Transcript Mangroves Forests in Pakistan

Mangroves Forests in
Pakistan
Mohummad Tahir Qureshi
Coastal Ecosystem Expert
IUCN - Pakistan
International Union for Conservation of Nature
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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
International Union for Conservation of Nature
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
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Coastal & Marine Resource Potential
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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.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Distribution of Mangrove Forests
along the Coast of Pakistan
Mangrove Categories
Year
1. Dense, normal and sparse
mangroves vegetation
1932
604,870
2. Dense, normal and sparse
vegetation
1986
440,000
3. Dense, normal and sparse
vegetation
1992
160,000
4. Dense, normal and sparse
vegetation
2005
Source:
Area in Hectares
86,000 (approx.)
coastal environmental management plan for Pakistan, UNESCAP, GOP, 1996
Mangroves of Pakistan – Status & Management, IUCN Pakistan, 2005
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat
Scarcity of Fresh Water
Average Annual & Seasonal Discharge
Volumes Downstream of Kotri Barrage
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Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat
Waste disposal and pollution
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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)
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Causes of Changes in Mangrove Habitat
• Improper
management
and over
exploitation
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Ecological implications of
Destruction/Depletion of
Mangrove Resources
Change in composition of vegetation
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Ecological implications of
the Destruction of Mangroves
Sea Intrusion
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Mangrove Rehabilitation in
Pakistan
Replanting 1987-2008 30,000 hectares
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
International Union for Conservation of Nature
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.
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Mangroves protective plantation
against natural disaster (cyclone,
Tsunami) and sand dunes shifting
New nursery grounds for shrimp and
fishes
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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.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Apiculture & Ecotourism
Alternate source of Income for
Coastal Community
Mangrove Walkway
Honeybee keeping in Mangrove
International Union for Conservation of Nature
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.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Thanks
International Union for Conservation of Nature