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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keti Bunder
Scarcity of fresh water in the area from the Indus and seawater intrusion into the
land has been degrading the area.
Communities in and around main creeks in Keti Bunder area have cattle,
buffaloes and camels. Camels have popularly supposed to have aversion to
water and not to thrive in damp areas but in Delta region, camels feed on
mangrove foliage, wading in the mud and swim in the creeks (Hoekstra et al.
1997). Faqirani Jat community in Keti Bunder kept majority of the camels. During
monsoon season, camels of inland communities are also grazed in creeks area.
According to one estimate there are about 5000 camels in mangrove areas
(Hoekstra et al. (1997), however, Qureshi (1985) reported a total of 16,000 in the
entire Delta region. Correct estimates are still required particularly in creeks
adjacent to Keti Bunder where lot of camel grazing is obvious. Camels are
generally kept to raise cash income through sale of one year old males. These
animals are also kept for sacrifices on Eid festival. Milking of camels is generally
for family consumption. Camels generally browse Avicennia marina foliage,
however, in Kharochan area they also graze on grasses growing on mud flats. In
mangrove area, camels are not herded and they keep on grazing free. Drinking
water to camels is provided through boats. Camels stay permanently in
mangroves year-round except for two months (June – July) when they are moved
to some high lying areas near the sea for mating. Some of the herders reported to
move camels to an open area during June/July due to presence of biting flies in
mangroves (Hoekstra et al.1997)
The earlier authors have described two systems of mangrove management;
formal and non-formal. In the formal system, Forest Department issues permits to
local communities in ‘Protected Forests’ in exercise of their customary rights for
collection of wood and livestock grazing against a nominal fee. However, neither
such fee has been collected for the last 15 years nor access been denied to any
body except replanted areas (Hoekstra et al.1997). In non-formal system of
management, Jat community being more influential in exploitation of vegetation
and fish resources of mangrove ecosystem have sub divided the mangrove areas
of Keti Bunder among villagers. An island allocated to a particular village is
permanently utilized by that village for grazing camels. When such islands
become devoid of vegetation due to continuous grazing, they are allocated
another island.
1.1.1 State of natural resource
• Natural Vegetation: Keti Bunder being a deltaic region mainly consists of
Mangrove forests. These forests are managed by Sindh Forest
Department. They fall under the category of “Protected Forests” vide West
Pakistan Government Notification No. S.O.A. (X) F&A/581X-(32) dated
August 29, 1958 and the land, water Lakes and dhoras in Keti Bunder
falling under the jurisdiction of this notification are regarded as Wildlife
Sanctuary vide Government of Sindh Wildlife & Forest Department
Notification No. WL&FT (DCF-GEN-269).77 dated September 25, 1977.
In Keti Bunder, mangroves cover an area of 40,874 ha out of which
14,733 ha area falls under dense mangroves while remaining area
constitutes normal and sparse vegetation (Qureshi 1985). Dense forests
are found in narrow stretches or in blocks along creeks with profuse
growth of Avicennia marina locally known as Timer. Qureshi (1985)
mentioned that eight species of mangroves have been reported to occur
in the area but four species have been lost from Indus Delta including Keti
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