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World Wide Funds for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) fears adverse impact on Mangrove forest biodiversity of the islands of Bundal and Buddo, as the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has approved in principle the development of Diamond Bar Island city in the twin islands off Port Qasim along the Sindh coast by Emaar, a Dubai based firm.
According to a WWF-P's spokesman here on Monday, mangroves were trees and woody shrubs that occupy sheltered tropical coastline throughout the world. Studies had shown that 60-80 percent of the world's commercial fisheries catch was from the mangroves habitat. Birds use this habitat as roosting, feeding and breeding grounds.
It was ironic that, while the Government had recently announced an Environment Policy (2005), in practice it takes decisions that harm the natural environment. In this Policy document, under section 8.2.1 the government targets to increase forest cover including state-owned and private forest and farmlands, as percentage of the total land area, from the current level of 4.8 percent to 5.7 percent by 2010, and 6 percent by 2015.
It was important to note that mangrove forests were part of a unique natural ecological system, and man-made forest plantations could not compensate their loss.
The WWF-P appeals to the government to have a far-sighted approach, and balance the need to preserve the countries unique natural environment, with needs for encouraging foreign investment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2006

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