Economic importance and impacts of Indus delta mangrove forests on local communities
Economic importance and impacts of Indus delta mangrove forests on local communities
Mamoona Wali Muhammad and Iftekhar Ahmed
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out in Indus Delta Mangrove Forests of Pakistan to assess the economic importance of mangrove forests, impact on local communities and identify the factors responsible for degradation of mangrove forests. Among the eight villages in the total of two sub-divisions, fifty households were selected randomly; 6-7 from each village. The results indicated that average household size was seven persons per household having 68% of them one earning member and 70% were directly employed in fishery sector. 80% respondents had their own livestock and agriculture land. Avuaennia marina is mostly fed to the animals as lopped from vicinity forests. Water shortage, erosion and salinity were main problems faced by the agriculturists.
The study revealed that only 8% of the respondents were utilizing mangrove vegetation as a whole for fuel purpose. Responses about priority of importance of mangroves showed that shelter and progress of fish was at first priority then shelter and progress of wild birds, shelter and progress of vertebrates, fuel wood, protection barriers for villages, control on tides and erosion of coastal banks, environment apiculture and eco-tourism respectively.
100% of the respondents were in favor of social forestry schemes in the area and 92% of them were willing to plant coconut or date palm at their village, otak or house. Only 4% of the respondents reported that mangrove deterioration is severe due to livestock pressure and decreased fresh water flow downstream in Indus Delta; which resulted in high salinity and stunted growth of mangrove trees and animal life. The measures suggested by respondents included; increased fresh water down stream and control on camels, rotational grazing for livestock, control on cutting for fire purpose and construction of huts for effective regeneration and development of mangrove vegetation.
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