NATIONAL WATERFOWL SPORT HUNTER’S OUTREACH PROGRAMME

The Ministry of Environment's Pakistan Wetlands Programme has initiated Pakistan Waterfowl Sport Hunter’s Outreach Programme in the country with following objectives:-

Objectives:

1. Awareness raising about waterfowl, their migration, distribution and status in Pakistan
   
   
2. Assessment of prevailing threats to waterfowl population and their impact on sustainable sport hunting.
   
   
3. Identification of mitigation measures against threats to waterfowl populations and developing a consensus amongst hunters and Wildlife Departments on these mitigation measures.
   
   
4. Raising awareness about waterfowl sport hunting laws and regulation in Pakistan.
   
   
5. Dissemination of information regarding Protected Areas and Protected species of waterfowl.
   
   
6. Development of a code of ethics for sustainable waterfowl sport hunting and monitoring its observance by the hunters.
   
   
7. Identifying gaps in existing waterfowl sport hunting laws and suggest improvements.
   
   
8. Organization of waterfowl sport hunters into local, regional, provincial and national “Sport Hunters Associations”. These associations will have their own mutually agreed structures and bylaws and may be tasked to carry out following functions:-
   
   
   

   i. Develop acquaintance and friendship with one another in periodic meetings;
   
   ii. Provide a common forum to waterfowl hunters for exchange of mutual experiences and ideas;
   
   iii. Discuss matters relating to conservation of waterfowl and wetlands;
   
   iv. Discuss matters relating to sustainability of Waterfowl Sport Hunting;
   
   v. Develop plans and projects for conservation of waterfowl and wetlands; suggest these programmes to the Wildlife Departments and monitor their implementation in the field.
   
   vi. Raise funds for perpetuation of the hunter’s Associations;
   
   vii. Carryout or sponsor projects for conservation of waterfowl and wetlands;
   
   viii. Raise awareness amongst the general public, the Government institutions, the students, communities and farmers regarding conservation of waterfowl and wetlands;
   
   ix. Develop links with local, regional, provincial, national and international donors and other conservation organizations and seek support for waterfowl conservation, management and sustainable sport hunting programmes;
   
   x. Develop a code of ethics for waterfowl sport hunting and monitor the observance of this code by the members of the Associations;
   
   xi. Act as a linkage between the Wildlife Departments and the hunters in all matters relating to waterfowl management;
   
   xii. Function as an NGO registered with Wildlife Departments and draw and implement waterfowl conservation and management programmes;
   
   xiii. Carryout any other function decided by the Association.

1. Introduce bird ringing programme and identify hunter’s role in research on waterfowl including feed back on species sighted, species hunted, rings recovered, etc. etc.
   
   
2. Assist the Government in formulating enabling policies for waterfowl management and development of conservation plans.
   
   
3. Developing a database and knowledge bank from the experience of hunters regarding waterfowl, its habitat, hunting practices and related issues to guide policy decisions.  

Under this programme hunter’s workshops and seminars are organized in various parts of the country in collaboration with the Provincial Wildlife Departments. The workshops deliberate upon and discuss all aspects of waterfowl conservation, management and sustainable sport hunting and culminate in organization of Hunter’s Associations tasked with carrying out of the functions outlined in this document. The first workshop of this kind was held in Lahore which proved to be highly successful. The second workshop of this series will be held in Peshawar in the auditorium of NWFP Wildlife Department.

 nimalik@wwf.org.pk

Wetlands are not Wastelands; Please Conserve them

Nasir Iqbal Malik
Coordinator, Awareness Raising and Communication
The Ministry of Environment's Pakistan Wetlands Programme (WWF Pakistan)
House #3, Street # 4, F-7/3 Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-261-0880-5  Cell: +92-301-553-6468