MANGROVE forests are an integral part of the delta ecosystem of Sindh’s districts of Karachi, Thatta (now also Sujawal) and to a lesser extent Badin.

Forests in Sindh, particularly riverine forests, have suffered badly over the last about four decades. But I am happy to share that mangrove forest planting work by the Sindh Forest Department, particularly in Keti Bunder and Shah Bunder areas, is an inspiring success. The Sindh Forest Department has been able to raise, in collaboration with local communities, over 20,000 hectares during the last two decades (which can also be corroborated through GIS images at different times). The Sindh Forest Department also achieved two Guinness World Records (GWR) respectively in 2009 and 2013. Both these GWR sites are excellent emerging and thriving forests which were visited by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Sindh, on Jan 22 last. Despite such tremendous success, a section of the press is carrying unfounded and negative stories about mangroves in Keti Bunder areas.

The minister for forests, during a question and answer session in the Sindh Assembly on Jan 26 last about forests told parliamentarians about this success and invited them to visit Keti Bunder and Shah Bunder areas.

Similarly, media personnel are also requested to contact the chief forest conservator’s office at Hyderabad to arrange such a visit so that an inspiring story can be shared with a wider society.

Aijaz A. Nizamani

Chief Conservator of Forests

Sindh, Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016