SAVING INDUS DELTA
Efforts to protect coastal communities and livelihoods in Sindh began years ago.
One of the most ambitious is the Delta Blue Carbon project, launched in 2015 to restore the delta’s vast mangrove forests.
“During the last 25 to 30 years, the mangrove cover has been enhanced 300 times,” said Shehzad Sadiq Gill, a Sindh divisional forest officer.
WWF-Pakistan has also distributed mangrove seeds and saplings to local communities, encouraging them to plant and expand forest cover.
Mangroves not only provide a natural buffer against floods and coastal erosion but also serve as vital habitats for marine species.
Despite some successes, the fight remains an uphill battle.
Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. The United Nations estimates that flooding across Pakistan this year affected almost 7 million people, claimed more than 1,000 lives, wiped out 2 million ha of fertile land, and destroyed over 229,000 homes.
Experts warn that without urgent global action to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience, Pakistanis – along with other coastal and riverine communities around the world – will continue to pay the highest price.
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