Wetlands of Balochistan Declared as Ramsar Sites
By Mahvash Roshani

The following 19 wetland sites of Pakistan covering 1,343,627 ha, have been declared as Ramsar sites.

Astola (Haft Talar) Island, Chashma Barrage, Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex, Drigh Lake, Haleji Lake, Hub (Hab) Dam, Indus Delta, Indus Dolphin Reserve, Jiwani Coastal Wetland, Jubho Lagoon, Kinjhar (Kalri) Lake, Miani Hor, Nurri Lagoon, Ormara Turtle Beaches, Runn of Kutch, Tanda Dam, Taunsa Barrage, Thanedar Wala, Uchhali complex (including Khabbaki, Uchhali and Jahar Lakes)

Out of these 19 sites 5 are in Balochistan

Astola (Haft Talar) Island

Astola Island is situated in the northern Arabian Sea, approximately 25 kilometres off the mainland coast, 40 kilometres east-southeast of Pasni Harbour, Balochistan province. It falls under the Pasni subdivision of Gwadar district. It covers and area of 500 ha and was designated as Ramsar site on 10th May 2001

This uninhabited island is the only significant offshore island along the north coast of the Arabian Sea. The site is of special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of the area. The endangered turtle Chelonia mydas and possibly the critically endangered turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (2000 IUCN Red List) nest on the beach at the foot of cliffs. It is a very important area for endemic reptiles such as the viper Echis carinatus. Sightings of dolphins and to a lesser extent whales, have also been reported. The island supports a large number of breeding seabirds including Larus hemprichii and several species of terns.

The natural vegetation is mainly composed of xeromorphic vegetation types. Prosopis juliflora is the most significant widespread species distributed on the island. Indigofera oblongifolia form large bushes. Other types of vegetation found include Suaeda fruticosa, Aerva persica and Tamarix dioica. Birds reported on the island include: Ardeola cinerea, Egretta gularis, Pluvialis squatarola, Numenius arquata, Limosa limosa, Calidris minutus, Larus argentatus, L. genei, Galerida cristata, Oenanthe deserti and Prinia

Despite the name given to the island by the local population, Haft Talar which means “seven rocks”, the island appears to be a single block. An isolated rocky area has broken away from the main block towards the south end. The island is subject to strong waves during the southwest monsoon. The coastline therefore suffers from severe erosion and most of the littoral material is lost to the sea.

The island is owned by the Balochistan Board of Revenue. The island is used as a fishing base between September and May to catch fish and lobster, and to collect oysters. Between June and August the island generally remains free from human interference owing to rough sea and high tides

The extent of disturbance of seasonal fishing activities is not fully known. However, it is probable that incidental catch of rare fish and endangered marine turtles occurs. The seabird population has dropped over the years as a result of increased numbers of feral cats, originally introduced by fishermen to control the endemic rodent population, which feeds on eggs of birds and disrupts their nesting and breeding sites.

No specific conservation measures have been taken and there is no legal protection. Conservationists have proposed that the island be declared a Wildlife Sanctuary.

Hub (Hab) Dam

Hub Dam is located in the districts of Karachi and Lasbella, in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, southern Pakistan. A large water storage reservoir constructed in 1981 on the Hub River on the arid plains north of Karachi city. It cover an area of 2700 ha, and was designated as Ramsar site on 10th May 2001

The site is an important staging and wintering area for grebes, pelicans, ducks, cranes and coots. It regularly supports over 45,000 waterbirds including Podiceps nigricollis, Pelecanus onocrotalus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Aythya ferina, A. fuligula and Fulica atra. The wetland also holds an appreciable number of Pelecanus crispus. The site is a breeding site for Sterna albifrons, S. nilotica and Rostratula benghalensis. A total number of 128 bird species have so far been recorded from the area. The reservoir is an important spawning ground and source of food for fish. It contains a variety of fish species, which increase in abundance during periods of high water levels. One of the most important freshwater game fish Tor putitora breeds in the Hub River

There is an extensive growth of aquatic vegetation on the Hub Dam site. The natural vegetation of the surrounding areas is dominated by Olea ferruginea and Acacia senegal in association with A. jacquemontii, Tamarix aphylla, Prosopis cineraria, Zizyphus nummularia, Euphorbia caducifolia, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, C. shoenanthus, Lasiurus hirsutus and Eleusine compressa. The main fish species in the Hub Dam are: Labeo rohita, Cyprinus carpio, Mystus seenghala (=Sperata seenghala), Notopterus notopterus, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo calbasu, Glossogobius giuris, Puntius sophore, Mastacembelus armatus and Puntius ticto.

