Building climate resilient communities, nurturing biodiversity and reducing emissions by planting mangroves
The Indus River Delta, in southeastern Pakistan, is a global eco-region that forms where the Indus River empties into the Arabian Sea. Made up of a complex system of swamps, streams, and marshes, the vast fan-shaped delta is home to one of the largest areas of arid climate mangroves in the world. These mangroves are known to play a vital role in the region’s ecosystems - supporting unique wildlife, including one of the planet’s few freshwater dolphin species. Logging and reduced river flows are however threatening the survival of mangrove life, with over 100,000 hectares having been destroyed in the last few decades alone.
benefit from direct employment and livelihood enhancement programmes
benefit from reduced living costs and employment opportunities, reducing hunger in the project area
are expected to have access to better health services thanks to the project
are expected to have improved skills and/or knowledge resulting from training provided as part of project activities
through the creation of a dedicated forum for addressing social and development problems as well as from trainings on topics such as crab farming, handcrafts making, sewing, sanitation or midwifery
are expected to experience increased water quality and/or improved access to drinking water as a result of project activities
will be implemented through the provision of solar energy to selected communities, especially those living in the creeks
employed full-time through the project activities
benefit from improved agriculture, livestock management & fisheries programme
on average each year thanks to the project
including the river dolphin, Indian pangolin, and fishing cat, thanks to sustainable fisheries and the implementation of relevant sea laws
restored and protected thanks to the project
formed and consulted
Spanning across an area of 350,000 hectares in the Sindh Indus Delta Region of southeastern Pakistan, the project works with local communities to restore what has been lost of the mangrove forests in the region. In partnership with multiple stakeholders including the Sindh government, the project ensures that 5,000 neighbouring households are directly supported and participate in the planting of the planned quarter of a million hectares of mangroves in the area.
By the end of 2020, 75,000 hectares of mangroves were already planted in the project area, with the aim to continue at the same rate with the same success. Community members are trained and employed as mangrove stewards, with priority given to women. The replenished mangroves help to ease coastal erosion and buffer against climactic impacts such as storms and rising sea levels. In addition, the project aims to make the villages’ main income source – fishing – become more sustainable.
