Keti Bandar: Forest and Wildlife Department, Government of Sindh and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan have jointly kick-started the Spring Plantation Campaign at Keti Bandar, Sindh on Thursday.
The event attracted a cross-section of the population and was compelled to join Senior Government Officials of the Forest and Wildlife Department, journalists and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Staff.
The Keti Bunder site for the Spring Plantation was selected due to its significance as unique in being the largest arid climate mangrove in the world. The site is also significant as Pakistan set a Guinness World Record by the Sindh Forest Department on June 22, 2013 for planting a maximum number of mangroves saplings at Keti Bunder.
While briefing on the occasion Mr. Riaz Wagan, Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Sindh said that the Spring Plantation is taking place in all the districts of Sindh under the Green Pakistan Programme with the theme of local species. “5000 mangrove saplings are being planted by the local community volunteers at Keti Bunder today”.
The objective of the Programme is to improve forest and wildlife sectors in the country in line with the best international approach and practices. “Protection and management of wildlife and reclaiming and developing forest areas are the main aspects of the programme”, he said.
Conservator mangroves, Agha Tahir Hussain, said that eight species of mangroves were found in the Indus Delta but unfortunately four of them have become extinct and the only four species exist ; Avecennia Marina (Teemur =local name), Rhizophora mucronata(Kumree=local name), Ceriops tagal (Kir’rree=local name) and Aegiceras corniculatum (Chaan’har =local name).
Telling the importance of the plants, he said that Mangroves create an ecosystem that helps and offers a safe home for variety of organisms including algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, bryozoans and a variety of small fishes. “The roots of the plant secure young organisms from the large animals to attack them”, he added.
The plants not only prevent erosion of sea-water but it also secures land from salt-water immersion. “When hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis and other storms turn to coastal areas of Sindh, its massive roots dissipate wave energy and expel them away”, he said.
The Natural Resource Management Expert from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Dr. Babar Hussain said that Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, called Halophytes which are adapted to the low oxygen condition of waterlogged mud.
He briefed the media on the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), government and local communities in protecting the mangrove forest.
To withstand the challenges of deforestation and Climate Change, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has taken the initiative to launch a Program called “Green Pakistan Programme” across the country. The programme targets to add 100 million plants over the next five years all over the country. This includes one thousand avenue miles of Canal Side & Roadside Plantations in Punjab, KP and Sindh, plantations in Changa Manga, Darphar, Bahawalpur and Chichawatni, Mangroves forests in Karachi and Badin along with hill forests of Khirthar Range in Sindh,Juniper forests of Ziarat and Chilghoza forest in Suleiman Ranges of Balochistan and areas in GB, AJK, Muree, Hazara, KotliSattian, Malakand, Fata (Orakzai, North Waziristan, etcetra ) are some of the locations counted for plantations.
The Balcohistan Programme Manager, Mr. Faiz Kakar delivered a short speech on the importance of Forestation and Environment on the occasion.
IUCN Islamabad Office joined the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad in the nationwide Spring Plantation the Rose and Jasmine Garden, Islamabad. IUCN Pakistan put up stalls to display its publications and material.
The programme has been commenced and will be continued till 2021; providing its fruitful and ever-lasting impacts on society.