Enhanced storage capacity and quality of Haleji and Hadero lakes connecting with indus river for their sustainable revival

Abstract

Over 50% of wetlands in the world have been lost in the past century, and the remaining wetlands have been degraded to different degrees because of the adverse influences of human activities and climate change impacts. Though protected under Ramser convention, the situation of Haleji wetland complex and Hadero wildlife sanctuary is not very promising. The current paper is focusing to revitalize the abandoned and devastated Ramsar site .Haleji Wetland Complex. and a forgotten wetland .Hadero Wildlife Sanctuary., situated in Thatta district, Sindh province of Pakistan. Both these wetlands are of great importance for natural habitat and reducing risk of coastal disasters and floods. The study mainly employed Arc-Hydro tools using remotely sensed data of ASTER GDEM 2 to determine the topography of both wetlands and their possibilities to connect with freshwater sources, and leeway to increase their respective water holding capacity. The study reveals that all the three wetlands can be re-connected with Indus River to turn them into fresh water bodies for sustaining natural habitat and increasing water harvesting capacities to cater human drinking water needs.