Mangroves Forests in Pakistan Mohummad Tahir Qureshi Coastal Ecosystem Expert IUCN - Pakistan

Largest arid climate mangroves in the World Maritime Zone is one of the most productive areas in the world 80 percent of the World’s oil tankers pass through Pakistan water Government of Pakistan earns 8.8 billion rupees on exports, on an average annually

Coastal & Marine Resource Potential 90 million tons is the world wide catches of marine fishes per annum and 0.665 million tons is the catch in Pakistan About 450 sp: of fish are recorded from Arabian sea and Pakistan has over 100 sp: 25 sp: of fish are of commercial importance

Coastal & Marine Resource Potential Over 150,000 people use about 36,000 tons of mangrove fire wood per month along Pakistan coast. About 16,000 camels, 4,000-6,000 cows and water buffaloes and 2,500 – 3,000 cattle graze in mangroves.

Distribution of Mangrove Forests along the Coast of Pakistan Mangrove Categories Year Area in Hectares Dense, normal and sparse mangroves vegetation 1932 604,870 vegetation 1986 440,000 vegetation 1992 160,000 vegetation 2005 86,000 (approx.) Source: coastal environmental management plan for Pakistan, UNESCAP, GOP, 1996 Mangroves of Pakistan – Status & Management, IUCN Pakistan, 2005

Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat Scarcity of Fresh Water Average Annual & Seasonal Discharge Volumes Downstream of Kotri Barrage

Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat Waste disposal and pollution

Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat Marine Pollution Municipal Waste: 104 million gallons/day Industrial Waste: 175 million gallons/day (Tanneries Power Plants, Steel Mills, Harbours, Ports etc ) Oil Pollution: 1.5 million tons/year International Conventions relating to Sea MARPOL 73-78 Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matters Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Control of Transboundary movement and hazardous waste and their disposal. Laws Relating to Pakistan Pakistan Penal Code 1861 Port Act 1905 Factories Act 1934 Regulating Bodies / Agencies Maritime Security Agency (MSA), Sindh and Balochistan (Environmental Protection Agencies), Port Authorities, Fish Harbour Authorities Source: Karachi Development Authority (2000)

Improper management and over exploitation Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat Improper management and over exploitation

Ecological implications of Destruction/Depletion of Mangrove Resources Change in composition of vegetation

Ecological implications of the Destruction of Mangroves Sea Intrusion

Mangrove Rehabilitation in Pakistan Replanting 1987-2008 30,000 hectares Plantation Organizations involved – IUCN-Pakistan, Gwader Development Authority (GDA), Port Qasim Authority, Balochistan & Sindh Forests and Wildlife Deptt, Balochistan Coastal Development Authority, District Govt. Communities Nursery

Re-introduction of 2 mangroves species to increase biodiversity along Balochistan Coast To develop effective methods of rehabilitating degraded mangroves forests, using both artificial and assisted natural regeneration.

Mangroves protective plantation against natural disaster (cyclone, Tsunami) and sand dunes shifting New nursery grounds for shrimp and fishes 14

Awareness Raising & Capacity Building to raise awareness among the coastal communities, in order to promote sustainable use of mangrove forest to build the capacity of the Sindh and Balochistan forest departments. to provide technical back stropping to the agencies responsible for the conservation of mangrove forests.

Honeybee keeping in Mangrove Apiculture & Ecotourism Alternate source of Income for Coastal Community - Ecotourism Mangrove Walkway -Apiculture Honeybee keeping in Mangrove

Suggestions and Recommendations Minimum environmental flows should be released down the Kotri barrage for ecosystem and livelihood of local population. The pollution should be treated at source before discharging into the sea. Deep sea fishing policy should be developed in consultation with coastal community. Government should sanction long term mangrove forests and fisheries rehabilitation project along the coast of Pakistan. Coastal communities should be involved in coastal resource management at all levels. Communities should be provided alternatives for reducing their dependence on mangrove ecosystems.

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