Terms of Reference (ToRs)

ANNEX A

Terms of Reference & Scope of Services

Background

The Indus River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) locally known as ‘bhullan’ is endemic to the rivers of
the lower Indus basin in Pakistan. Historically it occurred in the Indus mainstream and the Sutlej, Beas,
Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum tributaries. It ranged from the Indus delta upstream to the Himalayan foothills
where rocky barriers or shallow water prevented further upstream movement. In the 1870s the range of the
Indus Dolphin was understood to extend over 3,400 km of the Indus River and its tributaries

However, development of the vast Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) and the construction of several
irrigation barrages between 1886 and 1971 fragmented the dolphins’ historical range into 17 main river
sections. The occurrence of the Indus dolphin has consistently decreased in the upstream reaches of the
IBIS following the construction of these barrages. By the early 1990s, the Indus Dolphin had undergone an
80% reduction in range, becoming absent from the upper and lower reaches of the Indus River and from
four of its largest tributaries. Today the range of the Indus Dolphin is understood to extend over just 1,000
km, confined to five contiguous sections of the Indus River (each reach separated by a barrage), and in the
Beas River in India

Objectives:

 Prepare and present key note speech for symposium / workshop.

 Review and comment upon the dolphin component of the project and ensure that the related objectives
mentioned in the Environmental Management Plan of the ESIA are understood, appropriate and all
issues of concern are addressed
 Produce and agree a plan to ensure the practical implementation of the dolphin component of the
EMP of the ESIA.

Guddu Barrage Rehabilitation Project

The World Bank and the Government of Sindh are jointly funding the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project,
which includes rehabilitation works to Guddu Barrage. The Project is being implemented by the Project
Management Organization (PMO) which has been formed within the Sindh Irrigation Department. The
rehabilitation works include replacement of barrage and regulator gates, reconfiguration of barrage divide
walls and strengthening of upstream river training works (embankments). A cumulative environmental
impact assessment completed during the Project planning phase identified negative impacts on the Indus
Dolphin associated with ongoing development of the Lower Indus system. Such impacts shall be
heightened within the Indus Dolphin Reserve which spans from Guddu Barrage to Sukkur Barrage. This
Reserve was established in 1974 and designated as a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance)
in 2001. The reserve covers an area of approximately 125,000 ha and is reported to contain almost 60% of
the entire population of the Indus Dolphin.

In addition to rehabilitation and operation interventions at the barrage, the Guddu Barrage Rehabilitation
Project shall also fund the development of a Dolphin Conservation and Management Plan to address
issues facing the Indus Dolphin population within Sindh. A team of consultants is to be identified to prepare
the Plan.

Aims and Objectives of the Workshop

The overall aim of the workshop on ‘Conservation and Management of the Indus Dolphin in Sindh’ is to
learn and share dolphin conservation and management options between experts and the Project team. The
findings from this workshop should inform the first stages of the preparation of the Dolphin Conservation
and Management Plan, namely; the population surveys, threat assessment and mitigation plan. As such, it
is imperative that the team of consultants who are to prepare the Dolphin Conservation and Management
Plan shall be instrumental in the delivery of this workshop.

The specific objectives of the workshop are as follows:

 Raise awareness of Project activities amongst stakeholders with interests in dolphin
conservation and management
 Share experiences in methodologies for dolphin population surveys and population monitoring
 Discuss impacts and management options with respect to the following:
- construction and operation of barrages;
- dolphin mortality in irrigation canals;
- depletion of prey base;
- fishing;
- pollution; and,
- poaching
 Identify existing barriers to effective management and conservation of the Indus Dolphin
 Identify stakeholders with a role to play in the management and conservation of the Indus
 Dolphin

Themes

An overview of the themes to be presented and discussed during the workshop is given in the sections
below

Construction and Operation of Barrages

Studies of the Indus Dolphin have concluded that there is a strong relationship between low, dry season,
river discharge and the decline of the dolphin. In general, dolphins are still populous in reaches of the Indus
where the mean monthly dry season river discharge is above average – however these areas have
become fragmented by the construction of barrages which divert river flows and reduce downstream
discharges. Based on the historical pattern of decline, Indus Dolphin populations are most likely to decline,
or disappear, from reaches with low river discharge, particularly between the Sukkur and Kotri Barrages in
Sindh.

