Monthly Archives: March 2013

India’s north east gets attention from climate change scientists

Posted on by
Reply

Subhra Priyadarshini

The vulnerable north eastern states of India — which bear a significant brunt of the global climate change phenomena — have finally got some serious attention from climate scientists. The eight states, least studied so far, have been thoroughly analysed over a 34-year period in a new study.1 Based on the trends observed from 1971 to 2005, the scientists predict a rise in the regional annual mean temperature as well as mean rainfall in future.

Lead scientist Sushil Kumar Dash.

The mega study, led by Sushil Kumar Dash of the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, looked at present‐day climatic conditions prevailing in the region. The team examined the regional trends based on actual observations at the meteorological stations of India Meteorological Department (IMD) and on the gridded data.

The eight states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim – were studied for the two most important climatic parameters – temperature and rainfall. The region is blessed with ample monsoon rains and houses the world’s wettest place Mawsynram, which receives an annual rainfall of about 1187.3 cm.

Read the rest of the article here.

Dams and its impacts on ecology

Posted on by
Reply

 

http://www.sindhexpress.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=130016773&Issue=NP_HYD&Date=20130320

 

Dams and its impacts on ecology

 

This story focuses on the movement for restoration of rivers, launched by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), which presently possess the secretariat of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP). Under its keep rivers free movement, PFF initiated 14-Day Caravan from Jamshoro bridge, Hyderabad on March 1, 2013, which culminated in Islamabad on 14th, where a large number of participants, hailing from different fresh water bodies of Punjab and Khyber Pukhtoon Khuwa provinces gathered to celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers and against dams.

The objectives of caravan include to motivate the people of other provinces, who are affected by dams and have seen ecology loss around them.

The story comprises observations and difference within the ruling elites and common people. It was observed that educated people from Punjab province support dams, believing it will benefit for generating cheap energy, while the people of tail end areas of Sindh plead the dams have destroyed the ecology and grabbed at least three million acres of land in Indus Delta and caused widely displacement of the locals.

I was with the caravan in Lahore and then in Islamabad where intellectuals and political activists had justification, ignoring the biodiversity, destruction of forests and wanting to see cheap energy through dams. This was the first time the people of Sindh changed their perception about majority of journalists, political activists and even environmental writers and civil society, who stayed aloof while the 14-day caravan was crossing the towns and cities to express what they want.

Some of the development sector and political activists came to express solidarity with the caravan participants and those opposing dams. But none of them dared to deliver speech. All the rivers, except River Indus in Punjab have almost dried and it is the question for the people of Punjab to ask their rulers or at least support the anti-dam movements. Because there is no news about the communities depending on these water resources (rivers) for their livelihood.

Posted on by
Reply
 story about PROTECTION OF GREEN TURTLES EGGS. near about 1000 turtles came in pakistan karachi beach .each turtle give a 100 eggs during augest to november .pakistani beach best beach all over the world for turtles beading .

 story about PROTECTION OF GREEN TURTLES EGGS. near about 1000 turtles came in pakistan karachi beach .each turtle give a 100 eggs during augest to november .pakistani beach best beach all over the world for turtles beading .
http://e.jang.com.pk/09-12
2012/karachi/pic.asp?picname=104.gif

 



Posted on by
Reply

http://e.jang.com.pk/02-08-2013/karachi/pic.asp?picname=07_01.gif

INDUSTRIAL WASTE ARE PRESENT IN THE WATER OF KANJHAR LAKE FROM KB FEDER

The Industrial Waste of the Kothri and Nooriabad are present in the water of KB Feder to Kanjhar lake,which are dangerous for the human being and the underwater species.The solutions were made for this problem but it was temporary,the industrial waste and poisionous water will again enter in to the Kanjhar lake.The Managing Director of Karachi water and saverage board seriously said that after the notice from Department of Environment and Industry for the last two years ,there were no steps taken to solve this problem

Looming threats of acute shortage of water due to lack of protection of the Wetlands

Posted on by
Reply

Looming threats of acute shortage of water due to lack of protection of the Wetlands

