The Sindh Forest Department and the Federal Environment Ministry set a world record by planting 541,176 mangroves in less than 15 hours on a barren island near Keti Bandar, about 90km from Karachi, on July 15. The feat will be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records, it was announced at the event.
The planting was supervised by local observers and Mangroves International expert Tahir Qureshi. Also in attendance at the event were designated representatives of the Guinness Book administration, a number of government dignitaries, members of the media, folk performers, singers and residents of the coastal belt.
The mangroves were planted on roughly 750 hectares, and in the future could play a protective role in the context of the recent devastating South Asian tsunami. Additionally, “As part of the ongoing National Year of the Environment, we planned on breaking the previous tree planting record of 348,493 established by Mexico in August last year, but we had to change the plan as India set a new Guinness World Record in June,” Qureshi said. India set a new record last month with the planting of 447,874 saplings in 24 hours.
Since it was not necessary to dig pits for planting mangrove trees under a new ruling set by the Guinness Book, planters were able to finish the newest record-breaking task in less than 15 hours.
Besides establishing an entry in the esteemed world record book, the project succeeded in involving nearby residents in eco-conservation. Experts say that while oil spills and the cutting of mangroves for firewood have led to a decline in their numbers in Pakistan, the project will aid in raising awareness about forest conservation and rehabilitation.
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