all major nesting grounds as MPAs.

Five species of marine turtles are reported from Pakistan; of these green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are the most dominant. Another important sea turtle is Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) which used to nest along the coast of Pakistan. However, no nest of this turtle species has been reported since 2001. The other three species, including loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) are reported from Pakistan and only a few authentic records are made by WWF-Pakistan.

Although turtles are not commercially harvested for food in Pakistan, however, poaching of turtle eggs has been reported in Pakistan. Turtle hatchlings are also illegally removed from their nests and sold in aquarium shops. Although the government of Sindh takes action against poachers, this illegal trade still continues and needs to be curbed.

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
WWF – Pakistan
P.O. Box 5180, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-993-725
Tel: +92-42-35855145-50
Fax: +92-42-35862358
E-mail: info@wwf.org.pk
Website: http://www.wwfpak.org/

Lahore, June 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):‘Pakistan is seriously impacted by heat waves, fluctuating temperatures, urban flooding and biodiversity loss coupled with pollution and freshwater scarcity challenges. We need to adopt sustainable ways of living and take transformative actions to protect and conserve the earth’s fast depleting resources’. This was stated by speakers during a run and clean-up event organized by WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore at Jallo on Sunday.

The event was organized as part of the global ‘World River Run’ campaign, which aims to advance the global conversation about the world’s water crisis. Speakers shared that freshwater management and conservation is a serious issue in Pakistan, for which joint action should be taken by relevant government departments, non-governmental organizations, civil society, and local communities. They also warned that climate change and unsustainable infrastructure development are aggravating freshwater availability in country. The event was attended by more than 100 participants from different walks of life who took part in the run, dedicating it to the Indus River, and participated in cleaning activities at the park.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Lahore, Captain (R) Muhammad Usman, said that “Close to 600 tube wells supply water to Lahore, and every hour, approximately 40 million gallons of water is consumed. This data does not match our per capita consumption, which means a lot of this water is wasted. We are cognizant of these issues and urge the public to make smarter choices and conserve this precious resource.”

Dr Umar Jahangir, Director General, PHA Lahore stated “We are very delighted to hold this awareness event in partnership with WWF-Pakistan. The Indus holds a lot of importance for Pakistan and we hope to continue being a voice for it. I am also in talks with WWF regarding plantation drives.” He also urged people to make lifestyle choices that would help conserve water.

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan said that the Indus River is Pakistan’s lifeline. It supports close to 300 million people and provides the water Pakistan needs to thrive – including water for agriculture, energy production, industrial use, and human consumption. It also supports diverse aquatic ecosystems. However, impacts of climate change, rising temperatures, changes in weather patterns, reduced flows, habitat destruction, and pollution are all severely degrading the health of this crucial river system. He added that robust water conservation strategies and nature-based solutions were necessary to ensure the free flow of rivers and to protect precious water bodies.

Amal for Life, a grassroots civil society organization contributing to the sustainable development of Pakistan, also participated by facilitating clean-up activities during and after the event. WWF-Pakistan strives to secure water for people and nature in priority river basins. We call for transformation in the way water is managed across these critical river basins, including the Indus Basin.

In order to do so, we actively promote water stewardship and responsible water infrastructure while protecting freshwater habitats. Together with our partners, we are reducing water footprints, safeguarding hydrological regimes, and securing freshwater-dependent flora and fauna.

For more information, contact:

Head Office,

WWF – Pakistan

P.O. Box 5180, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan

UAN: +92-42-111-993-725

Tel: +92-42-35855145-50

Fax: +92-42-35862358

E-mail: info@wwf.org.pk

Website: http://www.wwfpak.org/

Karachi, November 06, 2021 (PPI-OT):Due to frequent jellyfish blooms, it is not unusual to see dead jellyfish casted on the beaches in large numbers. In the last week of October 2021, the beach at Gwadar (West Bay) was littered with dead mushroom jellyfish (Rhopilema hispidium), whereas in early October 2021, high water at Clifton was covered with dead hydromedusae (Aequorea pensilis). Scientists all around the world are bewildered because of the frequent occurrence of jellyfish blooms. Generally, the appearance of the blooms is attributed to climate change but other factors such are overfishing, eutrophication (due to organic pollution), alien invasions and habitat modification are all possible and important contributory factors.

A major bloom of jellyfish Crambionella orsini was observed in the Arabian Sea including Yemen, Oman, Iran and Pakistan in May 2002 and August 2003 and again in December 2019 which continued till August 2020. Large numbers of Crambionella orsini have resulted in the reduction of catch of commercial fishing operations along the Pakistan coast. It also caused massive clogging of nets and interrupted the operation of seawater cooling systems of power plants and ships. As the bloom was ubiquitous, fishing operations such as tuna gillnetting were practically stopped in offshore waters affecting the livelihood of thousands of fishermen. Similarly, shrimp and fish trawling in the coastal and offshore waters were impacted, resulting in choking of trawl nets within a short span of time.

WWF-Pakistan previously reported a major mushroom jellyfish (Rhopilema hispidium) bloom from the offshore waters from Karachi to Ghora Bari, along the Sindh coast. In Ormara, along the Balochistan coast, another bloom was observed which was caused by stinging jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) that clogged fishing nets. In addition, handling or removal of this jellyfish from fishing nets can inflict severe and painful stings.

