Mangroves- A barrier against tsunami is a short documentary, produced, directed and written by Aziz Sanghur. Mr. Sanghur is a documentary film-maker from Pakistan. The documentary shows that environmentalists have expressed concern over the reduction of mangrove forests along the Karachi coast, warning that if the mangroves are not protected, the city fears a greater risk of being hit by a tsunami in the future. Mangroves are the shields of the coast that stop tsunamis. The level of damage caused by the industrial effluent to the mangroves can be gauged from the fact that most of the mangrove forests along the coasts of Karachi are filled with chemicals, severely affecting the natural growth of these trees. The decreasing mangrove plantation is also the reason for the changes in the weather pattern of the city. Untreated industrial and sewage waste released in the mangroves forests take a heavy toll on biodiversity. There used to be a lot of birds in these forests but raising pollution levels have caused them to migrate elsewhere. The area falls under the jurisdiction of Port Qasim Authority, Karachi Port Trust and other government agencies, which unfortunately claims to be cash-strapped and does not commit to mangrove protection. There has also been no serious commitment by the industries located in the area, all of whom have their contribution in this destruction. Locals (indigenous coastal dwellers) have long been using mangroves for burning fuel despite coal producing kilns. The waste generated by industries situated along the coast should be treated before discharged in the water and corporations should be mandated to allocate budgets for wetland restoration. Conversion of the area into an environmental park, attracting tourists is another alternative that can be looked into for generating finances. It is in the best interest of the government, industrialists, agriculturists and citizens to protect this natural habitat. The Karachi coastline's growing pollution level, which is tied to the increasing volume of trade via the shipping industry through the Karachi Port, is severely contaminating the mangrove forests and marine life in the area. Karachi Port handles the majority of the country's seaborne trade while the surrounding city of Karachi accounts for half of the government's revenues and contributes 20 percent of Pakistan's GDP. The Karachi coastline, which stretches over 135 km, is facing severe pollution due to a combination of industrial, port, municipal, and transportation activities in the area. Even the mangrove forests--- protecting the feeder creeks from sea erosion as well as a source of sustenance for fishermen--are threatened by this pollution. The mangroves forests along Ibrahim Hydri, Sandpit (Kaka Village) Chashma Village, Rehri, Lat Basti and other coastal areas are facing threat of widespread destruction at the hands of timber traders who have been patronizing those indulged in tree-felling on a large scale. A number of workers seal small holes in igloo-shaped ovens to ensure that wood filled inside is converted into coal - to be later sent to Karachi for roadside tea-stalls as it is believed the traditional doodh-patti chai (tea) prepared on coal is tastier than one made on natural gas. Mangroves provide protected nursery areas for fishes, crustaceans, and shellfish. They also provide food for a multitude of marine species such as snook, snapper, tarpon, jack, sheepshead, red drum, oyster, and shrimp. Many animals find shelter either in the roots or branches of mangroves. Mangrove branches are rookeries, or nesting areas, for beautiful coastal birds such as brown pelicans and roseate spoonbills. Pakistani mangroves are located mainly along the delta of the Indus River. Major mangrove forests are found on the coastline of the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. In Karachi, land reclamation projects have led to the cutting down of mangroves.
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