Discovering the Indus Eco-Region: A Hidden Biodiversity Treasure
Stretching along Pakistan’s coastline, the Indus eco-region is one of the world’s most biologically rich areas. Known for its vast mangrove forests, this region is home to a diverse range of species, including some that are critically endangered, like the Indus River dolphin, the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, and the Indian pangolin. These coastal ecosystems support not just wildlife but also the livelihoods of local communities, making their conservation crucial.
Blue Carbon Ecosystems Under Treat
The Indus eco-region is facing significant challenges. Human activities, like coastal development and pollution, along with the growing impacts of climate change, are taking a toll on the area’s mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. As global temperatures rise, so does the frequency of coastal storms, further degrading these essential ecosystems.
Mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems are powerful natural carbon absorbers, storing up to five times more carbon than tropical forests. When these ecosystems are damaged, we lose crucial wildlife habitats but also diminish the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon, which is essential for mitigating climate change.
Restoring Mangroves Through Collaboration
To address the urgent need to restore the Indus eco-region in Pakistan, we’ve partnered with Ecologi to support a nature-based project aimed at revitalising 224,997 hectares of mangroves. This initiative will help combat habitat loss and reduce climate change impacts, removing 127 million tonnes of CO2 over 60 years. This effort involves restoring mangroves through strategic partnerships and educational programs with local communities.
Smartest Climate Action – How you can get involved
Every month we’ll be sharing our sustainable project spotlight via our InfoHub and other socials. The projects will vary from nature-based conservation such as this one, to community carbon avoidance to renewable energy funding and more. You can donate to these projects and follow our progress via our impact dashboard with Ecologi here:
Here’s our Climate Action Calendar, showing our climate action efforts from the past, present, and future.
