Link 1
British Council
UK Department for International Development (DFID)
University of Glasgow
University of Karachi
Coastal Zone Management and Environmental Impact Assessment in the Mangrove Swamps of the Indus Delta
British Council/Department for International Development.
Higher Education Link Programme 1997-2001
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences,
University of Glasgow,
Scotland,
United Kingdom.
Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology,
University of Karachi,
Pakistan.
Link Coordinators in the UK
DEEB, FBLS University of Glasgow.
Azra Meadows <gbza31@udcf.gla.ac.uk>
Peter Meadows <gbza21@udcf.gla.ac.uk>
Background
The Indus River is one of the world's great rivers. It rises in the Himalayas, and flows throughout the whole of Pakistan before entering the Arabian Sea via the Indus delta east of the city of Karachi. The river and its impact on the surrounding countryside via its dams, barrages, and unique canal systems, affects the working conditions and living standards of virtually the entire population of Pakistan. This is particularly true of the coastal zone near Karachi, where the mangrove swamps of the Indus Delta are subjected to huge population pressures and massive pollution problems.
The Indus Delta and related coastal zone is one of the most globally important coastal environments for mangrove swamps and related habitats. It has extremely high levels of biodiversity, and is of great economic importance for fisheries, aquaculture and mineral resources. However it is also becoming progressively polluted by man's activities and impact, and is likely to be further endangered by the effects of global warming in the 21st century.
Overall aims of link
The link focussed on the mangrove swamps of the Indus Delta and the associated coastal zone. It assessed man's impact, habitat degradation and its amelioration, and resultant effects on floral and faunal biodiversity. The link also aimed to establish guidelines for subsequent environmental assessment procedures to be used by environmentalists in Pakistan in the form of an environmental handbook, and included visits by Pakistani scientists to Glasgow University and UK scientists to Karachi University.
The link aimed to achieve collaborative research, joint publications, staff development and capacity building, and information technology transfer between UK and Pakistani scientists in relation to coastal zone management and environmental impact assessment. This included detailed surveys of a number of key sites along the coastal zone, chosen to assess man's impact in rural areas along the Balochistan coast and in urban areas near Karachi in Sindh.
A three-day seminar on 'Coastal Zone Management and Environmental Impact Assessment' was also conducted, and the results of the seminar have been published as a booklet (ISBN 0 9540064 0 2).
Work was conducted on environmental biodiversity, and on the effects of pollution on the mangroves themselves and their animals and plants. The mangrove areas are a major source of timber and fish for local villages and large populations of birds use them during their migrations.
The link also offered a unique opportunity for active participation by women scientists in the general area of coastal zone management, and provided an interactive environment and opportunities for collaborative activities between Pakistani and United Kingdom women. Women were also involved in other ways. Part of the work conducted on the link programme involved assessing the impact of coastal village communities on habitat degradation. Women play an important role in these village communities.
© Photograph Copyright Peter and Azra Meadows
Mangroves near Karachi. Sindh Province, Pakistan.
Local villager fishing by throw-net.
Link 2
British Council
UK Department for International Development (DFID)
University of Glasgow
University of Karachi
Socio-Environmental Uplift of Rural Coastal Communities in Sindh and Balochistan.
Higher Education Link Programme 2003-2006
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences,
University of Glasgow,
Scotland,
United Kingdom.
Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology,
Department of Sociology,
University of Karachi,
Pakistan.
Link Coordinators
Pakistan:
Nabeel Zubairi,
Department of Sociology, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
Naureen Qureshi,
Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
United Kingdom:
Azra Meadows and Peter Meadows,
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow
Background
The coastal zone of Pakistan is central to the country's economy and peoples. It supports a very wide range of human communities in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. The very poor rural communities depend almost entirely on the coastal zone for their livelihoods most of which are centred on inshore fisheries, agriculture and livestock. There has also been a recent influx of migrants from the north including Afghan refugees, many of whom are now engaged in fishing jobs. Coastal zone pollution has increased, and there has been a reduction in annual precipitation (rain) and in fresh water input from rivers - leading to saltwater intrusion. All these factors have drastically affected safe drinking water.
The health and social standards of these coastal communities, and in particular the availability of safe and clean drinking water, are therefore vital issues.
The link focussed on improving drinking water quality and hygiene in rural communities in the coastal zone. Two contrasting coastal areas were chosen for the work - a high anthropogenic impact area in Sindh, and a low anthropogenic impact area in Balochistan. Two rural communities have been selected from each area. The UK and the Pakistan Link Co-ordinators had prior first-hand experience of these villages and their communities.
© Photograph Copyright Peter and Azra Meadows
Village families taking part in a communal discussion workshop on clean water.
Rehri Village, Sindh Province, Pakistan.
Overall Aims of the Link
One of the major aims was to assess the quality of the drinking water used by the villages. To this end, standard techniques including BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and bacterial coliform counts were used to assess water quality. Pilot-scale measures for water quality improvement included the use of sand filters, and the avoidance of domestic, agricultural and livestock pollution.
The link also provided cross-disciplinary training and capacity building of academic staff at Karachi University, including the career progression of women. This was done by holding a conference in the University of Karachi, and by holding village workshops and meetings.
A major additional purpose of the link was to educate rural women and children in the basics of hygiene and the sustainable maintenance and use of clean drinking water, including water quality improvement measures. This will lead to community education and sustainable rural uplift, and promote better health and living environment.
© Photograph Copyright Peter and Azra Meadows
Seminar on "Safe Drinking Water for Better Health"
29th September 2004
University of Karachi.
From Left to Right: Asif Gondal (University of Karachi), Peter Meadows (University of Glasgow), Azra Meadows (University of Glasgow), Naureen Qureshi (University of Karachi), Nabeel Zubairi (University of Karachi), Nabeel Alvi (British Council, Karachi), British Council Karachi staff member.