The Pakistan's mangrove ecosystems have been degraded over the last 50 years. Ninety nine percent of these forests are found in the Indus Delta where they are facing pressure from reduced fresh water and silt supplies, marine pollution, and overharvesting of fish. The remaining one percent, found in three pockets along the Balochistan Coast, is exposed to similar threats though to a lesser degree.
Of eight species of mangroves that were found along Pakistan coast few decades back, today only four can be found. In which one specie is dominant while the others become rare or extinct. Only fifteen percent of mangroves in the Indus Delta are considered healthy. In addition to preventing coastal erosion mangroves are important in the life cycle of many marine species.
Mangroves of the Karachi are facing many pressures in which marine pollution, from industries in the Karachi area and from the urban areas that have spread as a result of the centralised industrialisation policies, is also closely linked with the drive for exports. Over 70 percent of Pakistan's international trade originates in the Karachi area. Recent structural reforms have reinforced the drive for exports but have not reduced the government's commitment to the centralised growth approach. Environmental laws go largely unenforced and industries take no responsibility for environmental protection.
Control of land based marine pollution will require enforcement of existing environmental standards and closer involvement of industry in pollution control. The total areas of the mangroves of Karachi harbour according to study carried out by SUPARCO in 2003 states that their cover is not more than 1000 ha while the Karachi harbour spreads over an area of 62 square kilometers.
Their spread is more at western backwaters then eastern backwaters. Karachi harbor and mangroves of the area are enjoying close neighbourhood more then a century. They provide numerable service free of cost to the port and adjoining areas. Now they are in doldrums due to ingress of 400 millions gallons per day of municipal and industrial liquid waste from the city through six storm water drains including Lyari River and Nahre Khayam and 13 small outfalls serving the population, peripheral to the backwater and Karachi port is along with them on this world environment day Forests: Nature at Your service.
IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES: PUT IT IN THE BOX Apart from their scenic value the mangrove trees are remarkable ecological cum-economical assets for any nation. These trees have complex breathing roots above the surface of the organically rich and oxygen depleted mud in which they live.
The network of roots and trapped sediment create productive habitat for fish, shrimps, crab, oyster, soil, mussels, and other animals living directly or indirectly on the nutrients from fallen mangrove leaves. Mangrove Forest also provides food and shelter for commercially important fish and prawns in their initial stages.
Fishing in the creeks and drainage channels and collection of shellfish from among the props roots sustain village communities, often living at subsistence level. The wood is also used for building, tanning and regrettably, burning as home fuel. Presently Karachi harbour received and estimated amount of. Apart from these ecological stresses the mangroves are also facing other negative activities includes cutting for firewood.
KPT'S INITIATIVES The Karachi Port Trust (KPT), in collaboration with the Pakistan Game Fish Association (PGFA) celebrated World Environment Day on the 5th of June 2011 by undertaking a mangrove plantation and rehabilitation project on the islands of china creek, Karachi. The project is named "Mangroves for the better environment" and is a much needed environmental enhancement initiative which promises to make a significantly positive impact on the biodiversity of the chosen project area over the coming years as the planted mangrove forest community grows and takes hold.
The first step in any effort at conservation of mangroves is to assess the present state of damage. KPT has undertaken a detailed survey to assess the losses, the reason for those losses, and the quantum of re plantation required. This survey has also revealed as to which areas could be recovered through revitalisation and which area would require re plantation.
Certain areas would require re-plantation since they have been completely cleaned of mangroves. Re-plantation is being undertaken in two ways: transplantation and seeding. There are certain areas where saplings are growing but, due to thick growth already saturating the area, these saplings have little chances of survival.
These are being transplanted to areas, which are totally denuded of mangroves. Seeding would of course supplement this effort to grow trees in new areas. KPT has also sought assistance from international bodies like IUCN WWF and Coastal Forest Department of Government of Sindh in terms of expertise for re-plantation
POLLUTION CONTROL As highlighted, pollution is a major hazard for the mangroves. The Pollution Control Department of the port regularly checks activities of vessels berthed in the port which are repugnant to pollution control laws of the port. Violators are fined on contravention which could lead to pollution in harbour. Surface oil and floating debris is collected by boats dedicated for this purpose. Provision has also been made for oily waste reception facility. The KPT staff also conducts regular environmental audit of factories located on the periphery of the harbour. All these measures have substantially contributed towards reducing pollution in the channel. Efforts are in hand to make this system more effective through advance technologies.
CLEANING OF THE HARBOUR Karachi Harbour waters are loaded with floating garbage through various land based sources. Removal of harbour water surface is being conducted on daily basis. This floating garbage mostly contains plastic is toxic to the marine environment. The Mangrove also suffers when the plastic bags get stuck covering their aerial roots. In addition floating garbage and suspended plastic bags pose operational difficulties in the harbour besides being aesthetically unpleasant.
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT They are important because:
--- They support coastal fisheries for livelihood of coastal dwellers
--- Store house of the unique type of biodiversity
--- Protect shores from strong tidal actions and storms and tsunamis
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