Karachi
On the occasion of International Day of Forests, the
Pakistan Navy launched a mangroves plantation campaignalong the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
Chief of the Naval StaffAdmiral Muhammad Zakaullah inaugurated the drive at a ceremony that wasattended 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 counterdeforestation of mangroves, whichwasnot only affecting thebiodiversity of our coastal areas but also the livelihoods of ourcoastal communities.
Stressing the need for focused attention and coordinated efforts from all walks of society, the naval chiefsaid thecampaign would not just bea plantationinitiativeas efforts would also be made to generateawareness amongst the masses about the importance of these coastal
plantations.
Mangrove forests,found alongcoastal areas,are among the most productive and complex ecosystems on the planet, thrivingunder environmental conditions that would prove disastrous for otherplant types.Unfortunately, over the years, mangroves along the Pakistani coast have diminished due to negligence and apathy of all concerned.