Illegal mangrove clearing and land reclamation threaten Karachi's coastal protection

Mangrove stands along Karachi's Korangi Creek are being cleared and enclosed by earthen bunds as private owners seek to convert the area into usable land, even though the site borders a Mangrove Biodiversity Park opened last September. The Sindh Forest Department verified that the affected plot is its property and that illegal allotments were made by the Board of Revenue. Police have refused to act, stating the matter is under judicial consideration.

Department officials reported that bunds have been used for months to block water, drying the trees so they can be cut either for firewood or for further encroachment. Conservationists warn that the loss of mangrove cover will increase vulnerability to tsunamis, hurricanes and other coastal hazards. They also criticize weak enforcement of Pakistan's environmental laws, noting that influential actors often evade penalties.