KARACHI: Karachi green cover has fallen below 2 percent, highlighting a growing environmental crisis as trees disappear across the city.The campaign to chop off Conocarpus trees and plant indigenous trees instead has resulted in an even faster rate of loss, including that of some endangered tree varieties listed by the IUCN.
A City Once With Shade
There was a time when the city of Karachi used to provide shade for its citizens from the sun’s heat. Trees existed along the roads of the city, cooled hot air, and gave a sense of life to this city. However, this aspect is becoming more and more rare with each passing day. The greenery coverage of Karachi today is less than 2%, an alarming rate considered very critical by the experts.
Conocarpus Tree Removal Drive
Sindh government and municipal authorities have launched a project to replace Conocarpus trees with new varieties across Karachi. Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed stated that the Sindh government planted Conocarpus trees in the city approximately 20 years ago.
According to a report by the Sindh Government in 2021, Conocarpus trees do not provide any benefit in terms of beautification, and can actually jeopardize the road’s infrastructure.
Following the results, the concerned parties took the decision to cut down the Conocarpus trees and plant other native species of trees in their place. In essence, this is an effort to improve the flora of Karachi by planting trees that would thrive in Karachi’s environment.
Endangered Trees Being Cut Down
On the other hand, the operation has crossed its intended limits. According to reports, besides Conocarpus trees, some Lignum vitae trees have been chopped down as well.
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Green Patches Vanishing Throughout the City
However, the deforestation did not only affect roadside areas. Authorities silently uprooted trees in Sakhi Hassan Cemetery, destroying the breeding habitat of birds. Green patches like these hold immense importance in a city that lacks open spaces.
This too reflects in the urban surroundings of Karachi. Concrete now covers the sidewalks, bus stops, and common grounds that trees once embellished. Where roots and branches once provided cooling shade, authorities have replaced them with concrete walkways or confined them to decorative pots.
Experts Ask for Accountability
According to conservationists, the lack of a viable substitute for the removal of Conocarpus could exacerbate the existing problem in Karachi. As such, experts argue that it is necessary for the authority to guarantee protection of these young plants in the future as well as prevent any road extensions from destroying them.
It’s easy to see where Karachi’s problem lies. Eliminating any non-native plant species that cause harm is obvious; however, eliminating them without safeguarding the vulnerable species of trees, ensuring the protection of green areas, and guaranteeing that they live on does not make sense at all.
