Ramsar Advisory Mission Pakistan 29 October – 5 November, 2012 What are wetlands? Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. Inland Wetlands Glaciers, lakes, marshes, rivers, streams, aquifers. Coastal Wetlands © Ms. Ikram Qasim Mangroves, tidal flats, sea grass beds, coral reefs. Human-made wetlands: Rice fields, fish ponds, reservoirs, ditches and canals. Wetland ecosystem services Natural infrastructures: Provisioning: water, food, • important part of the water cycle biodiversity, and hydroelectricity • stores and delivers water Supporting: soil formation, nutrient cycling, Regulating: floods and drought Culture: recreation, spiritual, education, tourism The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands • Adopted on 2 February, 1971 • First of the modern intergovernmental environmental agreements Mission The conservation and wise use of wetlands through national actions, and international cooperation as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development. • 163 Contracting Parties. • Pakistan joined in 1976 The 3 implementation “pillars” of the Convention 1. “Wise use” of wetland This is at the heart of the Convention, the sustainable use of wetlands and their resources for the benefit of humankind. 2. Designation of Wetlands of international © Ms. Ikram Qasim Importance Designation of priority wetlands as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), and to ensure their conservation and wise use. 3. International cooperation International cooperation for shared wetlands and © Ms. M. Kodami © Dr. M. Fouda their resources, e.g. water, migratory species. © Ms. Ikram Qasim Ramsar Sites in Pakistan 1. Tanda Dam 2. Thanedar Wala 3. Chashma Barrage 4. Uchhali Complex 5. Taunsa Barrage 6. Indus Dolphin Reserve 7. Dright Lake 1 8. Deh Akro-II Desert 2 4 Wetland Complex 33 9. Runn of Kutch 10. Nurri Lagoon 11. Jubho Lagoon 12. Indus Delta 55 13. Kinjhar Lake 14. Haleji Lake 15. Hub Dam 6 16. Miani Hor 7 17. Ormara Turtle Beaches 8 18. Astola Island 19. Jiwani Loastal 16 15 19 17 13 Wetland 14 10 18 12 11 9 Ramsar Advisory Missions • One of the important and frequently carried out activities under Ramsar Convention • Assist member States in the management and conservation of listed sites whose ecological character is threatened. © Ms. Ikram Qasim Itinerary of the RAM Team to Pakistan 29 October - Islamabad Ministry of Climate Change, Federal Flood Commission, National Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan Meteorological Authority 30 October - Lahore Water and Power Development Authority, Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority 31 October – Lahore Provincial Wildlife, Forest and Fisheries Department, Irrigation Department 1 November – Lal Suhanra National Park 2 November – Indus Dolphin Reserve Ramsar Site (Guddu Barrage) Sindh Wildlife Department 3 November – Indus Dolphin Reserve Ramsar Site (Sukkur Barrage) Sindh Wildlife Department, Irrigation Department Objectives of the RAM Objectives of the RAM 1. To devise a workable and cost effective strategy for wise-use of the floods; 2. To make recommendations for alteration in the prevailing flood control strategy so as to obtain maximum benefit from flood water for the forests, wildlife, sustainable agriculture, ground water recharge, flushing of polluted wetland/lakes; 3. Identification of high priority wetlands/Ramsar Sites for restoration by using the floods as a tool for restoration. Why has flood risk increased? Climate change Pakistan is facing a greater frequency of intense monsoon rains, and this rainfall is moving westwards increasing the risk of hill torrents. Land-use change Deforestation (including the conversion of riverine forests to farmland), drainage of arable land and wetland loss have all contributed to decreasing the water storage capacity of catchments. The results are increase runoff, river discharges and flood peaks. Socio-economic change Urbanization of floodplains so increasing the risk of damage to lives and property. Floodplains and their value Floodplains cover the land on either side of rivers that are normally inundated during seasonal floods. They provide multiple uses and benefits, e.g. Floodwater retention • Floodplains temporarily store floodwaters and slowly releases it as the water level recedes. • They therefore help to reduce the peak flow of water during floods and the velocity of the flow, thus reducing downstream damage. Groundwater recharge • Water in the floodplain can return to the river or, can slowly infiltrate into the ground to recharge aquifers. Farming • Floodplains are fertile and are of high productivity, e.g. crops, fisheries Biodiversity • Help to support important biodiversity, e.g. flooded forests, Hog deer, etc. Natural flood management Natural floodplain management There are many techniques for doing this and most aims to enlarge the floodplain area and its storage capacity, such as by: • Constructing flood bypasses, including new floodplains; • Removal/ lowering of minor embankments; • Setting-back of embankments; • (Re)construction of meanders and flowing side channels; • Removal of flow restrictions. The best way however, is to protect the existing natural rivers and floodplain systems! Issues with technical flood control measures Channel normalization • Includes channel straightening, lining, narrowing and deepening. Islands and sand bars may be removed and meanders cut off; • Locally, there will be a local increase in the discharge capacity of the main river channel; • Downstream, there will be higher discharge peaks and raised water levels, resulting in higher flood risks. Constricting waterways • Embankments protect the land behind but confine the river floodplains. This decreases the floodplain’s water storage capacity leading to an increase in discharge peaks. • Embankments also encourage developments behind them which leads to an increase in flood damage if embankments are breached. Yangtze River Example • WWF China in collaboration with Chinese Government started Yangtze Focal Project ; • to restore the Dongting lake and Poyang lake, and to enhance the management of the Yangtze as a Living River • Dongting Lake and its wetlands are restored to their size of 1950s (4350 km2) in 10 years and are managed in a sustainable way to provide good quality of habitats to wetland’s wildlife (waterfowls, fish etc.) and livelihoods to its people Recommendations of RAM Objectives of the RAM 1. To devise a workable and cost effective strategy for wise-use of the floods; Recommendations • Process of drafting the 4th Flood Control Management Plan to include open consultation and consider comments from relevant stakeholders (e.g. WAPDA, Irrigation, MoCC, Fisheries, Planning and Development, NGOs and local communities), so as to ensure that the final Plan adopts a truly integrated approach. (FFC). • Include the issue of maintaining ‘environmental flows’ along the Indus River in future water management policy. (All stakeholders). • Organize regular (e.g. biennial) ‘Indus River Basin Dialogue’ meetings involving all the relevant stakeholders. (NGOs) Recommendations of RAM Objectives of the RAM 3. Identification of high priority wetlands/Ramsar Sites for restoration by using the floods as a tool for restoration. Recommendations • The sites identified from this study were: TB - Taunsa Barrage Ramsar Site LS - Indus Dolphin Reserve Ramsar Site IDR - Lal Suhanra - Chotiari Reservoir CR • To visit these sites and hold discussions with the local stakeholders to identify at which of these sites it would • (TB) Taunsa Barrage Ramsar Site be most feasible to conduct a pilot wetland restoration • (IDR) Indus Dolphin Reserve Ramsar Site projects to benefit flood control, local livelihoods and • (LS) Lal Suhanra environmental conservation. (NGOs, CCD, etc.) • (CR) Chotiari Reservoir • After identifying the project site, to arrange a visit for key stakeholders to China to study the experience along the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers in maintaining environmental flows and floodplain restoration (NGOs, CCD etc.) Recommendations of RAM Objectives of the RAM 2. To make recommendations for alteration in the prevailing flood control strategy so as to obtain maximum benefit from the flood water; a) alterations in the prevailing flood control strategy • Restoration of silted river courses, channels, ponds and lakes connected to the rivers; • Remodel existing dikes and constrictions; • Remove all illegal structures, e.g. private dykes; • Remodel existing channels and construct new one, to increase the capacity to divert flood water to (new) wetlands and so reduce damages. (NGOs, CCD etc) b) maximizing benefits from the flood water • Investigate new opportunities for public private partnership with the local stakeholders in managing the wetlands so as to increase incomes and improve livelihoods. (NGOs, CCD etc) Thank You .