The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has recovered a wide swathe of mangrove forests from squatters, starting afforestation efforts to save the coastal ecosystem.
Over time, encroachers began cutting down mangrove forests (locally known as timar forests) for the building of residential units, which affected the forests' growth.
A spokesperson for the KPT stated that mangrove forests are crucial for the marine environment. Hence, as per the agenda of the Prime Minister's Task Force, the organisation has recently been removing illegal encroachments from these occupied lands and reclaiming them, planting timar trees in a large area around Mai Kolachi Road.
The KPT has also expressed its determination that a large number of these trees be planted during the plantation season. The responsibility to protect the mangrove forests and prevent their cutting, however, remains a responsibility of the Sindh Forest Department.
Until 1980, dense mangrove forests of eight species existed along the coastline of Karachi. However, during the past four decades, the federal and provincial institutions have allowed the occupation of two to three kilometres of the coastal land for the construction of expensive residential and commercial schemes. This is despite the fact that mangroves are protected forests under national and international laws and cannot be cut down.
According to details obtained by the Express Tribune, Karachi's 75-kilometre-long coastline runs parallel to multiple fishermen settlements and residential areas including Ibrahim Hydari, Rehri, Chashma Goth, Lath Basti, Machhar Colony, Hijrat Colony, Mai Kolachi, Korangi Creek, Hawkes Bay, Sandspit, Mubarak Village, Kaka Pir, Shams Pir, Keamari, Manora, Baba Bhit Island, Sultanabad, Clifton and Defence.
Dr Syed Nawaz Al-Huda, a regional planner, revealed that tamarisk forests, which were being cut down from the areas near Korangi Creek Industrial Park and Macchar Colony, had a role to play in reducing the city's air pollution and controlling its temperature.
1722323750-0/BeFunky-collage-(6)1722323750-0-270x192.webp "frank ocean responds to playboi carti s 2023 challenge by dropping new song snippet")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