LAHORE, Oct 30: The WWF fears adverse impact on mangrove forest biodiversity of the islands of Bundal and Buddo as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has in principle approved the development of Diamond Bar Island city at the twin islands off Port Qasim.

The total area of the Bundal and Buddo islands is 2,385 hectares. The mangrove forest, a unique natural ecological system, covers around 10.5 per cent or 251 hectares.

Mangroves are trees and woody shrubs that occupy tropical coastline throughout the world. Studies have shown that 60-80 per cent of the world’s commercial fisheries catch is from the mangroves habitat. Birds use this habitat as roosting, feeding and breeding grounds.

The WWF laments that the government is taking decisions that harm natural environment and are against its own environment policy announced last year.

Under the policy, the government has targeted to increase forest area from current 4.8 per cent to 5.7 per cent by 2010.

Some other government documents like the Pakistan Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper also announce commitment to improve natural ecosystem.

But the WWF regrets that “not much is being done to actually achieve the targets for conserving nature.”

It appeals to the government to have a far-sighted approach and balance the need to preserve the country’s unique natural environment, which is also a lifeline for local fishermen living in these areas for centuries.

It demands that at no cost the mangrove forest should be affected.