Increased frequency of the occurrence of jellyfish blooms is a serious global concern being highlighted and stressed upon on World Jellyfish Day, which is celebrated globally on 3 November. As these blooms have a number of negative impacts, jellyfish are being exported to China, where they are considered a delicacy. This helps mitigate their large numbers. Jellyfish is treated with salt and alum and exported in semi-dried form from the Indus Delta, Miani Hor, Kalmat Khor and other bays along the Balochistan coast. There are more than 50 processing units that have been set up in these areas, and jellyfish harvesting and processing are established as important economic activities along the Sindh and Balochistan coasts. It is estimated that about 2,500 metric tons of processed jellyfish is annually exported to China, however, now there is a decrease in the quantity of jellyfish being exported to China due to unreliable landings and economic slowdown because of Covid-19.

According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries), WWF-Pakistan, the jellyfish blooms are a function of natural cycles or the result of human impacts on the environment. According to him, the reasons for the sudden increase in the population of some jellyfish and forming of large blooms are not fully understood. Jellyfish blooms, according to him, feed on plankton, crustaceans, small fish and fish eggs, therefore, they deplete the food resources of fish and even larger mammals like whales. He emphasized the need to conduct comprehensive research studies on the causes of these bloom formations. ‘While celebrating this Jellyfish Day, we must stress on the need to undertake further research on jelly bloom dynamics and their role in coastal and offshore ecosystems’, he added.

Hamera Aisha, Manager (Marine Programme), WWF-Pakistan pointed out that WWF-Pakistan intends to study the socio-economic impact of jellyfish fisheries in the Indus Delta as it is becoming an important economic activity in the area. She emphasized the need for creating awareness about these invertebrates, which are generally ignored by fishermen as well as by scientists.

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
WWF – Pakistan
P.O. Box 5180, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-993-725
Tel: +92-42-35855145-50
Fax: +92-42-35862358
E-mail: info@wwf.org.pk
Website: http://www.wwfpak.org/

Islamabad, November 06, 2021 (PPI-OT):Climate change is not simply a carbon issue, but one that impacts biodiversity, water, livelihoods and the economy. Fragile to the effects of climate change, Pakistan must act now to adapt and protect its frontline communities and its economy. This was stressed by a distinguished panel of experts at a session titled ‘Glasgow and Beyond: Securing a Climate Resilient Future’, organized by WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA). The aim of the session was to highlight the issues being discussed at COP26, the global climate change conference underway in Glasgow, and deliberate on what the ongoing discussions and decisions mean for Pakistan; one of the top ten countries vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Moderated by Dr Imran Saqib Khalid, Director Governance and Policy, WWF-Pakistan, the diverse panel included Annabel Gerry, Country Director for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) UK; Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan; Dr Asif Khattak, Assistant Professor, University of Peshawar; Kashmala Kakakhel, Climate Expert; and Anam Rathor, Climate Activist.

The discussion revolved around the topography and micro-climatic zones in Pakistan, greenhouse gas emissions and their link to temperature rise, climate change as a social justice issue and possible actions, including highlighting frontline communities, climate finance, etc. Experts stressed on the fact that despite contributing one per cent to global emissions, Pakistan is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which impacts livelihoods and communities. For Pakistan, this means that ‘adaptation’ is the challenge, which requires a complete overhaul of the system.

Speaking on the topic, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan said the issue could not be ignored anymore. For environmental organizations like the WWF, this means working with the most vulnerable communities, including farmers, fishermen, etc., to build their capacity and help them adapt to challenges. “For us, climate change is water change. Our economy depends on water. More than 90 per cent of the freshwater available to us is used for agriculture, whereas the remaining is utilized in industries or domestic use. We are already a water-stressed country, and with changing monsoon patterns and the growing demand for water from all these sectors; there is an urgent need to change agricultural practices and develop and implement policies that address the challenges we are beginning to face”.

Talking about a multi-faceted approach to tackling the problem, Annabel Gerry, Country Director FCDO UK, said that “we need young people, civil society, academics, government and the private sector to play their roles so that research can be translated into policy and implemented accordingly”. She went on to speak about how the FCDO has changed its approach from a humanitarian response around climatic catastrophes towards focusing on building resilience and how communities respond to them. “The challenge will be to keep this momentum going after COP26, but there is ground for optimism as all stakeholders are now taking this issue seriously.”

It was highlighted that COP 26, which comes against the backdrop of widespread, rapid and intensifying climate change impacts, is a crucial opportunity to achieve pivotal and transformational change in global climate policy and action. It demands a holistic approach and concerted efforts by all the countries to achieve the set targets and goals, with the need to build back better for present and future generations to ensure a safe future.

Iftikhar Ahmad, National Secretary PBSA concluded the session by thanking WWF-Pakistan for coordinating and moderating the discussion. He added that the Pakistan Boy Scouts have always maintained a focus on environment and conservation and have played a positive role through tree plantation drives and environmental awareness campaigns.

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
WWF – Pakistan
P.O. Box 5180, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-993-725
Tel: +92-42-35855145-50
Fax: +92-42-35862358
E-mail: info@wwf.org.pk
Website: http://www.wwfpak.org/