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Deh AkroII: An Introduction Deh Akro‐II wetland fauna includes waterbirds,
crocodiles, otters and fish. In 1988, the wetland
Deh Akro‐II desert wetland complex is located was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary. Its total
in district Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah). area is 20,500 ha.
It is a natural wetland complex comprising 32
lakes and a complex of four major habitats The plant species found in the sanctuary in‐
clude Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflora,
Acacia jacquemontii, Acacia nilotica, Aerva
javanica, Salvadora oleoides, Capparisdecidua,
Cassia sp, Calligonum polygonoides, Euphorbia
prostrata, Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum
bengalensis, Tamarix aphylla, Zizyphus maau‐
ritiana, Zizyphus nummularia, Alhagi
maurorum, Indigofera sp., Phyla nodiflora, Ty‐
pha domingensis, Tpypa elephantina, Achyran‐
thes aspera, Calotropis procera, and Tamarix 1
indica.
The lakes support a good population of water‐
fowl, marsh crocodiles, otters and fishes. About
types, desert, wetland, marsh and agricultural 1% of the global population of the threatened
lands. The Ramsar Bureau Switzerland an‐ Marbled teal breeds in these lakes in May to
nounced this wildlife sanctuary on 5 November July. The water levels of these lakes increase
2002. The wetland complex has a unique exam‐
ple of desert wetland ecosystem that hosts a
variety of rare and endangered wildlife species.
Deh Akro‐II wetland supports more than 18
species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles, 14
species of fish, and 101 species of birds and
regularly supports over 20,000 waterbirds.
This site also supports a small population of
marsh crocodiles. It is an important feeding and
spawning ground for several indigenous fish
species. The desert is characterised by sand
dunes with developed herbs/shrubs and trees.
Flat # 7, Sharif Building Market Road Nawabshah, Sindh, Telephone & Fax: 92+ 244-362011
Fax: 92+ 244-330274, Email: sangatsindh@gmail.com, Cell: 92+ 3343475360
and decrease due to the fluctuations in the wa‐ rostris), White‐eyed pochard (Anthya nyroca).
ter levels of Jamrau and Nara canals. Low rain‐ Abundant: Grey partridge (Francolinus
fall has a significant impact on these wetlands. pondicerianus), Black partridge (Francolinus
Some of the wetland floraspecies are Farsetia
hamiltonii, Limeton indicum, Tribulus
longipetalus, Cynodon dactylon and Stipa‐
grostis plumose.
Desert habitat Sand dunes are the characteris‐
tic feature of this habitat. Naturally developed
herbs/shrubs including Calligonum polygon‐
oides, Aerva javanica and trees such as Tamarix
aphylla, Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora oleoides
and Capparis decidua manifest the permanent
landscape over the dunes and inter‐dunal gaps
in this area. Farsetia hamiltonii, Limeton indi‐
cum, Tribulus longipetalus, Cynodon dactylon
and Stipagrostis plumose are common herbs. francolinus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),
Due to long dry spells in the area, the herba‐ Pintail (Anas acuta), Gadwall (Anas strepera),
ceous communities and Amaranthus virdis, Common coot (Fulica atra), Indian moorhen
Aristida adscensionis, Brachiaria eruciformis, (Gallinula chloropus), Black‐winged stilt
and Celosia argentea. (Himantopus himantopus), Shoveler (Anas cly‐
peata), Little egret (Egretta garzetta), Interme‐
Marshy habitat This habitat is concentrated diate egret (Egretta intermedia), Indian pond
along the length of the Nara and Jamrau canals heron (Ardeola grayii), Grey heron (Ardea cin
and is formed as a result of the seepage from era), Redshank (Tringa totanus), Indian roller
these canals. The most (Coracias benghalen‐
common reed vegeta‐ sis), Glossy ibis
tion species are Sac (Plegadis falcinellus), 2
charum spp., Pluchea Common pochard
lanceolata, Prosopis (Aythya ferina), Com‐
cineraria and Limeton mon teal (Anas
indicum. This habitat crecca). Marsh croco‐
also supports croco‐ dile Marsh (or Mug‐
diles, Indian monitor ger) crocodile has
lizard, jungle cats and been declared an en‐
a large variety of birds. dangered species.
Clearing and burning Previously, Muggers
of vegetation in the and Gavials inhabited
marshy area are the Nara canal (Old Hakra
main threats to this habitat. Some of the River) and its tributaries, but after the emerg‐
marshy habitat species are: Aehuropus ing of these wetlands through seepage from
lagopoides, Alhagi maurorum, Bacopa mon‐ Nara canal during the early 1950s, crocodiles
niera, Boerhavia procumbense, Caparis decidua have taken refuge in these lakes and are now
and Cenchrus ciliaris. breeding successfully. Gavial is now extant
from Nara canal and from the wild in Pakistan
Endangered: Marsh crocodile (Crocodylus pal since 1976. Nara canal has a crocodile popula‐
ustris), Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undu tion of about 200‐250, while the estimated
lata), Marbled teal (Marmaronetta angusti‐ population of crocodiles in the wetland com‐
Flat # 7, Sharif Building Market Road Nawabshah, Sindh, Telephone & Fax: 92+ 244-362011
Fax: 92+ 244-330274, Email: sangatsindh@gmail.com, Cell: 92+ 3343475360
plex of Deh Akro‐II Wildlife Sanctuary is be‐ Habitat due to water shortage
lieved to be between 550‐600 animals. These • Loss of wetland eco system integrity
crocodiles permanently inhabit these lakes • Depletion of species abundance and diver‐
year round. sity
• Water scarcity due to long dry spells
• Illegal Hunting
• Over Fishing
• Grazing
• Fuel wood collection
• Encroachment over sanctuary lands.
