NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENTAL ASPECTS AND NATURAL PRODUCTIVITY OF BAREEJI LAKE, A WETLAND OF DISTRICT BADIN, SINDH, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Bareeji lake located 24º47'47.58"N longitude and latitude 68º44'21.71"E. Lake is surrounded by agriculture lands cropping seasonally rice paddy, wheat and vegetables. Certain physico-chemical parameter ranges of water quality of the lake were studied wiz; Temperature of air 25.25±11.97318°C, Temperature of water 17.75 ± 9.003967°C, Transparency/ Turbidity 49.375±19.93516 cm, pH 7.716667±0.30605, Salinity ppt 1.02875±0.517285, Conductivity µS/cm 101.0013±88.82615, Alkalinity mg/L 66.8125±7.184793, Hardness mg/L 253.625±27.79999, Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 10±2.560134, Nitrates µg/L 68.9375±12.68654 and Phosphates µg/L 1.61625±0.665302.  High growth of eutrophic and pollution indicators micro biomass of phytoplankton and other algal species were reported. These are basically grown at higher budget of micronutrients. The genera were Chroococus sp. (No. of individual/ 50 L 68.25±14.5459); Merismopedia sp. 52.25 24.97165; Microcysts sp. 316±122.3628; Oscillatoria sp. 50±24.88641; Anabaena sp. 73±38.27096; Nostoc sp. 63±8.445906; Lungbia sp. 48.5±13.91642; Euglena sp. 38.5±18.66369; Chlamydomonas sp. 41.25 31.31959; Phacus sp. 3±3.829708; Navicula sp. 341± 229.1564; Nitzschia sp. 72.75±16.87947. Among zooplankton High population growth of Rotifers (59%), cyclopes, cladocerans and herpactoids were reported from the water body. Among other invertebrates fauna higher population of snails, bivalves, worms were found attached on leaves and steams of marshy plants. Among macrophytes, majority of Marshy plants such as Typha sp. and Phragmite sp. of anthropogenic activities resulted higher growth of macrophytes and shallowness of the water body. If lake water situation remains same, then the lake wrecked into crop land. It is therefore suggested that proper measures may be taken for life of the water body by the responsible authorities. Quantitative values of insects, worms and mollusks show a great deal of organic and inorganic budget at shallow areas of the lake which come from surrounded agriculture run off. The results of the water quality variables and bioindicators revealed that Bareeji lake in Badin district is at meso-eutrophic stage, this may be due to nonseriousness of the authorities and local dwellers. Therefore, it is recommended that environment protection agencies, concerned departments, national and international organizations come forward for protection and conservation of this natural heritage of Sindh, Pakistan and world.