Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

1.1
3.1
The Sindh coastal region extends from the Sir Creek on the east, and the Hub River estuary
along the Balochistan coast on the west. This coastal region is about 350 km long and can be
divided into the Indus Delta and Karachi coast. Mangrove forests comprise the main coastal
vegetation earlier extending over some 600,000 hectares in between Karachi and the border
between Pakistan and India (Meynell and Qureshi 1995). These forests are now shrunk to less
than 80,000 Ha. The Indus Delta mangroves are perhaps unique in being the largest area of arid
climate mangroves in the world. It is estimated that 100,000 people belonging to different
communitiesare taking benefits forthemselves and theirlivestock.
These communities use the creek waters and coastal sea for fishing, and the mangroves for
02
harvesting fuel wood and fodder and browsing areas for their animals. The grassy mudflats are
also used for gazing buffaloes and cattle. During the monsoon season, herders from further
away, graze their livestock onsome parts of the system. It provides breeding groundfor variety of
fish, shrimps, crabs and other invertebrates. Mangroves are of great significance as a source of
nutrients for fisheries. Since majority of the people residing near or around the coastal areas are
engaged in fishing and related activities, mangroves make an important contribution to the local
and national economy. Avicenna marina (Timar) is the main mangrove species that comprises
99%ofthe totalmangrove vegetation.
The coastal wetlands attract a number of migratory birds, particularly waterfowl. Two species of
turtles are also found in the shores of the Karachi coastline. These are the Green Turtle
( Cheldnoia mydas) and Olive Ridley Turtles ( Lepidochelys olivacea).
Karachi coast is known for
high diversity of birdsand marine mammals.
3.2
Coastal Ecosystem:
Riverine Forest Ecosystem:
The importance of forests is expected to increase worldwide in the new millennium for
preservation of environment, stabilizing of climate and conservation of all kinds of biodiversity.
There is big diversity in the types of forests in Pakistan. These are from the temperate to the dry
lands interspersed with Riverine forests along the Indus River. Ahmad (1953) described two
types of forests in Sindh; “ the forests growing inside the flood embankments along the Indus
River are called Riverine forests and the other are situated outside embankments are called
Inland forests”. Riverine forest further subdivided in to Pakko and Kacho forests. Pakko forests
are situated awayfromthe riverbank while Kacho forests are near the riverbank.
Riverine forests are one of the important ecosystems of Sindh which provide fuel wood,
timber, fodder, honey and tannin as a source of livelihood for thousands of people. Moreover,
they serve as carbon sinks and also protect the surrounding areas from the severity of floods.
These forests are mainly characterized by trees and shrubs. The main tree species grown are
Babul ( Acacia nilotica), Kandi ( Prosopis cineraria), Lai ( Tamarix spp), and Bahn ( Populus
Euphortica).
In many parts, the riverine forests are badly invaded by the alien species
Prosopis julifloria (Devi) which has replaced many native species.
Total area of Riverine forests and irrigated plantations is 323,350 ha spread in 14 districts,
which make 2.3% of Sindh province. According to Wani et al.
(2004) Riverine forests occupy
0.332 million hectares area (m ha) in Pakistan that is about 7% of total forests in forestland.
The Sindh province owns 0.272 m ha Riverine forests, which is about 82% of total Riverine
forest area in the country. These figures depict that the Sindh province is rich in Riverine
forests. (Natural VegetationAssessment, 2008).
Depletion of Riverine forest resources reached such an alarming proportion that harvesting
had to be banned in 1993 for two years. As a result of a declining trend in the annual
inundation from the Indus, a nominal area is revived every year in the Riverine forests. Most of
the Riverine forests are known as 'Reserved Forests' or 'Protected Forests' under the
"Pakistan ForestsAct, 1927".
(Xi)