Bio-diversity

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), launched on May 5, 1998 and registered in 2002, is the only national level civil society organization of the Fisherfolk communities of Pakistan. PFF now has 111 Units in different villages and localities in Sindh / Pakistan. PFF presently is running 07 projects amounting 46.5 million rupees for the betterment of coastal communities. Since its inception PFF has been active in the awareness, mobilization and community organization for the protection as well as sustainable management of the fisheries and other community livelihoods through advocacy, participatory research, information dissemination and participatory community development processes. PFF has been active in working towards the sustainability of the livelihoods of fisher people living in the 1050-kilometer Pakistani Coast. PFF has worked on many problems affecting this region, particularly Karachi, Thatta and Badin districts. PFF has established strong linkages with many international and national NGOs working on sustainable livelihoods, disaster mitigation and environmental issues. Through advocacy and wide education campaigns, PFF has helped bring light on the plight of the country s fisher people. 2. Justification for Support - Linkages with GEF Themes and Operational Programmes In past Agriculture, Livestock and fisheries were the livelihood resources of coastal communities. The alluvial soil of deltaic region, coupled with moderate climate, was ideal for growing a vast variety of traditional as well as high value crops such as vegetables, fruits, fodder and oilseeds. Livestock was traditionally part of rural and agricultural economies. People usually reared camels, sheep, cows, buffaloes, goats and hens. Presently the Coastal communities are the poorest communities in Pakistan and their livelihood resources are under constant threat of depletion. About 90% of the households in the coastal communities rely on fishing and other fisheries related activities. Biodiversity loss in coastal areas is severe. As reported in Indus Delta Vulnerability Study conducted by PFF in 2006, 220 species of crops, herbs, shrubs, grasses, trees, birds, mammals, reptiles and insects have vanished in district Badin. With the degradation of natural resource base, there has been a persistent decline in the socio-economic condition of the coastal communities, rise in poverty level, malnutrition and the deterioration of people s health in general. The scarcity of potable water is the most significant factor that contributes to the increasing incidence of skin diseases, eye infections and problems with the digestive tracts. Both underground and surface freshwater resources have been degraded by sea intrusion. Freshwater aquifers have been contaminated through underground seepage of saline water. Potable water has become scare and the sources that yielded freshwater a few years ago have turned brackish. The proposed project is designed to contribute to GEF NGO small-grants program country specific criteria of: a) Promotion of conservation of environment and sustainable use of natural resources. b) Project activities also contribute to the GEF small-grants program principal objectives of; i) Replicable strategies and technologies to reduce threat to global warming ii) Spread of successful community level innovations among COs and NGOs for scaling up of effort and building of partnerships and network of local stakeholders and strengthening of community. 3. Context/Baseline Badin one of the coastal districts of Sindh, has been declared as the poorest districts of Pakistan by UNDP in the latest report. With the total population of 1.4 million, health and education indicators are very poor in the district. Adult literacy rates are 10.5% for women and 34.7 for men. Badin is a hazard-prone district, which over the last five decades has remained in the grip of an uninterrupted cycle of disasters in one form or the other. Cyclones, heavy rainfalls, droughts and floods flow each other with short-lived intervals. The Badin district administration has drawn a map of more vulnerable areas that includes southern part of Union Council Bhugra Memon, Ahmed Rajo and Kadhan. These areas are just a few inches above sea level, where tidal waves of the sea come twice a day without fail, affecting the livelihoods of the communities. Majority of the coastal communities usually purchase the water cans at heavy prices, making then economically more vulnerable. The water purchased and consumed is excessively unhygienic and causes outbreak of many water borne diseases. Most housing units have open air kitchens in which firewood is the main source of fuel. The smoke as well as the solid food wastes causes serious health and sanitation problems. The proposed project area is comprised of Two villages, Village Zero Ghungro, of Ahmed Rajo Union council and Village Kandri of Bhugra Memon Union Council, District Badin, Sindh These villages are situated in the extreme proximity of the Arabian Sea Coast. The total population of the villages is 5800. Majority of the population belongs to indigenous Sindhi clans. Although Muslims are in majority in the proposed area, however, the area is also home to majority Hindu communities, living side by side with the Muslims for generations. 4. Project Objective and Proposed Activity Objective 1: Awareness raising and capacity building of 5800 community members and other stakeholders on environmental issues. Activities Under Obj

Pakistan