Where do wetlands occur in Pakistan?

Pakistan is blessed with about 225 significant man-made and natural wetlands spread over approximately 10% of the country. Lakes, canals, dams and lagoons formed as part of Pakistan's extensive Indus Basin Irrigation System are classified as man-made wetlands. Natural wetlands, whether permanent or seasonal exist as peatlands, rivers, stream, lake marshes, estuaries, mudflats and inter-tidal areas. Pakistan wetlands occur in a broad variety of ecological zones including arid, semi-arid, alpine and coastal areas.

How do we benefit from wetlands?

• Sustenance for agriculture, grazing and fisheries;
• Provision of vital habitat for wildlife, especially waterfowl;
• Maintenance of water quality and abatement of pollution;
• Flood and erosion control;
• Maintenance of both surface and underground water supplies;
• Tourism, outdoor education, sport and recreation; and
• Contribution to global climate control and stability.

What is the socio-economic value of our wetlands?

Wetlands and their resources make a significant, though largely unrecognized, contribution to Pakistan economy. Both freshwater and marine fish, for example, form a noteworthy portion of fish production and exports, further, they provide livelihoods for several rural communities such as fisher folk, hunters, grazers and forest users living close to wetlands, other people also use wetlands products on daily basis. Fish and fish products, baskets, blinds and reed mats and herbal medicines comprise just a few example of there products, rural people, especially poor households also extract and process wetlands material for meeting daily needs, thatched roofs - a common sight in rural areas, are made from emergent wetlands vegetation and fire wood is often gathered from forests found around wetlands.

What is the biological value of our wetlands?

Pakistan's wetlands support a broad spectrum of important plant species and invertebrate and vertebrate animals, the latter includes a range of threatened, endemic and endangered species, five species of mammals, nine bird species, six form of reptile, and about six freshwater, estuarine and marine fish types, several of these animals are world famous such as the Indus Dolphin, Punjab Urial, Marsh Crocodile and Green and Olive Ridley turtles, many types of migratory birds including white-headed duck. Siberian Cranes, Sarus Cranes, Greater Flamingoes and Spot-billed Pelicans use Pakistan's wetlands as wintering grounds.

What are the threats to Pakistan's wetlands?

Our wetlands are generally degrading due to a whole range of human inducted threats including the following;

• Conversion of wetlands and their immediate surroundings for agriculture and other purposes;
• Damming of rivers and changes in water flow regimes;
• Over harvesting of many forms of wetlands resources;
• Felling of timber and deforestation of catchment areas;
• Organic and inorganic pollution of wetlands;
• Policy deficiencies and inadequate management.