National Seminar

Center for Advanced Studies in WaterU.S.-Pakistan

“Shrinking Indus Delta: Current Status

and Way Forward”

on

Main purpose of the seminar is to bring Government, policymakers, and

relevant stakeholders together to share, deliberate and brainstorm

about the aggravating situation of the delta and suggest protective

measures for mitigation of adverse effects rendered by seawater

intrusion for sustainable and healthy environment and ecosystem of the

Indus Delta. Following are the specific objectives of the seminar.

The U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water, Mehran University of

Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan, is gratefully acknowledged for

funding the project ''Climate Change: Assessing impact of seawater intrusion on

Soil, Water and Environment of Indus Delta using GIS and Remote Sensing tools”

under the Applied Policy Research Grants Round-I. Moreover, United States

Geological Survey (USGS), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA),

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and Google Earth are also

acknowledged for offering free of cost historic satellite imageries, Digital

Elevation Model (DEM), historical meteorological data, spatial data

respectively.

Auditorium of USPCAS-W

Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro

To share outcome/results of the project on Indus delta funded

by USAID through U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies.

To identify and raise awareness about the anthropogenic

activities affecting the ecosystem of the delta.

To provide a platform to share knowledge and discuss,

deliberate and recommend solutions to control seawater

intrusion and mitigate its impacts for the sustainable, healthy

environment and ecosystem of Indus Delta.

Seminar Objectives

Acknowledgment:

Where:

9:30am to 1:00 pm

Time:

Email: aasiyal.uspcasw@faculty.muet.edu.pk

0335-334-0405Cell#

For further information contact:

Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal (Principal Investigator / Focal Person)

When:Friday; March 02, 2018

of Engineering & Technology

Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

thIndus Delta, a designated Ramsar wetland, is the 5 largest delta of the

world which spreads from the Sir Creek in the east to the Phitti Creek in

the west with the apex at Banoo town (where once Pinyaree River

originated from the Indus and discharged into the Arabian Sea via the Sir

Creek). Before the construction of diversion/hydraulic structures across

the river Indus, there were seventeen active mouths (creeks) in the Indus

Delta, which have now decreased to only two active creeks viz. Khobar

and Khar. In the year 1833 AD, it occupied an area of about 13000 sq.

km. but now active delta has shrunk to only 1000 sq. km (about 92% thdecrease in the area). This fan-shaped delta supports the 7 largest

mangrove forest system of the world in vast tidal mud floodplains. But

due to synergic impact of low river flows to delta and resulting about 80%

reduction in the sediment, land subsidence, sea level rise, low rainfall

due to climate change and surface and subsurface seawater intrusion,

thousands of hectares of the coastal fertile land of Thatta and Sujawal

districts are being swallowed by the Arabian sea. Thus, one of the largest

ecosystems of the world is shrinking and degrading at an alarming rate.

Looking at the gravity of the problem, a project entitled “Climate

Change: Assessing impact of seawater intrusion on Soil, Water, and

Environment of Indus delta using GIS & Remote Sensing tools” was

funded by USAID through U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in

Water (USPCAS-W) for quantitative analysis of impact of seawater

intrusion on the Indus Delta under changing climate.

This National Seminar on “Shrinking Indus Delta” is organized to share the

results/outcome of the said project, and discuss, deliberate and

recommend solutions for the control and mitigation of seawater intrusion

so that, sustainable and healthy Indus Delta environment and

ecosystem can be restored.

Indus delta is:th

The 5 largest delta of the world

A designated Ramsar wetland

th Supports 7 largest mangrove forest system in the world

Largest arid zone mangrove forests of the world

One of the world's most vulnerable large deltas

There were seventeen river mouths (creeks) in the Indus Delta, but

now only two active creeks viz. Khobar and Khar

Active delta occupied an area of about 13000 sq. km in 1833 which is

shrunk to only 1000 sq. km (about 92% reduction in the area).

The shoreline is exposed to withstand the highest average wave

energy compared to other major deltas in the world

Coastal Erosion

Seawater Intrusion (Surface & Subsurface)

Declining river flow/availability of freshwater

Increasing soil salinity/sodicity

Shrinking active delta

Diminishing mangrove forests

Declining fish production

Increasing temperature/decreasing rainfall (Climate Change)

Contamination of surface and groundwater bodies

Sea level rise and high vulnerability of coastal flooding due to

cyclones/ tsunamis

Unemployment (Socio-economic)

Background Facts About the Delta

Major Issues of the Delta