Dolphin Mortality in Irrigation Canals

Since the mid-1990s there have been reports of dolphins becoming trapped in irrigation canals. It is
believed that dolphins enter the canals while hunting for prey. Dolphins may remain in deeper portions of
the canal until annual canal closures where water levels reduce, resulting in dolphin mortality unless these
dolphins are rescued.

Depletion of Prey Base

The sustained and heavy exploitation of small fishes within the Indus by the widespread use of small size
mesh nets in the river has adversely affected the prey base of the Indus Dolphin. It is currently unknown if
the renewal rate of this resource can keep pace with its decline.

Fishing

Fishing nets are commonly deployed for extended periods of time, including overnight, which can result in
dolphin entanglement and mortality, especially as the preferred habitat of the Indus Dolphin is often in the
same location as primary fishing grounds. The problem of accidental killing is expected to worsen with
increasing fishing intensity. Illegal fishing through the use of pesticides is also creating harmful effects on
the Indus Dolphin population, both directly and indirectly.

Pollution

Pollution is suspected to inhibit population increase of the Indus Dolphin, a phenomenon likely to be
exacerbated by the absence of strong water flow. Untreated sewage especially from major towns along the
Indus River is directly contributing to this pollution, as does other domestic, agricultural and industrial
pollution

Poaching
The Indus Dolphins was sought and killed for oil and meat for use in traditional medicine until early 1970s,
at which time a ban on this hunting was brought into law. Although poaching activities have dramatically
decreased since the ban, poaching still occurs sporadically.

Contents:
Detailed Management Plans for Dolphin Conservation and Fish Migration in the Indus River in
Sindh

 Overview
 Critical levels of water flow in riverine habitats for dolphins
 The need to involve communities in dolphin conservation and management.
 Discussion on dolphin rescue program for Sind Wildlife Department including the provision dolphin
ambulances and capacity building or hiring of staff for rescue program.
 Explore the possibilities of artificial breeding of hilsa in lower Indus areas.
 The need to monitor the level and frequency of indiscriminate fishing of young hilsa from deltaic region
and offshore areas which is adversely affecting the stock situation.
 The need to carry out a detailed survey on the counts and age distribution and follow-up on estimate of
abundance with relative accuracy and precision of Indus dolphins
 The need to understand migration between dolphin subpopulations through barrages either
downstream or both directions to better understand the population dynamics.
 Any other proposed by the presenters

Terms of Reference
Delivery of the Dolphin Symposium / Workshop and Preparation and coordination of future action
Plan for Dolphin conservation

The Trainer will provide services as part of the MOU for Consultancy Services “Environment Management
Framework, specified Dolphin Conservation Plan” as entered upon between Project Management Office
and Irrigation Department Govt. of Sindh. Trainer scope of services, as Team Member, shall consist of
delivering consultative workshop on “Dolphin Symposium/ Workshop”

 Prepare and present key note speech for symposium / workshop.

 Review and comment upon provisions under the MOU G2 for dolphin protection and advise on the
overall dolphin components of the project including reviewing the minimum flow study
 Prepare and co-ordinate future actions in relation to construction implementation for Guddu and
Sukkur.
 Review capacity of WWF / SW etc and how one or other can co-ordinate /  monitor protection / rescue
measures / review census as construction proceeds.
 The Trainer shall prepare the work-shop content with input from, and in consultation with the Client.
The Client shall facilitate any meetings as may be required from stakeholder in this respect
 All presentation materials shall be deemed final after the Client’s final written acceptance.
 The Trainer shall endeavor to submit final course presentation materials to the Client prior to the start
of scheduled date for the work-shop.
 The Trainer shall, remain available, if required, to respond to any subsequent queries that may be
raised by the Government department, Wildlife, academia, WWF or other stake-holders arising from
the work-shop.