Industrial affluent is entering in in Keenjhar Lake and other water resources, Climate Change is also affecting the water resources – Seminar
Karachi (Jamshed Bukhar): Due to Climate Change and by not protecting the water resources and wetlands, Pakistan will face acute water shortage in the future. Besides, it can also affect the crops which can create food shortage. These thoughts were expressed by the speakers at a Seminar organized by IUCN (an international organization for the protection of nature) in collaboration with the Sindh Coastal Development Authority and Fisheries at Keenjhar Lake (Thatta) on the World Wetlands Day.
Besides, students of the colleges, various experts from different sectors also participated in the Seminar.
Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative of IUCN Pakistan, Mr. Shamsul Haq Memon, Consultant, Sindh Coastal Development Authority, Director General Fisheries, Sindh, Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Meher and Project Director, Sindh Coastal Development Authority also spoke in the Seminar, whereas Director General, Sindh Coastal Authority, Mr. Muhammad Pathan was the special guest at the occasion.
Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema said that consumption of water has increased with the increase in the population. We used to have per capita 5,000-6,000 cusecs of water which has been reduced to 1,000 cusecs. Due to Climate Change and improper system there will be shortage of water. Sometimes heavy rains can cause floods and sometimes dryspells can affect the crops.
Shamsul Haq Memon said that conservation of wetlands is extremely important for the economic development. Wetlands are not only major source of food, but also provide wood and fodder for the cattle and other needs of life. They provide livelihoods to thousands of people. But now the wetlands are facing a lot of threats due to Climate Change. They are facing natural and man-made calamities. Ghulam Qadir Shah said that Pakistan has 230 wetlands out of them 46 are protected areas spanning over 1500 hactres of land. These wetlands play crucial role in the growth of mangroves. A patch of 600 meter mangrove forest can reduce the effect of the Tsumani wave upto 80%. These wetlands provide habitat to a lot of animals. Now the affluent from the Kotri Industrial area is being released into Keenjhar Lake which extremely hazardous for human health. They said that if the protection will not provided to the wetlands, the coming generations will face a lot of problem in the future.

http://e.jang.com.pk/02-04-2013/Karachi/pic.asp?picname=07_19.gi

The numbers of Siberian migratory birds recorded decreased due to poaching and climate change, although.

Posted on by
Reply

The numbers of Siberian migratory birds recorded decreased due to poaching and climate change, although. These birds are now began go back, but Sindh Wildlife Department or any authority have no any certificate the records of these evacuee birds.

The data of these migratory birds can not be release as yet, although their arrival started from October. A large number of exotic & colourful birds including Harriers, Kindfishers, Flamingos, Falcons, Geese, Swans, Cranes, Mallards, Waders, Cormorant, Mallards, White Ibis, Herons , Spoonbills, Egrets and Flamingos spend their migrated periods at the wetlands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. These birds also spent 4 to 5 months at Guddo Barrage, Drigh Lake, Lake Mancher , Haleji Lake, Khanjer Lake and adjacent areas of Indus Delta.

Lack of proper maintenance of the said Wetlands by the number of birds has decreased significantly. According to the wildlife experts now these beautiful birds migrating India and Iran instead Pakistan. During the decade of 80’s and 90’s more than 12 million and 670 species of migratory birds arrived at the said lakes from Indus Migrated Route No.4

They Birds comes here from Siberia for search of food through a distance of 4 thousand kilometers off the coast of Pakistan and, to descend rivers and wetlands in Pakistan. In the first phase, the birds stay at the lakes in Kazakhstan followed by different ranges of Karakoram in Pakistan.

The numbers of Siberian migratory birds recorded decreased due to poaching and climate change, although.
From 1986 to 1990, the largest bird stay at the lake Haleji, where installed a Birds Ranking Station, put on the rings in foot of some birds. In the 90 decade there was 223 species & 2 million birds arrived at the Lake Haleji. However, the shortage of water into Lake Haleji and poaching has reduced the numbers of Birds, while numbers of birds in the Lake Khanjer also decreased. These birds also sold in the different area in Badin

The wildlife experts say that if there was not stop the illegal hunting of birds in Sindh the arrivals of the migratory birds will be turned off.

http://e.jang.com.pk/03-04-2013/karachi/pic.asp?picname=174.gif