Sindh is blessed with a potentially rich coastal belt situated in the south-western part of the country. Its seaward coast line is spread over an area of 338 kms comprising the Indus delta— one of the largest areas of mangroves and the seventh largest delta in the world.

It is typical fan-shaped built up by the discharge of large quantity of silt washed down by river Indus’ rough tides in summer, moderate in winter and high wave energy conditions.

Experts have estimated silt discharge of over 400 million tones per year. Delta has been swinging southwards and westward from time to time. With the increased abstraction of water up-streams, quantity of silt reaching the delta is now less than a quarter of this. Land reforms are remarkably uniform and the region consists of 16 major creeks and extensive mud flats covered with mangroves which form typical ecosystem for providing food, shelter and breeding ground to shrimp, various species of fish, lobsters, crabs and wildlife, etc.

The climate of coastal belt is arid sub-tropical with an average rain-fall of about 220mm, 67 per cent average humidity, 26.7 C mean annual temperature and 21.8 C mean surface water temperature. Monsoon winds blow from the south-west during summer and from the north-east during the winter. The climate is typically maritime in nature which is mild and pleasant for greater part of the year, except when a local disturbance during winter and summer takes place. The maximum area for the landward boundary for the definition of the coastal area has been 5 kms. beyond highest tidal level.

This highest tide for this particular area is three meters (10 ft) plus contour from the sea level, however it is four meters (13 ft) contour for Thatta and Badin districts, but at many places it goes upto 25 miles from the average sea-line or 40 kms as has been investigated by experts. The matter was discussed in a workshop organized by the Sindh forest and wildlife department on 27th Feb, 2003, wherein the boundary of the coastal area was agreed upto 25 miles or 40 kms from the coast.

The recent studies reveal that mangrove cover ranges from 263,000 ha. in 1978, but now it has been reduced to around 162,000 ha. with average annual losses of 1.8 per cent. Despite this, it provides most productive ecosystem that can survive under these harsh conditions. The forest provides employment and livelihood to more than 100,000 people associated with fish industry, forage for 16,000 camels, 5000 buffaloes and 1000 goats, fuel wood to 120,000 people and other products to 28,570 households. In addition, wild fauna and flora, acting as barrier for the protection of coastal region and ports against the disastrous natural phenomenon such as cyclones, wind storms, floods, soil erosion etc.

Studies further reveal that Sindh coastal zone is one of the most important national economic resource,where highly concentrated socio- economic activities contribute 83 per cent of the coastal economy of the country. Shrimp and fisheries are found here in commercial quantities, but fish resources of the province are not fully exploited and fish processing facilities in coastal areas are almost non-existent except in Karachi. The processing and handling facilities for fish and shrimp on boats are unhygienic and primitive.

Due to reduced flow of annual fresh water below Kotri, the situation in the coastal belt is becoming highly alarming, not only affecting the human and wildlife but harming the flora and fauna. The negative impacts include decline in the flow of alluvium, increase in salinity, sea intrusion, change in geo-morphology, adverse impact on vegetation, habitat and bio-diversity losses, social impact on unemployment etc.

Sea water intrusion has been estimated at 33 per cent of the total land or 0.485 mha. in the coastal area of Thatta and Badin districts. The mangrove ecosystem is being degraded and is now virtually mono-specific and comparatively stunted with 1.8 per cent losses per year due to reduced water flows, and over-use. Lack of drinking water and livelihood opportunities have forced the people of coastal area to migrate to other places.

The impact on agriculture is also negative due to which value of agriculture land has been reduced. The prize brown rice, milk, butter, palla fish, marine, wildlife, agriculture, and invertebrates, drinking water etc, either have disappeared or have been threatened due to shortage of water and chronic pollution which has resulted in poverty, unemployment and migration of the inhabitants of the coastal belt.

Multi-disciplinary approach with remedial measures listed below are thus required to save the coastal belt of Sindh which represents unique geographical and cultural mangrove ecosystem of this bio-diversity sensitive region:

* Ensure required fresh water for survival of 0.26 mha. mangroves estimated by experts at a maximum flow of 1 cusec per 40 ha. or a total of 27 maf. The studies reveal that 20 maf water actually reaches mangrove forest and the rest will be evaporated or percolated. The percolated water recharges ground water and is being used for drinking purposes and resists the sea intrusion. Even against Sindh’s demand of 10 maf water below Kotri, the total water released down stream Kotri during 2000-01, 2001-2 and 2002-3 amounted to only 0.7 maf, 1.9 maf and 2.1 maf respectively which has brought the deltic range at the verge of collapse.

* Construction of coastal highway from Keti Bandar to Ali Bandar via Shah Bandar to open avenues of coastal development.

* Preparation of master plan for coastal area of Sindh to maintain the uniform integrated development in the area.

* Conducting survey and mapping of coastal area resources and geo-economic future of the belt through remote sensing and satellite sensor image.

* Finding viable solutions for coastal pollution and protection.

* Development of tourism industry.

* Providing drinking water with pipelines, hand pumps to reduce the migration of inhabitants to towns and cities.

* Establishing industrial zones to cater to the requirements of expansion and diversification of the economy and also to usher planned industrial development for attracting large investments to exploit the potential of the area.

* Arranging electricity by developing local coal-based power station at Keti Bandar.

* Boat building and Ship breaking industry be started.

* Credit facilities with low mark-up be made available for artisans, fishermen, farming community, small entrepreneurs, etc.