Mangroves conservation highlighted for climate regulation
Two institutions of the University of Karachi—Muhammad
Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilisation (MAK-ISHU) and
Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) jointly organised a seminar to mark
the World Mangroves Day, with the collaboration of the Sindh Forest Department
at KU, recently.
The Chief Conservator of the Forest Department, Riaz
Ahmed Wagan, informed the audience that the Indus Delta located in Thatta,
Sujawal, Badin and Karachi had shown the existence of eight species of
mangroves in the past, but, at present, only four of them are found, i.e.,
Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Ceriops
tagal.
He expressed the view that mangroves also have
economic importance as according to the World Bank 2022 report, the value of
one hectare of well-stocked mangrove forest area is US$58,000, and the overall
asset value of mangroves of the Indus Delta is approximately US$12,200 million
by way of supporting fish and shrimp breeding, timber, tourism, habitat
provision to wild life, and grazing ground for the livestock of locals.
Moreover, he added, it contributed to global climate
regulation (carbon sequestration and retention), soil (and sediment) erosion
control, coastal protection, solid waste remediation, soil erosion control, and
recreation and education-related services.
At the same time, he shared that shortage of fresh
water and silt depositions from the River Indus, enhanced deltaic salinity
levels, increased rate of coastal erosion, sea-intrusion in fertile areas,
industrial and municipal pollution result in the death of young seedlings and
associated marine life. “Cutting of mangroves for fuel, fodder, and grazing are
also some direct threats to the mangroves.”
Riaz Wagan mentioned that due to continuous
rehabilitation efforts since 2008 in the restoration process of Indus Delta
mangroves Pakistan is currently occupying 10th position globally and
the fifth position in Asia.
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A keynote speaker from Pakuan University, Indonesia, Dr Dolly Priatna, in his online address, said that his country has the largest mangrove area on earth, covering 3.36 million hectares i.e., 23 per cent of the world’s mangrove area. “However, about 40 per cent of Indonesia’s mangroves were lost in the last three decades,” he mentioned.
According to him, mangroves supported in restoration,
protection, and conservation of endangered species like the Sumatran tiger,
elephant, and Sumatran and Bornean orangutan.
Dr Priatna sighted deforestation and land conversion
for agriculture and aquaculture, urban development and industrial pollution,
illegal logging and wood extraction, mining activities, government policies and
enforcement issues, community practices and economic incentives, climate
change, and rising sea levels as reasons that are threatening the mangrove
ecosystems.
KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi
observed that scientific events should be arranged regularly about the
awareness of climate-based research to educate not only students and faculty
members belonging to different disciplines but also the general public, who are
the taxpayers, so that they may realise real threats for future generations.
KU Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Dr
Musarrat Jahan Yousuf remarked that biologists and zoologists should work
together for bringing betterment in the world’s ecosystem and environment. She
observed that mangroves can also be used for honey production but it would
require detailed research to know which mangrove species can be helpful in this
regard.
A former KU faculty member, Professor Dr Salman
Gulzar, read out the message of Director General of Unesco Audrey Azoulay,
mentioning that mangroves constitute a link between land and sea. “These plants
form a rare and fragile universe; a haven of life that must be protected as
they are in danger.”
Director KU MAK-ISHU Professor Dr Irfan Aziz
highlighted the importance of mangroves, saying they have very unique ecosystem
for the coastline and deltaic region. “One of the most important benefits of
mangroves is their ability to sequester large amounts of blue carbon from the
atmosphere. This makes them one of the most effective natural tools for mitigating
climate change,” he added.
Director KU-IES Dr Farrukh Nawaz shared that mangroves
are important for ecosystem balance and coastal protection.
Courtesy: Social Track, weekly.
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