| Conservation
of Mangrove Forests in the Coastal
Areas of Sindh and Balochistan
Pakistan's
mangrove ecosystem is one of the
largest found in an arid climate.
Without realising their global significance,
the local communities continue to
use mangroves as fuelwood and fodder.
In urban areas, mangroves are being
cut away for developmental activities
on the coast.
The
objectives of the WWF - Pakistan
project include rehabilitation of
mangrove-degraded areas at Sonmiani
and Jiwani in Balochistan, and Sandspit
in Karachi, Sindh. WWF - Pakistan
initiated a two-pronged approach
in this area, i.e. mangrove plantation
and community mobilisation, simultaneously.
So far a total of 200 hectares have
been rehabilitated in Sonmiani,
Jiwani and Sandspit. Rhizophora
mucronata, Ceriops tagal and Avicennia
marina have been planted in Miani
Hor (Sonmiani), while in other areas
only Avicennia marina has been sown.
Four mangrove nurseries, established
at three sites, have been stocked
with 40,000 saplings.
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Information
on the conservation of Mangroves
in the Costal areas of Sindh
and Balochistan, is available
at the Environmental Data
Resource Centre, WWF - P,
Head Office, Lahore |
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The
local community is being mobilised
by enhancing awareness on the significance
of mangroves for livelihood and
by persuading the local people to
take responsibility for conserving
mangroves. Many Community Based
Organisations (CBOs) have been established
and their capacities enhanced through
various training programmes to initiate
conservation and development activities
in the area.
These include:
• training in mangrove plantation
and nursery raising techniques
• epiculture
• report writing
• project proposal development
• smokeless fuel efficient
stove technology
• training in traditional
birth attendants for womenfolk
The communities are actively participating
in mangrove plantation, nursery
raising and monitoring.
Current
initiatives An
educational centre for women has
been established in Kakapir Village
where about 70 girls of 5 –
27 years are given informal education.
In order to improve the living conditions
of women, a health need assessment
of the community has been made.
Recognising
the social, ecological and economic
significance of the mangrove forests,
Shell Pakistan Limited, a corporate
member of WWF - Pakistan has agreed
to support a mangrove conservation
initiative. Thus, another project
has been initiated on Conservation
of Mangrove Ecosystem in the Korangi
– Phitti Creek System, in
the Indus Delta with their support.
The project aims to conserve selected
degraded mangrove forests in the
Korangi – Phitti creek area
through involvement of community,
local schoolchildren and other stakeholders
like Port Qasim Authority and the
Government Forest Department.
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