Posted on June, 19 2025

Karachi, 19 June 2025: “Extreme climatic events and reduced freshwater supply from the Indus River have put local communities and biodiversity at risk in the Indus Delta. To address these challenges and improve the deltaic ecosystem, joint efforts need to be taken". This was stated by the speakers during the “Knowledge and Results Sharing Workshop” held at a local hotel in Karachi. The workshop was organized under Sustainable Mangroves Management and Community Development in the Indus Delta Phase II project supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and WWF-Germany. Speakers said that there is a need to broaden partnerships with the private and public sectors to promote climate-smart investments, nature-based enterprises, and alternative livelihood opportunities, while reducing dependency on natural resource extraction. They also emphasized expanding inclusive adaptation planning tools, such as Conservation and Adaptation Plans, and enhancing community capacities, which will strengthen resilience at the grassroots level.
 
The mangrove vegetation remains fragile, degraded, and under pressure due to continued overexploitation. Being at the tail end of the Indus River, communities living in the delta face severe challenges due to restricted freshwater flows, which have directly impacted their traditional livelihoods, survival mechanisms, and socio-economic resilience. Climate change has further intensified these vulnerabilities. Rising sea levels have led to land erosion, increased salinity, a decline in mangrove cover, and a sharp reduction in fish stocks, all of which directly impact the livelihoods of fishing-dependent communities. To address these challenges in the Indus Delta, the path forward now requires a collective and sustained effort to scale and institutionalize the models of community-based adaptation, natural resource management, and climate resilience.
 
Speaking during the workshop, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan, lauded the efforts of the Sindh Forest Department and local fisher and farmer communities for their role in enhancing mangrove cover in the Indus Delta. Despite these efforts, climate change has intensified the vulnerabilities of coastal ecosystems and dependent communities. Rising sea levels have led to land erosion, increased salinity, a decline in mangrove cover, and a sharp reduction in fish stocks, all of which directly impact the livelihoods of fishing-dependent communities. In response to these growing challenges, WWF-Pakistan has been actively investing in conservation efforts for the past two decades, focusing on innovative solutions, addressing local needs, strengthening community stewardship, and building effective partnerships. Khan suggested that, given the ecological, economic, and social benefits of mangroves, relevant stakeholders must work together to conserve and manage these important natural resources along Pakistan’s coastline. In the end, while discussing priorities, Khan highlighted the overwhelming demand of freshwater in the area, and he proposed solar desalination plants.
 
Arif Ali Khokhar, Conservator, Sindh Forest Department, said that with the joint efforts of conservation organizations, the local communities, and passionate citizens, the forest department has improved mangrove cover from 80,000 hectares in the 1980s to 250,000 hectares. These mangroves not only provide livelihood support but also help mitigate natural disasters, including sea intrusion, coastal flooding, and cyclones. As a result of these efforts for mangrove conservation, Pakistan is recognized globally, and other coastal states are following us. He also lauded WWF-Pakistan’s project initiatives focusing on improving renewable energy resources, provision of climate-resilient infrastructure, enhancing food security, and mainstreaming gender into conservation projects. Furthermore, he acknowledged that WWF-Pakistan has been pioneer in mobilizing and organizing communities towards the conservation and protection of nature.
 
Altaaf Hussain Sheikh, Senior Manager Conservation, WWF-Pakistan, said that to improve the mangrove cover in the Indus Delta, a total of 30,000 hectares of mangroves have been co-managed and planted with the support of the Sindh Forest Department and local communities. He also shared that the local communities in the Indus Delta are vulnerable to drastic climate change impacts and environmental degradation. To improve economic resilience and enhance ecosystem health, various interventions have been implemented. To benefit the fisher communities, alternative livelihood opportunities have been created such as the establishment of mariculture ponds, commencement of better management practices, establishment of women-led small enterprises, and dissemination of vocational training. To build resilient communities, elevated platforms, early warning systems, and disaster response units have been set up in the Indus Delta. He also informed that to enhance access of local communities to freshwater, water reservoirs have been established.
 
The persistent issues, including weak natural resource governance, a lack of integrated management approaches, poverty, and increasing socio-economic pressures, continue to challenge sustainable development in the Indus Delta. In response to these growing challenges, WWF-Pakistan has been actively investing in conservation efforts for the past two decades, focusing on innovative solutions, addressing local needs, strengthening community stewardship, and building effective partnerships.

During the workshop, key findings of two third-party assessments – Mangroves Evaluation and Project Final Evaluation, were shared with the participants which validated the successes and learnings of the project.
 
Ameer Hyder Laghari, Chief Meteorologist, Pakistan Meteorological Department; Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, Director General,  Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA); Waheeda Mahessar, Executive Director SZABIST-ZEBTech and Dr Ashiq Ali from SEPA also spoke during the event.