Degradation of Sindh Indus Delta and Proposal for Sustainable Rehabilitation of Habitat

Abstract

Pakistan is blessed with rich and diverse natural resources; including sindh Delta is habitat for mangrove ecosystem which develops from the muddy to sandy coast. Pakistan has 0.6 million hectares of mangrove ecosystem, one among the top ten in the world. Indus River delta and its mangroves are fencing for their longevity and endurance, due to scarcity of fresh water from several decades. The degradation of mangroves causes people to migrate away from the locality. After conducting the interviews with local people, it is concluded that viability and life on delta are interfacing a set of problems, uniquely the delta’s Flora and Fauna as they mainly rely on the constant flow of fresh water. Salinity in sea water is expanding on the surfaces facing the coastal regions of the Sindh. The fertile land is being converted to infertile land and local citizens are migrating from the area. Delta provides the beneficial condition for fishing growth; approximately 100,000 people rely on Indus delta and deltaic aquaculture and fishing industry. Since many years the deltaic region remained declined and its capability was disregarded. About 42% area of mangrove forests has been shrunk in past twenty years, due to the negligence and scarcity of the water. As a result of that, coastal culture is vanishing day by day to a greater extent; therefore, it is proposed to cease such activity for the development of sustainable habitats.