Karachi’s mangroves disappear as flood and erosi...

Summary

• Karachi’s coastline is losing a natural defence against flooding and erosion as mangrove forests and tidal creeks give way to reclaimed land and urban development, raising concerns about the city’s vulnerability to climate change.
• Satellite images from 2000 and 2025 show mangroves near Mai Kolachi replaced by reclaimed land.—Courtesy Suparco The images show areas once covered by mangroves and natural tidal channels increasingly converted into reclaimed land and urban plots, highlighting the environmental costs of changing Karachi’s coastline.
• Experts Warn of Wider Environmental Damage Climate policy specialist Mohammad Saleem Shaikh called for urgent action to prevent further destruction of mangrove forests and natural tidal creeks, warning that their loss threatens communities, livelihoods and economic stability.

AI Generated Summary

Karachi’s coastline is losing a natural defence against flooding and erosion as mangrove forests and tidal creeks give way to reclaimed land and urban development, raising concerns about the city’s vulnerability to climate change.

New satellite images released by Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) reveal a significant transformation along the coastal zone near the Mai Kolachi Bypass between 2000 and 2025.

The images show areas once covered by mangroves and natural tidal channels increasingly converted into reclaimed land and urban plots, highlighting the environmental costs of changing Karachi’s coastline.