Grants :: Small Grant Facilities :: Plant and Protect
Plant and Protect
1. To restore 50 ha of mangrove forest in Sarhor Creek Bay.
2. To establish a participatory management regime for the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove forest.
Jiwani is situated on the extreme western end of Pakistan’s coastline near the Iranian border. The area covered by Gwater Bay is 248,5 km2; half of it lies in the Iranian territory and the remaining half belongs to Pakistan. It is the largest bay along the entire coast and is fed by Dasht River. Approximately 2000 ha of mangroves exist in the Pakistani part of Gwater Bay. There are several threats to this important natural resource due to extensive coastal development like building of a dam on Dasht River,which has reduced the flow of freshwater into the bay. Further, droughts are also frequent in the area, which negatively affect the local vegetation. Local people use mangroves for fuel wood and fodder.
The project was aimed initiating participatory mangrove conservation activities which included identification of sites for mangrove plantation, mobilization of the local community of Panwan village and establishment of village based organisations and their capacity building in participatory natural resources management.
Local communities, school children, CBOs and other stakeholders.
1. 50 ha area of mangrove forest rehabilitated in Sarhor creek.
2. Participatory management regime established for conservation and sustainable use of mangrove forests.
Accomplishments
1. An area of 24 ha has been replanted with Avicennia marina and 30 ha with Rhizophora mucronata in Panwan Hor Gwattar in Jiwani.
2. Two CBOs were formed: a CBO in Panwan Village and a female group in Jiwani town. The women’s conservation group was formed to encourage their role in mangrove conservation and to address other issues facing female community members.
3. Natural resource users sensitization training/workshops were held in which six volunteers of the Village Conservation Committee Panwan (VCC) were provided training in direct sowing and mangrove transplantation techniques. Thirteen school teachers were also trained in environmental conservation.
4. Lectures were conducted for local boys and girls schools to educate them on environmental issues.
5. World Environment Day was celebrated at Jiwani on 5th of June by organizing an Environmental Film Festival at Jiwani Conservation and Information Centre (JCIC). Two video films titled Wetlands of Pakistan and Green Gold of Sonmiani were shown to the audience.
Challenges
The limited available timeframe was one of the constraints that the project team faced. Furthermore the unavailability of seed in the local area resulted in transportation of plantation material from Karachi and other areas, which put pressure on the budget.
Communications
Through publications, posters, brochures and documentaries, awareness was raised on the importance of conserving mangroves and on the sustainable management of mangrove resources.
Gender equality
The project has benefited both men and women of all age groups. Male and female CBOs were formed in Panwan village and Jiwani town. The women’s group established in Gwater bay area of Balochistan consists 30 community women, the first such group in the area. Ten members of this group and 15 female students were involved in mangrove plantation activities. The Environmental Film Show was organized separately for the female students at the Jiwani Conservation ad Information Centre. 24 female students and 3 female teachers attended the screenings and an art competition. Youth were involved in sportsactivities organized as a part of community awareness programmes.
Climate change
The established mangrove plantation over 50 ha will improve the local coastal ecosystem and thereby contribute to the local resilience towards climate change.
Community mobilization is a slow and difficult process.
Participation of female community members in conservation has been encouraging, as they are an integral part of the whole system.
Jiwani, Balochistan, Pakistan
1st Nov 2011 to 30th Jun 2011
PKR 860,000
Save the Nature
Ataullah Pandrani
attawwf@yahoo.com
House Number 20, Street 8, Faisal Town
Brewery Road, Quetta
Tel: +92 331 8480862