The Sonmiani Bay Mangrove Replantation Project is a sub-activity of WWF's broad-based Ecological and Resource Survey for Forest Conservation Project. Undertaken in partnership with the Baluchistan Forest Department, the project is involved in the establis hment of nurseries and planting of mangroves along the Sonmiani Bay near Karachi. The project hires staff from the local fishing community near the nurseries.

Mangroves, or coastal forests, grow on sea shores washed by highly saline water, in areas where fresh water meets sea water, where they are not subject to strong wave and tidal actions. In Pakistan, the most extensive growth of mangroves is found in the I ndus delta area. In Baluchistan, the entire coastline is exposed to strong wave action and this is one of the reasons why mangroves are absent from that area. However, where there are sheltered areas, no matter how small, mangrove vegetation occurs. Miani Hor, Kalmat Khor and Jiwani are such areas.

Miani Hor, covering an area of 125sq km, is located on the Baluchistan coast and receives its fresh water supply from two seasonal rivers that fall into the sea near the mouth of Hor. The principal species of mangrove forests here is Avicenna marina, loca lly known as timer.

The mangroves are home to an interesting variety of reptiles. Among sea snakes, 14 species have been collected from mangrove swamps. Fiddler crabs are also found in its swamps and muddy shores, the male busily waving his outsize claw to attract the female and to defend his territory. Besides, mangroves are breeding grounds for shrimps, prawns and mud skippers. The mud skipper, especially, is potentially of great economic importance. In Taiwan, Japan and the west coast of India, it is considered a delicacy , and could eventually be exported there.

The evergreen forests of mangrove trees provide a habitat for many waterfowl. Herons roost at night on mangroves and in the day time search, along with egrets, for food which includes fish, crustaceans and insects. Reef herons use this habitat to search f or mud skippers. In winter, a large number of migrating waterfowl have been observed on Pakistan's sea coast in search of food in the mangroves and surrounding tidal areas.

Mangroves also provide a variety of marketable products. These include timer fishing poles, firewood, fodder, timber for low cost housing, and pulp. Above all, mangroves have several ecological uses. Their well-developed root system holds the shore sands tight and prevents soil erosion and desertification.

A major problem though is that the increasing population in coastal villages has led to growing demand for fuelwood. This has put the mangrove forests under a lot of pressure.

The Sonmiani Bay Mangrove Forest Project aims to rectify this. It was funded by WWF International for a period of one year with a sum of approximately eight million rupees ($230,000). However, the project requires support for at least three more years bef ore it starts showing tangible results to the forest and the community.

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