Hands On - The Earth Report from TVE.org

The Indus River Dolphin is high on the list of the world's endangered species. There are estimated to be fewer than 1000 of these dolphins remaining in the whole of Pakistan, most of them between the Sukkur and Guddu barrages in the south of the country which is now designated a dolphin reserve.

The impassable barrages are among the many reasons for the decline in numbers in recent decades. This situation is now thought to have been reversed thanks to its legal protection and efforts of the non-governmental organisation, Adventure Foundation, to bring tourists to view the dolphins and raise the value of these rare mammals in the eyes of the local population.

In Bhasti Garib Abad, a small Punjabi village in Pakistan, employment is highly seasonal and the boatmen who for generations had derived a living from the river now struggle to catch enough fish to keep their families. Adventure Foundation Pakistan began a project in October 2000 to train boatmen to take parties of tourists on river safaris in newly renovated wooden boats, to see and hear the dolphins. This has both increased the villagers' regard for the dolphins and brought much-needed benefits to the local economy.

Freshwater Dolphins

The Bulhan or Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is one of four freshwater dolphins in the world and is found only in the River Indus in Pakistan. Similar to the Ganges River dolphin (P. gangetica), it is functionally blind - it can distinguish between night and day, but there is no lens in its small eye and it finds its way using echolocation (sonar). It also has an unusual way of swimming on its side, feeling the bottom of the murky river with one of its fins and its long beak.

The Indus River dolphin now has legal protection

Known locally as the Bulhan or Susu, it feeds on fish such as catfish and carp and crustaceans such as prawns. Before the construction of dams and barrages began in the 1930s, the dolphins would migrate upstream during the monsoon rains and swam back downstream in the dry season. Now their movement is restricted by the barrage's which affects breeding as well as feeding and general health.

Threats to the Bulhan

Its habitat has been limited by the construction of barrages to irrigate and provide power to the surrounding farmland.
The river water has been poisoned by pollution from farms, which can cause infertility.
Reduced flow of fresh water brings tidal waves of salt water.
Boatmen competing for diminishing fish stocks sometimes hunt the dolphins.

Sometimes dolphins also become trapped when the barrage gates are opened, but the main threat is to breeding, particularly as the chemicals from local cotton farms run off the fields into the river.

The Human Population

Bhasti Garib Abad is a small village of 100 families who are among the poorest of the poor. Since 1995 the flow of fresh water in the Indus has reduced, causing water shortages. This in turn has brought sea water further inland, eroding soil and depositing harmful chlorides. In the past the fishermen did not see a need to buy agricultural land or even to educate their children, because they thought the river would always feed them. Now the catch is so low that they must find new ways to make a living.

Employment is highly seasonal and many are forced to travel to find work, but for some the tourist industry has brought a new injection of cash and opportunities to diversify.

Boat Safari Project

Adventure Foundation Pakistan (AFP) organises outdoor activities for people from the age of 10, with a view to:

extending self-awareness;
improving environmental awareness;
developing physical fitness; and
encouraging co-operation and participation in group activities.

Safari boats offer tourists the chance to get close to dolphins and provide an income for local people

AFP initiated an ecotourism project, with financial help from the Global Environment Facility and Small Grants Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to train Indus boat people to run safaris on the river. Visitors are strongly discouraged from feeding or swimming with the dolphins, but can spend up to four days on a boat safari to observe the dolphins when they surface to breathe. A hydrophone (a device that picks up acoustic energy underwater) is placed in the water so that they can hear the "susu" vocalisation of dolphins under the surface.

The large wooden boats, propelled only by sails and oars, are ideal for observing nature without intruding or disturbing the wildlife of the river. They were renovated for use as tourist vessels with the help of a revolving loan fund. A small cooperative society of boat people manages the project and benefits from the proceeds as an incentive and reward for protecting the dolphins. AFP provides technical assistance and helps to promote the safaris through its links with conservation NGOs such as World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Ecotourism

The hope of ecotourism organisations and travellers is that the additional income will give local residents an incentive to protect the indigenous wildlife and maintain cultural traditions. There are also concerns that ecotourism can have a negative impact. The extra visitors might spoil natural areas and disturb the wildlife, and may lead local people to alter their culture to fit outside expectations at the expense of their traditional practice and identity.

Making sure ecotourism acts positively on the local people and the local habitat is therefore vital for any project. An ecotourism project should:

contribute actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage;
include local and indigenous communities in its planning, development and operation, contributing to their well-being;
interpret the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to the visitor; and
lend itself better to independent travellers, as well as to organised tours for small size groups.

The Future

The community is encouraged to preserve its own traditions as well as to value and protect the dolphins. The families can now bulk-purchase grain to give themselves food security instead of the uncertain supply of cash and food endured in the past. As well as the river safaris there is a market for local crafts such as basketry and embroidery, and meal provisions, bringing further revenue to the area. The additional income provided by the ecotourism activities has meant that people do not need to migrate in search of employment, which also strengthens the local economy. In the future, it is hoped that active participation of more community members will ensure the long-term sustainability of the region.

For further Information, please contact:

Ecotourism Project for the Conservation of the Indus Dolphin
c/o Adventure Foundation Pakistan
Garden Avenue, National Park Area
P.O. Box 1807, Islamabad 44000

Tel:+92-51-2825805
Fax: +92- 51-2272538
E-mail: afopak@yahoo.com
Website: adventurefoundation.org.pk

The International Ecotourism Society
733 15^th St NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 25005-2112
USA

Tel: +00 (202) 347 9203
Fax: +00 (202) 387 7915
E-mail: ecomail@ecotourism.org
Website: http://www.ecotourism.org/

The International Ecotourism Society provides a wide range of information on aspects of ecotourism. They also have an online bookshop with a variety of publications.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Rue Mauverney 28
Gland
1196
Switzerland

Tel: +41 (22) 999-0000
Fax: +41 (22) 999-0002
E-mail: mailto:mail@hq.iucn.org

The IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. It has offices in 42 countries around the world including Asia, Africa, Europe and North and Latin America.

Websites

http://www.world-tourism.org/ - The World Tourism Organisation is an inter-governmental body entrusted by the United Nations towards the promotion and development of tourism. It gives general information on tourism. They also have a bookstore.

http://www.planeta.com/ - A site on ecotourism mainly in Latin America, offering a wide range of information but also including numerous links to ecotourism in other regions of the world.

www.eduweb.com/ecotourism/eco1.html - An interesting, informative way to get across issues behind setting up an ecotourism project.

www.bigvolcano.com.au/ercentre/ercpage.htm - Resource information on ecotourism

http://www.responsibletravel.com - A tourist orientated website providing information on how to be a responsible tourist and examples of the types of ecotourist holidays available worldwide.

www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/ecotourism - The UNEP's website contains information on the concept of ecotourism and its use as a sustainable development tool.

Introduction