IUCN Pakistan

The principles of community participation are being applied to reforestation and rehabilitation of degraded mangroves in the coastal areas around Karachi through the Korangi Project. Restoration of the Korangi and Khuddi Creek mangroves; setting up of a mangrove walkway and experimental plantations in the Karachi Port jurisdiction were carried out through the Coastal & Marine Programme. The Programme raised 50 hectares of mangrove plantation in the Ibrahim Hyderi and Rehri coastal villages. In the Indus Delta area, it completed the rehabilitation of 50, 000 acres of degraded mangroves. A research study was also completed on two mangrove species. The Coastal & Marine Programme provided technical support to the Balochistan Conservation Strategy Project, the Sindh Forestry Department and to the King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia. IUCNP intends to expand its Coastal & Marine Programme to include other coastal zone issues, such as marine-protected areas; fisheries; coastal zone development; endangered marine species and coastal community development.

Forests are one of the major natural resources and their health is directly proportional to the well being of other natural resources like soil, water, air, fauna, flora and other life forms. IUCN Pakistan has been catalyzing and supporting various forestry initiatives in the past. Based on this experience, a need was felt to transform the project mode of working to a programmatic approach so that forestry work benefits from strategic planning.

The Forestry Programme was initiated, keeping in view that forests are one of the four technical areas of IUCN Pakistan; that their contribution to IUCN’s mission in the region and globally is substantial; that there is great potential for collaboration in the attainment of its strategic objectives.

1. Influence policies, legislation and institutional reforms in favor of Forest Conservation,
2. Harness the potential for conservation by managing demand for forest products,
3. Support scientific management of forest resources on private and community land,
4. Sensitize Forest Management planning towards environmental and biodiversity impact assessment,
5. Facilitate exchange of knowledge,
6. Extend support to work issues of urban Forestry,
7. Mobilize resources for restoration and conservation of forests,
8. Support active community participation in forest management.

Study of land-based pollution sources impacting on Korangi Creek mangrove forests.
Korangi mangrove project (NORAD).
Mangrove plantation in Sonmiani Bay.
Study of Juniper forests in Baluchistan (World Bank)
Rapid appraisal for controlling the dwarf mistletoe parasite in Ziarat Juniper forests.
Women in forestry training project for Northern Areas.
IUCN-AKRSP forestry project in Northern Areas.
Environmental rehabilitation in NWFP and Punjab project.
Development of a proposal for conservation of Baluchistan Juniper forest conservation through community development (GEF-UNDP).

1. Support for the development of the National Forest Policy and revision of NWFP Forest rules.
2. Support for the Forestry Round Table reconstitution and functioning.
3. Support for informed decision making by involving more civil society stakeholders in the Forestry sector.
4. Juniper Forest Conservation Project being followed up for approval and implementation.
5. Expansion of rehabilitation works in coastal and marine Eco-system management.
6. Development of a comprehensive Forestry Program.

The principles of sustainable development that IUCN promotes must be proven on the ground. Many concepts are developing as they emerge and consequently being practiced. In order to test these principles and plough back the learning from the results that emerge, IUCNP undertakes selected field projects. Maintaining Biodiversity in Pakistan with Rural Community Development or the Biodiversity Project is a pioneering concept in Pakistan and is based on the now accepted reality that conservation initiatives can only succeed if they provide both economic and capacity development incentives for communities. The project was designed as a pilot demonstration of community based biodiversity conservation in the Northern Areas and the NWFP. Rural communities are receiving technical assistance to develop and implement natural resource management plans that are compatible with their own development priorities. These plans are developed in participation with the local and provincial governments, and are intended to have a dual benefit: sustainable use of natural resources and economic well-being of the people.

The project has demonstrated considerable commitment and ownership by the communities. Communities have shown enterprise and innovative approaches have been developed to ensure their continued involvement. For example, development of terms of partnership between the villagers and IUCN; village development plans in Urdu; and conservation plans for five endangered species, that include imaginative strategies for income generation (including funding from villagers and a revolving fund). District Conservation Committees were formed to improve coordination with the local administration. The project, supported by the IUCN's Law Programme, prepared a Wildlife Policy for Pakistan. Project staff assisted Government of Pakistan in drawing up a CITES resolution, allowing for limited export of the endangered markhor from Pakistan. Other sustainable income generating strategies, such as ecotourism and use of medicinal plants, are being researched and planned for.

Water is the single most important input in agriculture on which Pakistan’s agrarian based economy depends. The future forecasts for population growth show that, despite various water resources development projects in hand as well as in pipeline, additional 48 Billion m3 water would be required to meet the growing demands by the year 2011. It is not surprising, therefore that the sustainability of agriculture and thus the country’s economy would depend largely on the judicious use and management of the available water resources.

The continued high rates of population growth, intensive agriculture, and greater pace of industrialization have increased water demands against reduced supplies due to lack of storage facilities, falling water tables, increased incidence of droughts, degrading wetlands, and pollution of water bodies. Increased awareness about the necessity of maintaining environmental flows to maintain and restore ecosystems (in deltaic areas and the irrigated areas) has also put greater demands on freshwater resources.

The increased groundwater utilization for domestic and agricultural use has adversely affected groundwater quality particularly in the irrigated areas with almost 70% tubewells now pumping hazardous sodic water. Due to greater dependence on this resource for meeting the ever-growing agricultural requirements, water table decline has also been observed in many areas.

The overall goal of the IUCN Water Programme in Pakistan is: "Sustainable management of and equitable access to water resources and aquatic ecosystem goods and services". With this goal in mind, the specific objectives of the Programme include sensitizing general public, water user groups and decision makers about water and nature issues in the country, increase capacity of the government departments and civil society organizations to tackle issues with integrated water resources management, shift in policies, strategies and plans related to water resources development and management to protect and restore ecosystem goods and services

The main components of the Programme include Groundwater Recharge, Catchment Management, Integrated Water Resources Management, Water Harvesting, and Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems and Landscapes. The objectives will be met through different activities like holding workshops, seminars, dialogues, training courses, awareness raising materials, demonstration projects on artificial recharge, rainwater harvesting, high efficiency irrigation techniques, desalting, etc. The Programme would take full cognizance of the principles of stakeholders participation and gender balance.