A report on the state of the mangrove forests of Pakistan, a remarkable species which survive when fresh water meets the salt waters of the sea. In Pakistan's Indus Delta, these forests are fast declining because of man's influence. Indus Delta, Pakistan. 25/12/2009. (Images taken between 12/2007-12/2009.) I have been covering mangrove forests of Pakistan since 2006. They are a remarkable species which survive when fresh water meets salty waters of the sea. In Pakistan, Indus Delta has around 129,000 ha of mangrove forests, which is fast declining due to various human-impacted reasons. Foremost among them is the shrinkage of Indus river water in recent years due to dams, which were built up-river to supply water to agricultural lands of Punjab and Sindh. Much of that water is illegally used by many Punjabi landlords despite government restrictions. Another reason is illegal cutting of the wood for fire and for selling by locals and from illegal immigrants from Burma and Bengal. Mangrove forests support a large number of fish specie which in turn support a number of birds and snakes. Migratory birds during winter season also drop by for some meal. Depletion of mangrove forest, which is estimated around 6% annually, is likely to destroy not only the fish and bird species, who call it their home; it is likely to eliminate coastal communities who depend on fishing to survive. For all fish living here survives on these mangroves. In 1950s there were 8 species of mangroves recorded in Pakistan. Now, only 3 species remain. 95% forest is covered by specie called Avicennia Marina. This is the specie photographed here.
