ABSTRACT

Summary: Coastal mangrove ecosystems in Pakistan have been seriously degraded over the last 50 years as a result of freshwater diversion for agriculture, industrial and urban water pollution and overfishing. These proximate causes are largely driven by national policies that have favoured agriculture and industry over the coastal regions and that have given high priority to exports. Research team: The team was composed of coordinators Sarah Ahmad and Osman Mian, team leader Akhtar A Hai (economist), Najam Khurshid (environmental expert), Abdul Rafiq Qadir (hydrologist) and Noor-un-Nisa (sociologist). The team would like to acknowledge the contributions of Dr Arshad Ali Baig, Qaisar Anjum, Shaukat Ali and the WWF-Pakistan staff – Salman Ashraf' Fayyaz Rasool, Rahat ]abeen and Akram Farooqi. The team would also like to express its gratitude to local community members, fishermen, officials, researchers and scientists for the valuable information and guidance extended during the course of the study https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315071688/121228f9-6d36-4e6a-810d-d7cef247a294/content/fig12_0_C.jpg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>