Assessment of gaps in law for protection and rehabilitation of coastal managrov forests in Pakistan.

Abstract

Around the world, mangroves are considered one of the most vulnerable forest ecosystems. These are mainly found along the coasts of the tropics and subtropics where rivers bring fresh water and silt from the continent to the sea. Mangrove forests face severe stresses that threaten their sustainability and existence in Pakistan. These coastal forests are found in the Indus Delta in Sindh and in the coastal areas of Sonmiani, Kalmat and Gawatar Bay in Balochistan. A significant reduction in the supply of fresh water and an increase in the pollution of seawater by industries as well as overexploitation of mangroves and fish by local populations, sedimentation, demographic stress and coastal erosion are generally considered to be the immediate causes of mangrove loss in Pakistan. The Forestry and Fisheries Department is responsible for the management of mangrove forests in Pakistan. These forests were declared “protected forests” in 1958 under the Pakistan Forest Act of 1927, and the water channels were declared “wildlife sanctuaries” in 1977 under the Sind Wildlife Ordinance Protection of 1972. The management of this ecosystem is very difficult and problematic due to the inaccessibility of most areas and the fishing and grazing rights of the local population. Various projects have been undertaken in the past and in the current scenario to conserve the resources of the mangrove areas. Mangroves have not been able to attract the necessary attention due to the lack of explicit legislation. Lessons should be learned from countries like Malaysia and Bangladesh, which have successfully rehabilitated, restored and conserved their mangrove resources. Strong planning with the collaboration of local institutes at the grassroots level will be useful to build their capacity and easily achieve goals, and they will also help to achieve conservation goals in a sustainable manner.