Khirthar National Park
Baseline Environmental Study
Chapter 1: Introduction
Enright, N.J.

Introduction

The Khirthar National Park Baseline Environmental Study was a one year program of research undertaken for the Sindh Wildlife Department, Pakistan that aimed to acquire, assemble, evaluate and present baseline data on the relevant ecological, human and environmental characteristics of the park. It sought to achieve these aims through the review of previous research, and the collection and analysis of new information obtained by detailed field investigation. Further, the project sought to establish strong collaborative links between scientists at the University of Melbourne and research organisations in Pakistan so that local expert knowledge was brought into the project and, training and technology transfer that might support future research and management services relating to the park and its natural and human resources might be delivered. The results of this study form the basic reference material from which a management plan might be developed, and upon which government decisions pertaining to land-use activities in and around the park might reasonably be based.

This chapter introduces the context of the study by first presenting an overview of the park and its key features, and then by reviewing the key terms of reference and scope of services for the study. Subsequent chapters deal individually with each of the major areas of investigation, so that this report comprises nine chapters, in two volumes, covering; Introduction, Geomorphology, Groundwater Resources and Condition, Flora, Fauna, Farming Systems, Archaeology, Social Anthropology and Geographic Information Systems. Lengthy data sets are included as appendices to chapters and large format maps are included separately as a folded set (these are referred to as appropriate in the relevant chapters of this report). The report is prefaced with an executive summary that lists the key findings from each chapter.

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