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Final Report of Vegetation Assessment
2.9.1 Introduction
WWF has ranked the terrestrial Global 200 Ecoregions by their conservation status. Indus
Ecoregion is one of the Global 200 Ecoregions. This ecoregion inhabits one of the only four
obligate freshwater dolphin species, the Indus River Dolphin, more than 320 species of birds,
38 endemic fish species and marine turtles. Eight Ramsar sites are included in the Indus
Delta ecoregion; Haleji Lake, Jubho lagoon, Keenjhar Lake, Nurri Lagoon, Deh Akro 11
Wetlands Complex, Drigh Lake, Indus Dolphin Reserve and Indus Delta.
Indus Delta occupies an approximate area of 600,000 hectares. Seventeen major creeks and
innumerable minor creeks and extensive mud flats characterize it. It is classified as the fifth
largest delta in the world.
The creeks of Indus Delta Ramsar Site provide support to marine cetaceans in the creeks,
Smooth coated otter, Marsh crocodile and eight freshwater Turtle species. Recent surveys
2005 - 2006 indicated a variety of small marine cetaceans in the creeks such as Indo Pacific
Humpback Dolphin (59), Bottle-nosed Dolphins (18) and Finless Porpoise (52) and these
numbers increased to 976, 68 and 241, respectively in the beach surveys. Indus Delta also
supports other marine life including economically important marine and freshwater fish
resources. Due to unsustainable fishing practices and reduced water flows, fish catch has
declined. Palla (Tenulosa ilisha) locally swims up from the Arabian Sea to spawn in
freshwater. Many species have become extinct or are endangered, such as freshwater
Gharial (extinct in the wild), Olive Ridley and Green Turtles. Hog deer that was common in the
riverine forests area has become endangered.
It is estimated that about 160,000 hectares of Indus Delta is occupied by mangrove
vegetation. Mangrove ecosystems are considered to be highly productive and support local
fisheries resources. Mangrove forest is an integral part of inter-tidal zone of the coastal
environment extending throughout the tropics and subtropics of the world (Giri and Delsol,
1993). The term mangrove forest does not imply woody plants alone but includes other flora
and fauna which utilize a coastal, saline, depositional environment, involving a variety of
coastal landforms, with typically anaerobic soil (Ashraf et al. 2004).
In the recorded history, first commercial use of mangroves is reported in 1842 immediately
after the British occupation of lower Sindh, where river communication was established and
firewood from these mangroves was used for the steamers and flotillas. This was abandoned
after the development of railways in the region. Thereafter, local people for grazing and
browsing of livestock, predominantly camels, used the coastal forest as a resource (Ahmad,
1983).
The construction of dams and six barrages and extreme irrigation has affected the flow of
freshwater in the Indus estuary. The past several years have seen significant reductions in the
flow of the river and consequent decline in sediment discharge which has severely impacted
the mangroves. Several key species that once inhabited this region are no longer supported
by the declining ecological conditions. Indus Delta mangroves are facing with several serious
anthropogenic and natural threats and pressures, which have reduced their productivity and
growth drastically. Major reported threats and stresses are listed as;
• Reduction in annual flow of freshwater;
• Reduction in silt and nutrients;
• Over cutting for fuel and fodder
• Over browsing by camels;
• Pollution from expanding domestic and industrial areas of Karachi and
navigational activities
• Sea water intrusion
• Urbanization and industrialization (Keerio, 2004).
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