| 2nd
Feb,2003
WWF - Pakistan
announces 3 New Wetlands Sites
Each year on 2nd February, World
Wetlands Day is celebrated around
the world to educate the masses
in the growing concern over depletion
of wetlands. In context of the celebration
of 2003 as the International Year
of Freshwater by UN, Pakistan has
identified three new wetlands sites
of international importance. The
three new added wetlands sites are
Indus Delta (472,800 ha), Rann of
Kutch (566,375 ha) and Deh Akro
(20,500 ha) situated in the province
of Sindh. These sites gain importance
due to their unique biodiversity
and habitat provision to a variety
of species. Pakistan now has a total
of 19 Ramsar sites.
World Wetlands Day marks the signing
of the convention of wetlands on
2nd February 1997, in the Iranian
city of Ramsar.
The convention came into effect
in 1975 and Pakistan became one
its earliest signatories. Wetlands
of Pakistan include flood plain
wetlands of major river systems
and their extensive network of tributaries;
saline and temporary wetlands of
arid and semi arid expanses inland;
coastal system such as lagoons,
backwaters and estuaries; mangrove
swamps; marine wetlands; and coral
associated with Astola Island in
Balochistan.
| The
new identified sites provide
sanctuary to 40 different species
of migratory birds during the
winter season. Besides providing
habitat to the waterfowl, the
wetlands also help in maintaining
genetic and ecological biodiversity
in the region. |
 |
The Indus Delta houses the largest
mangrove forest of arid climate
in the world. It supports more than
60,000 species of waterfowl along
with a significant population of
fish. Rann of Kutch is a true desert
habitat, supporting globally threatened
wildlife and plant population. The
recently identified site, Deh Akro-II
is considered globally important,
because it is a unique representative
of a natural inland wetland ecosystem
of 36 lakes and a desert habitat,
supporting a variety of flora and
fauna species.
WWF - Pakistan will celebrate the
World Wetlands Day with full vigour
and awareness raising campaigns
from its Wetland Centre, Karachi.
This year the Centre will hold presentation
and a display exhibition to mark
the significance of newly identified
wetland sites.
In addition, WWF - Pakistan in collaboration
with the local community based organizations
of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Mallah Tanzeem
and the City Government, Hyderabad,
will organise an interschool tableau
competition at the banks of River
Indus.
Available for interview on this
subject:
Rahat Jabeen,
Wetlands Conservation Officer,
WWF - Pakistan,
fortune Centre, Block 6, PECHS,
Shahra-i-Faisal, Karcahi,75400.
Tel: 92 021 4544791-92
wwfkhi@khi.compol.com
For
further information and comment:
Dr Ejaz Ahmad
Deputy Director General, WWF - Pakistan
,fortune Centre, Block 6, PECHS,
Shahra-i-Faisal,
Karcahi,75400.
Tel: 92 021 4544791-92,
wwfkhi@khi.compol.com
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