Mangrove restoration begins on Karachi coast

The project will see more than 100,000 mangrove seedlings planted across 60 hectares in the Phitto Creek of Karachi, over the next year.
Local communities will be engaged throughout — participating in planting activities, monitoring seedling survival, and taking on stewardship roles to support the long-term health of restored areas.

A kick-off ceremony was organized at Phitto Creek, bringing together senior representatives from Pak Suzuki and IUCN, alongside local stakeholders and community members committed to protecting Pakistan’s fragile coastal ecosystems.
Pakistan's mangrove forests are among the country's most significant natural assets, yet they face mounting pressure from urbanisation, pollution, and climate-related impacts. Mangroves protect shorelines from erosion and storm surge, provide critical breeding habitat for marine species, and sequester carbon at rates far exceeding most terrestrial forests — making their restoration a priority for both conservation and climate action.

Karachi’s mangroves have seen massive deterioration over the past few years, due to rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and illegal cutting. Coastal communities that once found fish and shrimp abundant in nearby creeks now have to sail miles offshore for a viable catch.

Pak Suzuki's Managing Director, Mr Hiroshi Kawamura, terms the initiative part of its environmental activities in Pakistan. "This partnership allows us to contribute directly to the restoration of a critical coastal ecosystem," Mr Kawamura said.

IUCN's Mr Danish Rashdi emphasised the role of Nature-based Solutions in addressing climate and biodiversity challenges simultaneously: "Healthy mangrove ecosystems are an investment in the resilience of coastal communities — and partnerships with the private sector are essential to scaling these solutions." 

The initiative also aims to raise environmental awareness among local communities, encouraging broader participation in coastal conservation beyond the project's immediate planting targets.