Climate Change Impact on Mangrove Forests in Pakistan

Abstract

Mangroves are shrubs and trees mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical regions along the coastlines. Mangroves being halophytes could survive in soil with high salinity and low oxygen. There are significant number of mangroves species and genera usually found in dense and thickets. In Pakistan mangrove forests are in Sindh and Balochistan provinces in coastal areas along Arabian sea. Mangrove ecosystem provides breeding space, habitat and niches to several flora and fauna. This ecosystem makes available number of goods (timber and timber products, food and livelihoods, recreation and sports, employment and business) and services (clean water and healthy environment, prevention of shoreline erosion and protection from storms, carbon sequestration and carbon sinks). Additionally, that very ecosystem does contribute to local and national economy. All this demand sustainability of mangrove ecosystem which has been threatened by anthropogenic activities (cutting of trees, clearing of forest areas for agriculture, housing, urbanization, industrialization) and climate change (global warming, rising sea level, high salinity, storm surges). Things if not controlled timely may cause biodiversity loss, unemployment, unproductive local community exposed to the risk of extreme weather conditions. This situation warrants to adopt holistic but inclusive approach while taking all stakeholders on board and framing ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Policy’ and undertaking best conservation practices to save mangrove forests of Pakistan.