Pakistan Navy launches mangrove plantation drive

Karachi 

On the occasion of International Day of Forests, the
Pakistan Navy launched a mangroves plantation campaign along the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces.  

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah inaugurated the drive at a ceremony that was attended by a large number of senior military and civil officials, including representatives from the business community, journalists, World Wildlife Fund Pakistan (WWF-P), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and officials from the federal and provincial forest departments. 

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Zakaullah highlighted the pressing need to counter deforestation of mangroves, which was not only affecting the biodiversity of our coastal areas but also the livelihoods of our coastal communities. 

Stressing the need for focused attention and coordinated efforts from all walks of society, the naval chief said the campaign would not just be a plantation initiative as efforts would also be made to generate awareness amongst the masses about the importance of these coastal 
plantations. 

Mangrove forests, found along coastal areas, are among the most productive and complex ecosystems on the planet, thriving under environmental conditions that would prove disastrous for other plant types. Unfortunately, over the years, mangroves along the Pakistani coast have diminished due to negligence and apathy of all concerned.