The Indus River Delta, in southeastern Pakistan, is a global eco-region that forms where the Indus River empties into the Arabian Sea. Made up of a complex system of swamps, streams, and marshes, the vast fan-shaped delta is home to one of the largest areas of arid climate mangroves in the world. These mangroves are known to play a vital role in the region’s ecosystems – supporting unique wildlife, including one of the planet’s few freshwater dolphin species. Logging and reduced river flows are however threatening the survival of mangrove life, with over 100,000 hectares having been destroyed in the last few decades alone.

The Solution

Spanning across an area of 350,000 hectares in the Sindh Indus Delta Region of southeastern Pakistan, the project works with local communities to restore what has been lost of the mangrove forests in the region. In partnership with multiple stakeholders including the Sindh government, the project ensures that 5,000 neighbouring households are directly supported and participate in the planting of the planned quarter of a million hectares of mangroves in the area.

The Impact

By the end of 2020, 75,000 hectares of mangroves were already planted in the project area, with the aim to continue at the same rate with the same success. Community members are trained and employed as mangrove stewards, with priority given to women. The replenished mangroves help to ease coastal erosion and buffer against climactic impacts such as storms and rising sea levels. In addition, the project aims to make the villages’ main income source – fishing – become more sustainable.

The Certification

Please refer to the Verified Carbon Standard entry for more information on the project and how it was audited.