Hub Dam is fed by the Hub River and mountain springs. The wetland is surrounded by hills on three sides. The waterbody is relatively shallow with a maximum depth of 9.6 m. The climate of the area tends to be very arid with an average annual rainfall of less than 200 mm. Temperature often exceeds 36°C during summer.

The reservoir is government-owned, while the adjacent areas are privately owned communal lands. The reservoir supplies water for irrigation in Lasbella district and domestic and drinking water for Karachi city. Commercial, licensed fishing occurs on a seasonal basis. Some local inhabitants also undertake illegal fishing. During the dry summer months, nomadic villagers from adjacent areas bring their goats and sheep to graze illegally along the site and they use the water for drinking purposes.

Three consecutive years of low annual rainfall has reduced the reservoir's water level, which has resulted in a decrease in both the numbers of fish and birds at the site.

The reservoir is protected within the Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1972. A management plan has been prepared. There are plans to intensify management of the site, partly through greater regulation/restriction of commercial fishing, particularly in light of the dam's reduced water level. Reafforestation measures have been proposed in the water catchment area to mitigate the effects of erosion and to sustain stream flow throughout the year.

Jiwani Coastal Wetland

The sites are located a few kilometres east and west of Jiwani town, in Gwadar district, Balochistan province, southwest Pakistan. It cover an area of 4,600 ha, and was designated as Ramsar site on 10th May 2001

Jiwani coast is one of the major mangrove areas in Pakistan. The area supports the threatened mangrove species Avicennia marina. In addition, the site contains a representative transboundary wetland, as the mangrove forest is contiguous with the Iranian Ramsar Site Govater Bay and Hur-e-Bahu (2IR019). The sandy beaches at the eastern side of the wetland are ideal nesting sites for the endangered sea turtles Lepidochelys olivacea and Chelonia mydas, both of which are found in substantial numbers. The site is generally acknowledged as one of the most important marine turtle sites along the Pakistan coast. Thousands of migratory waterbirds visit the area every year including Lesser flamingos, pelicans and a variety of waders. The mangrove ecosystem plays a vital role in the food chains, as it supports important breeding and spawning grounds for shrimp and fishes.

The eastern side of the coastal wetland consists of stretches of sandy beaches punctuated by rocky, spectacular cliffs. These turtle beaches are a cluster of (primarily) four sandy beaches, which are moderately wide and gently sloping with an indistinct platform above the tidal waterline. At the beach's eastern limit, the cliffs end rather abruptly and the remaining part of the beach is characterised by a low plain of sand with scrub vegetation and a muddy lagoon.

The Jiwani site receives water from the Dasht River, the largest river of Balochistan, and seasonal rainwater from the hills. The mangrove forests stabilise and protect the shoreline against floods and windstorms. Climatic conditions in the area are arid.

The land along the coastal site belongs to the Board of Revenue. The wadis or valleys beyond the coast are communally owned by the local population. Fishing is the most important human activity.

Intense wave action has been causing considerable erosion along the base of the rocky cliffs, resulting in a high concentration of silt and littoral mass in the waters near the shore. There have been some poorly documented incidences of mortality among marine turtles by incidental catch. Turtle eggs are excavated for consumption by the local population and visitors. Moreover, some of the local shepherds feed turtle eggs to their cattle. There are a number of development plans in the pipeline, which may adversely affect the ecological character of the coastal wetland site. Concrete plans exist to award a 30-year fishing concession to a foreign fishing company, which could lead to over-exploitation of fish stocks along the Pakistan coast. Another plan is to award offshore oil drilling rights to a foreign oil company.

No legal protection is in force. Several studies have made recommendations on the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of marine turtles in the coastal area. These recommendations have not yet been adopted by any relevant agency or institution.

