Daily Times

KARACHI: Careem, an App-based transportation network company has joined hands with World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan (WWF) to plant 180,000 mangrove plants along Sindh and Balochistan coast to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

With this initiative, Careem became part of WWF-Pakistan’s recently launched ‘Rang Do Pakistan’ campaign. Officials of Careem and WWF jointly planted 50 mangrove saplings at WWF-Pakistan’s wetland centre near the Sandspit beach. According to WWF-Pakistan officials, 180,000 plants would be planted in next one year at Sandspit beach and Sonmyani of Balochistan.

WWF-Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan regional head told Daily Times that as a part of this collaboration, Careem will pay Rs 20 for each plant. This means that the company would pay Rs 3.6 million (m) for 180,000 mangrove saplings.

“This initiative will not only help restore the lost mangrove forest cover but will also build resilience of the local communities to tackle climate change and other natural disasters particularly soil erosion and coastal flooding in the area,” said Khan. He added that the campaign aimed to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, regulate water cycles and increase green cover across the country.

The Rung Do Pakistan campaign is a joint initiative of WWF-Pakistan, Careem and other partners with the aim of planting a total of 1.4 m trees across the country by August 2019 through active participation of different stakeholders, local communities and passionate individuals. Careem has contributed in the campaign by raising funds through the ‘Rung Do Pakistan’ car type in its app.

“The annual deforestation rate of Pakistan is 1.63 percent, therefore we owe it to our country to give back what we’ve taken,” said Careem Marketing Director Omair Abdin. He added that Careem aspiresd to help the community achieve self-sustenance and growth. ” Plantation takes us one step closer to our goal,” he added. “Careem cares about the environment and looks to partner with organizations across the country to help spread awareness and make whatever difference it can for its community,” he said. Abdin was then asked whether planting 180,000 mangrove plants would help mitigate the damage the company’s cars were inflicting on the environment by emitting green house gases. He admitted that planting 180,000 mangroves was not enough. “Careem will plant more trees in the near future,” he announced.

Addressing the plantation ceremony, Dr. Babar Khan said that Pakistan was recognized as the country with the 7th largest mangrove forest in the world. “They are one of the primary features of coastal ecosystems and are widely spread across the coast of Pakistan. The majority of mangrove forests are found in the Indus Delta, a region categorized as one of the most productive Global 200 Ecoregions of the world,” said Khan. He also shared that mangroves were the first line of defence against cyclones, strong surges, tsunami and other natural calamities impacting the coastal areas of Pakistan.

Khan said that mangroves were critically important because of their role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, community livelihoods, and food security. “We consider mangroves jewels of the coastline as they enhance its aesthetic value and appeal to a diverse species of birds and fishes,” he added.

During the visit, this scribe visited the site where in January, WWF had planted 27,000 saplings in collaboration with corporate giant the Artistic Fabric and Garment Industries (AFGI) Pvt Ltd. The plants were supposed to be planted by March 23 but the venue only had a few wilted saplings. Dr Babar Khan said that the plants had dried when the area got submerged with seawater. “Yes, only few hundred plants were planted but after they submerged and wilted, we planted the rest of the saplings at another location,” Dr Khan told Daily Times. The mangrove ecosystem provides shelter and is a nursing ground for different fish species as well as other fauna of the area. Presently, mangroves face multiple threats such as environmental degradation, ruthless cutting and dumping of sewage waste water. The reduced freshwater flow in the Indus Delta and other mangrove forest areas is leading to a decline in productivity and nourishment of their habitat leading to mangrove deaths.

Published in Daily Times, October 13^th 2018.