Download Indus River Dolphin Conservation

Indus River Dolphin Conservation
Global Poverty Action Fund – Central Indus Wetlands Complex
Terms of References
Background
The overall goal of the GPAF Project is to introduce diversified livelihood options among fisher
communities in the CIWC to augment their income and to promote improved management of CIWC
Protected Areas in collaboration with stakeholders.
The Indus River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) is a flagship species of the Indus River
ecosystem. CIWC (from Chashma to Sukkur Barrages) hosts 97.38% of the total population of Indus
River Dolphin. Protecting and saving this species will ultimately serve the purpose to better manage
Protected Areas in CIWC in addition to providing opportunities to improve livelihoods of fisher
communities.
The project area specified for the said consultancy is about a 200 km long stretch of the Indus River
between Guddu and Sukkur barrages in Sindh Province. This region is also designated as the Indus
River Dolphin Reserve and is recognised as a Ramsar Site as well. The purpose of this consultancy
is to achieve the outlined objectives of promoting Community Based Protected Areas by ensuring
sustainable use of wetlands vegetation; controlling illegal wildlife trade through creating awareness
and trainings; and conserving Indus River Dolphin by promoting dolphin based ecotourism and by
eliminating direct cause of its mortality through improved watch and ward mechanism.
Detailed TOR’s/Outputs/Deliverables:
The following are the specific ToRs of the consultancy to achieve the aforementioned goal;

Train local boatmen to become ‘tourist guides’;

Develop ecotourism package for students outside from Sukkur;

Design and launch a website on Indus River Dolphin to enhance awareness;

Develop information and awareness material for Indus Dolphin Conservation Centre for
promoting dolphin safari and creating environmental awareness among visitors;

Organise dolphin boat safaris for general public to promote ecotourism;

Establish dolphin mortality monitoring network through improved watch and ward system;

Conduct dolphin rescue operations to save stranded dolphins;

Develop and implement community outreach programme including trainings and awareness
raising activities for remote communities;

Develop information material to be displayed at airports (Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad)
regarding illegal wildlife trade particularly river turtles;

Develop and install information boards on biodiversity of Indus River Dolphin Reserve; and

Identify and map biodiversity hotspots and Community Based Protected Areas (including
boundary delineation) of the project area.
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TORs – Indus River Dolphin Conservation
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