STAFF REPORT ISB: World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) has recently organized an exploratory field visit for journalists to its Global Poverty Action Fund funded project Improving Livelihoods of Fishermen Communities of Central Indus Wetlands Complex, through effective natural resource management.
Through this capacity building initiative, journalists were taken to the project sites in Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh district; Taunsa Barrage and Bela Forest, to observe biodiversity, explore aquatic life of the Indus River and highlight livelihood interventions undertaken by WWF-Pakistan.
On the occasion, the media persons showed interest in learning about project interventions such as empowering fisher communities, especially women, through vocational training centres, kitchen gardening initiatives, organic farming interventions, alternative livelihood methods and use of environmentally friendly bio-gas plants and efficient mud stoves.
The group also visited Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary (TBWS) where they observed migratory birds residing near pond areas and undertook a trek in Bela Forest. A jeep safari was also organized to witness the hog deer in its natural habitat.
“It is challenging to work with communities with limited resources. WWF-Pakistan is taking every possible measure to conserve natural resources of the area and the country by empowering local communities to reduce their dependence on them,” said Umer Waqas, Site Coordinator, WWF-Pakistan, at the occasion.
WWF-Pakistan is working with fisher communities who are witnessing the impacts of climate change firsthand. Overfishing has exhausted river resources, and reduced fish catch has impacted their livelihood.