December 14, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 22, 1427

KARACHI, Dec 13: A large number of trees in the mangrove forests located near Shamspir Island in the harbour creek are being cut ruthlessly. These forests are protected under law but the law enforcers are looking the other way while the environmental massacre continues unchecked.

People living in Machhar Colony and Mohammadi Colony, across the creek, cross in boats and arrive in the creek islands covered with thick mangrove forests, cut the trees, fill their boats and sail back.

Eye witnesses said every day between eight and 10 boats – each carrying around one ton of wood – filled with massacred mangrove trees arrive in Machhar Colony and Mohammadi Colony where many shops called taal are doing a roaring business, in the contraband. The wood is primarily used as fuel in both localities that has no other source of energy and depends on the wood for cooking or warmth in winter.

Earlier, only the branches or dead mangrove trees were cut, but over the years the wood cutters have become bolder and are now cutting fully grown trees which could prove disastrous, if the practice is not checked immediately.

Mangroves play a multi-dimensional role in protecting the environment besides improving the country’s economy. The extensively developed root system of the mangroves holds the coastal soil in place and prevents land erosion.

If the cutting is not checked the soil of the islands in the creek would become loose and the harbour filled with soil tremendously increasing the dredging cost of the port.

The mangroves also act like nurseries to the various commercially important marine food species – like shrimps, prawns, lobsters, crabs etc – whose export fetches the country billions of rupees annually. They are also the city’s lungs and clear the smoke and polluted air of the metropolis.