On the eve of International Mother Language Day, 21st February 2010,

Sangat Development Foundation with the support of Indus for All Pro-
gram, WWF Pakistan organized cultural activity with indigenous peo-
ple of the wetlands on Chhuchh wetland in Deh Akro-II. The cultural
activity was “An Evening with Local Folk Singers and Mch Kahchahri”.

The program was divided into

three segments, one was
speeches and presentations of
Speeches & the experts on the importance of
the wetlands and their conser-
Presentations in vation strategy, second was the
the Program oath taking ceremony of the Vil-
lage Based Wetlands Protection
Speeches &
Presentations in the
program
While welcoming to the participants
and local people in the program, Mr.
Nisar A. Brohi, Director, Sangat De-
velopment Foundation discussed in

detail on the wetlands community

Committees (VBWPCs) as well
as commitment seeking from
the Local Stakeholders for the
biodiversity conservation at
wetlands of Deh Akro-II and
third was the Folk Musical Eve-
ning with local folk singers.
based management program
launched by Sangat with the support
of Indus for all program, WWF Paki-
stan and Sindh Wildlife Department,
Government of Sindh, for the reha-
bilitation and sustainable manage-
ment of wetlands complex in Deh

Our Contact
SANGAT Development Foundation
SDF
Flat # 7, 2nd Floor, Sharif
Building Market Road
Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh,
Pakistan
Tel & Fax: 92+ 244-362011
Email: sangatsindh@gmail.com,
Akro-II, Nawabshah. He appealed to the local community
to understand the importance of the
He said that there are multidimen- wetlands and their biodiversity and
sional threats to the wetlands take part in the protection and sus-
biodiversity, which re- tainable management efforts of wet-
quired sustainable ap-
from the lands.
proach to deal with r
and bring back i ng fo n of Mr. Munawar Siraj, writer and col-
e ek ers tio .
the glamour
t s ld va -II
o
and van- e eh ser kro
n
ity to itm stak Con h A
m
the m al ty De
c i
Co e lo ers nds
th odiv tla
e
wet- Bi W
lands
of Deh
Akro-II Nawabshah.
The wetlands are
unprotected though
they support rare,
vulnerable and en-
dangered wildlife
species. The main
threats to biodiversity are overgraz- umnist said that wetlands are gift by
ing on adjacent, use of poison for God; the local community should
fishing, use of pesticides, herbicides realize their importance and avoid of
and inorganic fertilisers on agricul- the over exploitation of the natural
tural land, water pollution, prolifera- resources of the wetlands of Deh
tion of alien invasive species, hunt- Akro-II.
ing, excessive collection of fuel He offered his gratitude’s to Sangat
wood, fodder as well as sell. and WWF Pakistan celebrating
Oath Taking Ceremony of Village
Based Wetlands Management
Committees of Wetlands Deh Akro-

mother lan- ager of WWF Pakistan said it is the

guage day with first project of its nature, which has
the local com- been launched to promote commu-
munity and nity based wetland management in
promoting their Pakistan.
language and
culture, which He further said that it is good omen
would indeed to introduce community based wet-
develop closer lands management project in Deh
coordination of Akro-II wetlands complex in order
understanding to encourage the local communities
among these of the area to adopt the wetlands
stakeholders as and work for the biodiversity con-
well as would servation.
be helpful in
developing He further said that with creating
joint strategy to awareness on the importance of the
conserve the wetlands, their biodiversity and con-
natural re- servation strategy, it is also impera-
sources of the tive to develop the understanding,
wetlands on knowledge and skills of the local
sustainable ba- community with regard to properly
sis. managing the wetlands.

While speaking While speaking on the occasion, Mr.

in the program Muhammad Salih Billo, Senior Jour-
Mr. Usama An- nalist and Editor of Sindh Green
wer, Site Man- Newspaper said that it is dilemma of
 “An Evening
with Local Folk
Singers and
Soohars of the
area”.

our society that they have not real-
ised the importance of this very
unique desert wetlands complex of
Deh Akro-II Nawabshah.
Mr. Billo further said that all local,
national and international stake-
holders should come forward to
save the wetlands. The major re-
sponsibility is of district government
tion of the wetlands of Deh
Akro-II Nawabshah. Until and
unless indigenous community
would not realize the impor-
tance of the natural lakes,
which are very unique in the
world and are the largest
crocodile sanctuary in South
Asia, and also a large number
of endangered species have

Mr. Anwer said that full and effective

participation of the local community should
be ensured, and make them realize to play
their due role for the protection and conserva-
tion of biodiversity of the wetlands for the
wildlife and people.
Nawabshah, to extend full support habitats on the wetlands, all
and cooperation to the organiza- the conservation strategies
tions, working for the protection and would be difficult to achieve
conservation of the wetlands biodi- their set goals. So the local
versity. community should join their
He also realised to the local commu- hands in all activities which
nity of their paramount important have been introduced for their
role to be playing for the rehabilita- development and sustainable
community based management for the wet-
lands of Deh Akro-II.
However, over exploitation such as wood
for fuel as well as sell, over greasing and
illegal hunting of the natural resources of
the wetlands should be stopped at once on
the site, all focused should be made on the
conservation and protection of the species
of the wetlands .
Oath taking ceremony of VBWMCs and
Commitment seeking from the local stake-
holders for the Biodiversity Conservation
of Wetlands Deh Akro-II.
In the second session of the program, Vil-
lages Based Wetland Management Com-
mittees (VBWMCs) were administered oath
by the renowned Journalist Mr. Salih Billo.
The all committee members of all respec-
tive villages showed their full commitment
to work with sincerity and vaguer for the lands of Deh Akro-II. All local stakeholders
biodiversity conservation of wetlands of attending the program signed and ex-
Deh Akro-II. pressed their full commitment to the cause
The local folk singers and Soohars also conveyed the messages for the com-
munity participation in rehabilitation of wetlands and of their biodiversity.
With this, local stakeholders also made of protection and development of wetlands
commitment in writing on the banner of Deh Akro-II Nawabshah.
which was separately designed to get com-
mitment from all stakeholders and indi- 3rd session of the program was “An Eve-
viduals interested to work for the biodiver- ning with Local Folk Singers and Soohars
sity conservation and development of wet- of the area”.
The local singers and
Soohars are the key opin-
ion change makers in the
area, they have not only
presented the songs and
Beet/Dour/Story Telling
items but also used vari-
ous local music instru-
ments such as Chaangh,
Been, Boureendo etc, which
were largely enjoyed and
appreciated by the all par-
ticipants.