PARTICIPATORY NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR KEENJHAR LAKE WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FISHERIES

Abstract

Keenjhar Lake (Kalri Dhand) is known to be a 2^nd largest freshwater lake in Sindh situated in Thatta district longitude 24˚56’49.30” N and latitude 68˚03’27.64” E on global map. A total of eight significant villages of Keenjhar lake namely; Jhimpir village, Nabi Bux Palari village, Chul site village, Sonheri village, Adam Gandro village, Bhambra village, Hilaya village and Lal Bux Manchari were visited for study of the lake biodiversity and other related resources. The collection of biodiversity samples and community focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out to prepare NRM plan for fisheries. Through the results of FGDs, it was reported by communities that 40 years earlier lake had great assets of natural resources and currently most living resources have vanished. The communities demanded that concerned government departments and private companies should come in action and facilitate us in terms of set up of alternative livelihood options in terms of attention for installation of fish preservation and processing industries, fish seed production units, macrophytes utilization in handicrafts and matmaking units, vocational centers, training centers, small cottage type industries, local product utilization trade centers  and international market linkages among local and national perspectives. About 60% of native communities are involved in fishing by profession. However, 40% Keenjhar community people by the profession are concerned with agriculture, cattle farming, stone extraction, mat making, and serving for NGOs, Mills and government sector. Community raised their voice that capacity should be built to manage their natural resources in terms of technical trainings and applied nature interventions at the site. Immediate stop of rock excavation from surrounding the lake to ensure protection and conservation of biodiversity and the habitat. Historically Jhimpir town has great resources of Date Palm (Baluchistan Palm) and this has been a great source of their livelihood but nowadays due to water scarcity Date Palm is making their survival hard. Small boats are used for fishing by local communities. The government should provide fishing trollers for deepwater fishing purposes. A technical training vocational center for capacity building of youth, women and old age group of peoples. Women as whole complained that we are facing non availability of water must bring water from 1-2 km distance.  Government should build here a small water reservoir to harvest rainwater.  Health care facilities are also not available here. When discussion started community raised the concern that we should be given the small projects of fisheries extension. Page and Cage culture should be introduced here, and zero size nets must be installed at canal gates so that fish cannot escape back. They also demanded that we really need capacity building trainings on fisheries and NRM. Government should hold regular cleaning campaign through different technological advances for excessive growth of macrophytes. Sindh fisheries department should strong control on undersize fish catch, using illegal and uncertified gears as well as illegal fishermen involvement for fishing by implementation the Ordinance 1980 amended 2021. The industrial effluents and wash downs of harmful chemical dumping in lake causing greatly damaged the lake biodiversity. The pollutants should immediately be stopped. Sindh EPA and the law enforcement departments should take immediate actions to control pollution. Strongly follow up the rules and regulations of Ramsar convention as Keenjhar lake is most important need of the era. As the Keenjhar lake is declared a Ramsar site as a wetland of international importance but due to ignorance of law enforcement lake is facing different environmental problems. Lake can be better managed if all the environmental stipulations are strictly enforced