While the overall coverage of mangroves in the Indus delta has seen an increase, Karachi is experiencing a decline in these vital "protected” forests due to land allotment by the Board of Revenue and the Karachi Port Trust. This information was shared during a briefing organized for members of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change at the WWF Wetland Centre.
The Senate committee, led by Senator Seemee Ezdi, was briefed by Hammad Naqi Khan, the Director General of WWF Pakistan, who emphasized the ecological significance of mangrove forests in providing a defense system against natural disasters. The chief conservator of the forest department, Riaz Ahmed Wagan, revealed that while the mangrove cover in the Indus delta has increased, the mangroves around Karachi have diminished, primarily due to land allotment.
Despite their protected status, mangroves in Karachi, which stood at 2,000 hectares in 2010, have reduced to 1,800 hectares. The overall mangrove cover in the Indus delta has grown from 160,000 hectares in 2010 to 240,000 hectares this year, thanks to conservation efforts by various entities.
Wagan expressed concern over the continued destruction of mangroves and highlighted the aim of the forest department to increase the total mangrove area to 500,000 hectares in the coming years. The senators emphasized the importance of nature-based solutions for mangrove conservation and the need for sustainable measures to ensure a greener future.
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