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It is obvious from a short boat trip on Pakistan's Korangi Creek that the communities living and fishing in the Indus Delta are not doing well. Having fished for generations or migrated to this area to improve their livelihoods, they now face a dramatic decline in fish stocks.
The main reason is a drastic drop in the area covered by mangroves. Habitat conversion, pollution, and increasing population pressure have all taken their toll on these forests of small trees that provide an important stabilisation role and act as a breeding and nursery ground for many commercially important species of fish.
The Korangi Creek, in Sind Province, is one of Pakistan's high priority coastal areas. While South Asia's coastal waters have some of the richest and most diverse marine species and coastal habitats in Asia, many are under threat. Most of the coastal communities depend on the sea for their livelihoods, and many of the people living in these communities are vulnerable to-or living in-poverty.
Increasing resource exploitation has had a marked effect on South Asia's coastal zones and watersheds. There is increased direct pressure on these areas from agricultural and urban development. Indirect pressures include elevated nutrient levels, increased sediment loads, and changes in coastal configurations. Additionally, unplanned tourism developments that contribute to environmental degradation continue to be detrimental to coastal ecosystems.
With increasing population and economic demands on coastal resources, more people are generating at least part of their livelihood from activities that directly affect the coastal environment.
Food, income generation, medicines and building materials are drawn from the environment. The way in which coastal resources are used, and institutional and policy conflicts in coastal areas, create conditions that further degrade the environment, causing livelihoods to become more vulnerable and poor people to be more marginalized from lack of access to resources.
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its partners, World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Governments of India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka-are seeking to address these issues through an 18-month regional technical assistance project on Coastal and Marine Resources Management and Poverty Reduction in South Asia.
The effort started in October 2002. Given the regional implications of the work and the importance of effective proactive government coordination and action, the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme is also playing a key role in the effort, as is the Centre for Earth Sciences Studies in Trivandrum in supporting work in Kerala, India.
Using an integrated approach to coastal zone management as a planning and development tool, participating countries have made significant headway toward long-term coastal-zone planning. Through the project, coastal zone issues and threats are systematically categorized and a list of priority areas is developed for each country.
National site-specific plans using integrated coastal zone management are being developed in areas with the highest concentration of poor communities. Outcomes so far have included analysis of institutional and policy barriers and constraints to effective integrated coastal zone management. With a clearer understanding of the relationships between poverty and the environment, a regional strategic action plan for South Asia is being developed.
Key to the project's success has been the improved exchange of information through electronic mail and a web site (www.iczm-sa.org), where stakeholders and the international community involved in ICZM planning and implementation can exchange experiences and lessons learned.
The Sustainable Development Network of Pakistan led the initiative to set up the tools for exchanging information. Key themes integral to the project, such as poverty and the environment and sustainable fisheries, are regularly posted in a debate forum to initiate discussion and share country experience and opinions.
A sense of ownership has been developed among stakeholders through regular meetings and updates, consultative regional and national workshops, and site visits. Although the project is drawing to a close in terms of ADB's deadlines, much momentum has been gained and commitments to build on the progress made have been expressed.
Addressing the needs of the poor and the environment in South Asia's fragile coastal areas requires taking a long-term perspective, forming new partnerships with local communities and national stakeholders, continuously involving government, and fostering the ongoing commitment of all stakeholders.
It is hoped that lessons learned from the project will be used to improve the management of coastal areas in other South Asian countries.
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Learn more about ADB's activities in Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Pakistan
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