The Balochistan Forest and Wildlife department is responsible for the management of the Jiwani turtle beaches

Miani Hor

Miani Hor is situated on the coast of the Arabian Sea, 100 km northwest of Karachi town in the province of Balochistan, southern Pakistan. It cover an area of 55,000 ha, and was designated as Ramsar site on 10th May 2001

The site is the only area of Pakistan's coast where three species of mangroves, Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata and Ceriops tagal, occur naturally. The site is an important staging and wintering area for migratory shorebirds, flamingos and pelicans. Large flocks of little ringed plovers, sanderlings, curlew sandpipers, Caspian terns, herring gulls, lesser blackbacked gulls and slenderbilled gulls have been recorded. Turnstone and osprey are also commonly seen. According to the Asian Waterbird Census carried out between 1995-1999, the site supports an average of 22,700 waterbirds on a regular basis. As many as 50,000 waterbirds were counted in January 2000.

In addition to the mangrove swamps which are situated just off the coast along the numerous creeks and sub-tidal mudflats, there are other types of vegetation, particularly grasses and shrubs along the beach area. Prominent shrubs include Salsola baryosma, Abutilon indicum, Cressa cretica and Heliotropium undulatum. Sparse growth of Tamarix spp., Acacia senegal, A. nilotica, Polycarpa corymbosa, Atriplex griffithsii can be found inside the coastline in sandy sheltered areas, fed by seasonal rainwater. Occasionally cetaceans are sighted in the area.

The Hor receives freshwater input from a number of seasonal streams rising in the hills of eastern Balochistan to the north. Flash floods are quite common and even moderate to slight rains heavily erode the uncovered hillsides and muddy banks. Considerable silt deposition occurs along the mouth of these seasonal rivers. Seepage and flood spills of the river system contribute to groundwater recharge of the basin. Climate conditions are arid sub-tropical with very hot summers and mild winters. Average annual rainfall is less than 150 mm.

Most of the area is state owned except a small portion of mangrove forest on the northern side, which is owned by the Forest Department of Balochistan. Local communities have the cutting and utilising rights. Fishing is the main activity throughout the site area. Mangrove stands are also cut in increasing numbers for fuel wood and fodder by the local inhabitants.

Domestic waste disposal and accumulated solid waste debris are growing problems. Other potential threats are over-exploitation of fisheries resources, an increase in cutting of mangrove stands for fuel wood and fodder, and hunting of birds

No specific conservation measures have been taken. Both IUCN-Pakistan and WWF-Pakistan have undertaken mangrove plantation and conservation work in the area, in collaboration with local communities.

Ormara Turtle Beaches

Ormara Turtle Beaches are located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, 100 km northwest of Karachi town in Balochistan province, southern Pakistan. It cover an area of 2,400 ha, and was designated as Ramsar site on 10th May 2001

The site features sandy beaches surrounded by rocky terrain and cliffs. It supports a considerable number of the endangered sea turtles Lepidochelys olivacea, Chelonia mydas and possibly Eretmochelys imbricata. The site provides ideal nesting grounds for these turtles.

The site seasonally harbours a variety of migratory waterbirds, although not in significant numbers. The vegetation is composed of salt-tolerant and arid area plants which grow in very harsh, scarce-freshwater conditions.

The average annual rainfall in the area is around 150 mm, resulting in a highly saline soil composition and desert-like conditions inland. The area is not able to retain freshwater inputs from rainfall and seasonal rivers, which flow as run-off to the sea. Because the area falls in the subduction zone of the (northward moving) Indian Ocean plate, clusters of mud volcanoes have developed along the shore, where gas-charged water escapes to the surface.

The site is state-owned. Some surrounding areas are privately or communally owned. Subsistence and commercial fishing is the primary economic, social and cultural activity of the local communities. Drying of fish is a major activity and an important source of employment.

Over the past two decades, a significant number of turtles have been captured almost every season by local exporters. More recently, there has been some predation of turtle eggs by stray dogs from the local fishing communities. Local fishermen acknowledge the incidental catch of marine turtles, which become ensnared in drift nets. Accumulations of plastic debris along the coast is also a growing problem.

No specific conservation measures have been taken. Several studies have made recommendations for the protection of marine turtles in the coastal area.