Twenty years of Indus Delta mangroves development and rehabilitation by Sindh Forests Department, Pakistan

Summary

The Indus Delta mangroves, the world's sixth-largest mangrove block, had shrunk from about 344,870 hectares in 1966 to just 86,727 hectares by 2003, driven by reduced freshwater flow, illegal cutting for fuel and construction, livestock grazing, and sewage and industrial pollution from Karachi. Starting in 1993, Pakistan's Sindh Forests and Wildlife Department, with funding from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and national and provincial governments, ran nine successive mangrove rehabilitation projects targeting bare tidal mudflats and sparse mangrove areas across three forest ranges. Propagules and container-grown seedlings of Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia marina and other native species were raised in intertidal nurseries or collected as wild seedlings, transported by boat, and planted by hand in 3x3 metre grids during low tide, with local Jat community leaders engaged to help protect young plantings; against a target of 117,632 hectares, 70,300 hectares were planted between 1993 and 2012, achieving survival rates ranging from 50% to 90%. The program also set two Guinness World Records for mass mangrove planting, with 300 volunteers planting 541,176 seedlings in 24 hours in 2009 and 847,275 seedlings in 24 hours in 2013. Difficulties included delayed funding, stormy weather and rough tides, difficult muddy terrain, a narrow tidal planting window each day, and a shortage of skilled labor; communities also preferred Avicennia marina, valued for fuel and fodder, over Rhizophora mucronata plantings. The project rates itself successful, crediting careful site and stock selection, correct seasonal timing, strong technical supervision, regular monitoring, and sustained community involvement.