Pakistan's Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, highlighted the role of mangroves as a natural defense against shoreline erosion and flooding. He noted that Pakistan ranks 7th globally in mangrove area and is moving toward 4th place due to restoration efforts. Mangroves absorb four times more carbon than typical trees, making them vital for climate resilience. The Delta Blue Carbon project in Sindh, covering over 350,000 hectares, has already generated $40 million from carbon credit sales. The project aims to restore mangroves across 3,500 square kilometers of the Indus Delta. It has the potential to produce annual revenue of $20 to $50 million. The minister stressed that protecting mangroves is key for fisheries, coastal tourism, and the blue economy.
