Sindh Forestry Resources: Causes of Deforestation and Policy Guideline for Its Conservation (A Case Study of Lower Indus Valley Sindh-Pakistan)

Abstract

The Agro ecosystems of Sindh, the second largest province of Pakistan are contained within larger landscapes that include uncultivated land, drainage networks, rural and coastal communities, wildlife, fisheries and forest sector. In Pakistan and particularly its lower Indus valley called Sindh province at present is facing a serious environmental degradation problem due to population explosion, mismanagement in wetlands, construction of dams in the upper areas and industrial waste of the country.

The major issues under this subject have been summed up after the in-depth analysis and examination of four types of forests: riverian forest, irrigated forest, mangroves forest and rangeland forest. Using quantitative and qualitative data from secondary sources, the study contributes significantly in the existing body of knowledge on this subject. It concludes that mismanagements in wetlands, scarcity of water resources, rapid population explosion, ill planed speedy urbanization and industrialization are the main causes of deforestation in Sindh. It also suggests a dynamic policy guideline, keeping in view the international environmental standards for overall improvements in these resources in the region.