Mangrove cutting in Korangi Creek has escalated into a full-blown environmental and legal crisis, with an illegal dyke constructed in the heart of the mangrove forest disrupting the natural flow of water and causing widespread destruction. The Sindh Forest Department (SFD) has confirmed that the illegal activity is taking place on its land, but police have refused to act, citing a sub judice matter and claims that the land was allotted by the Board of Revenue.
A recent visit to the area revealed mangrove cutting and land reclamation occurring right alongside the Mangrove Biodiversity Park, which was inaugurated by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab in September last year. Just beyond the park’s boundary walls, a large portion of land has been enclosed by an earthen bund to restrict water flow toward the mangroves. Inside the enclosed area, mangroves have been cut down, with their stems still visible in the standing water. In some sections of the bund, a wall is being erected, while debris has been spread over open patches, transforming the area into what appears to be a private plot. A security guard, reportedly deputed by private owners, stands watch over the land.
The consequences of this mangrove cutting extend far beyond the immediate loss of vegetation. As the mangroves dry out and die due to the blocked water supply, they are subsequently cut down by those involved in the illegal reclamation for land grabbing. Experts warn that the continued loss of mangrove cover could leave Karachi’s coastal areas more vulnerable to natural hazards, including storms and flooding, as mangroves serve as a critical natural barrier against such threats.
While cutting mangroves for firewood is a common occurrence in the region, the scale and intent behind the current operation in Korangi Creek point to a more organized effort to reclaim land. The SFD has acknowledged that the activity is illegal and occurring on its property, yet it says police have refused to take action. The police, in turn, have claimed that the land in question was allotted by the Board of Revenue and that the matter is sub judice, effectively stalling any intervention.
This is not an isolated incident. Encroachers have been active in Karachi’s coastal areas, illegally uprooting mangroves to reclaim land even next to protected zones like the Mangrove Biodiversity Park. The park was established to conserve and showcase the region’s mangrove ecosystem, but its proximity to the illegal reclamation site highlights the glaring gaps in enforcement and protection.
The ongoing mangrove cutting in Korangi Creek represents a direct threat to Karachi’s environmental stability. Without urgent action to halt the illegal dyke and land grabbing, the city’s coastal areas will face heightened risks from natural disasters. The SFD’s inability to act, compounded by police inaction and the sub judice claim, leaves the fate of these vital mangroves hanging in the balance.
Source: Dawn News