Sangat Development Foundation with sup‐
port of Indus For All Program, WWF
Pakistan and Coordination with Sindh
Wildlife Department has launched
"Community Based Wetland Manage
ment Program in Deh Akro11" with the
main objective to work with the local com‐
munities of the areas for the wetlands man‐
agement and development and rehabilita‐
tion of the habitats of the endangered spe‐
Fish: Deh Akro‐II also supports many indige‐ cies.
nous fish species, such as Dambhro/Rahu
(Labeo rohita), Thalia (Catla catla), Morakha A number of mobilization and organization
(Cirrhinus mrigala), Singhara (Mystus meetings were held with the local commu‐
seenghala), Malli/ Jerki (Wallago Attu), Gandan nity of the 7 villages of Deh Akro‐II, in order
(Notopterus notopterus) and Dimmon (Ompok to sensitize them of the key causes of the
bimaculatus). Commercial fishing is banned by large scale degradation of the wetlands
law in wildlife sanctuaries, but local communi‐ natural resources and their possible effec‐ 3
ties do catch fish for tive role to the protection
themselves as a food and conservation of the
source. biodiversity of the wet‐
lands. With the mobiliza‐
This Wetland Complex tion of the local commu‐
supports many globally nity of the area, also
threatened species. Vul “Villages Based Wetland
nerable species: Protection Committees
Marbled Teal (VBWPC)” were formed
(Marmaronetta with tasked to work with
angustirostris), close coordination with
Marsh Crocodile project team for the pro‐
(Crocodylus palistris). tection and development
of the wetlands and con‐
Following are major threats to the ecological servation of biodiversity of Deh Akro‐II.
character of the area, therefore, it is important
to initiate a project on community based wet‐ While speaking in the mobilization meet‐
land Management ings with the local community, Mr. Nisar A.
Brohi, Director of Sangat Development
• Destruction and degradation of wetland Foundation said that wetlands are the natu‐
Flat # 7, Sharif Building Market Road Nawabshah, Sindh, Telephone & Fax: 92+ 244-362011
Fax: 92+ 244-330274, Email: sangatsindh@gmail.com, Cell: 92+ 3343475360
ral gift of God, we should in all ways protect ment of the wetlands complex of Deh Akro‐
and effectively manage these wetlands and II and sought support and cooperation of
their biodiversity. the local community in the rehabilitation
efforts of the wetlands.
He further said that the local community of
Deh Akro‐II should come forward and play He further said that Deh Akro‐II is endowed
their paramount important role in the con‐
servation and management of the wetlands
and their biodiversity.
He appealed to the local community for the
protection of the plants and trees of the
wetlands and its surrounding areas which
are the only habitats for the endangered
animal species that they should be pro‐
tected and provided shelter for their breed‐
ing purposes and survival.
The local community should discourage all
practices of tree and plants cutting in their
respective areas, it would not only to pro‐
vide habitats to the endangered animals but
also would have lasting impact on the ecol‐ with the natural resources; it is now our
ogy of the wetlands. Because, the wetlands onus to protect these natural resources of
ecology has been largely disturbed due to the area and should make all possible ef‐
the degradation of the resources such as forts for the conservation of biodiversity of
massive deforestation from the area. If such the wetlands.
practices would not be stopped, that would
be big disaster to the ecology of the wet‐ He further said that Deh Akro‐II is the larg‐ 3
lands and their bio‐ est crocodile sanctuary of
diversity. South Asia but ill luck
would have it, no sus‐
He said that until and tained efforts have ever
unless the local com‐ been made for the devel‐
munity would not opment of the wetlands.
come forward and It is now time that we all
play their due role should join hands and
for the conservation make collective efforts for
and protection of the the rehabilitation of the
natural resources of wetlands as well as to
the wetlands, all ef‐ provide shelter and pro‐
forts would be futile tection of the endangered
and fruitless. fauna and flora species of
the wetlands.
Mr. Ameer Hamza, Project Coordinator, dis‐ During the mobilization meetings the villag‐
cussed in detail of all interventions of the ers expressed their keen interest in the pro‐
community based wetland management gram activities and offered their all possible
program, which has been launched for the cooperation for the conservation of the bio‐
community level management and develop‐ diversity and wetlands development.
Flat # 7, Sharif Building Market Road Nawabshah, Sindh, Telephone & Fax: 92+ 244-362011
Fax: 92+ 244-330274, Email: sangatsindh@gmail.com, Cell: 92+ 3343475360