Pakistan’s extensive mangrove forests, the largest single arid expanse in South Asia, have the capacity to yield $20 million to $50 million annually through carbon credit sales, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced Saturday. This projection hinges on market fluctuations and trading volume.

The statement coincided with the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Chaudhry highlighted the success of Sindh’s Delta Blue Carbon (DBC) initiative, which encompasses over 350,000 hectares and has already secured $40 million from carbon credit transactions. The project anticipates generating billions more over the next few decades.

While Balochistan’s mangrove coverage is comparatively smaller, around 4,058 hectares, its contribution to Pakistan’s carbon market strategy remains significant, the minister added. The DBC project, a joint venture between the Sindh government and Indus Delta Capital initiated in 2015, focuses on restoring and safeguarding over 3,500 square kilometers of mangrove forests in the Indus Delta.

Chaudhry emphasized the global importance of the project, noting that Sindh’s coastal mangroves are producing millions of carbon credits. He underscored the vital role of mangroves in climate change mitigation, stating they sequester four times more carbon than terrestrial trees.

Ongoing mangrove restoration efforts in Sindh and Balochistan are proving effective in protecting coastlines from erosion and flooding, the minister observed. He further connected the health of mangrove ecosystems to the prosperity of fisheries, coastal tourism, and resource management.

Chaudhry stressed the crucial role of mangrove expansion in enhancing climate resilience and mitigating the detrimental effects of global warming. He affirmed Pakistan’s rising global standing in mangrove forest area, currently around 7th but expected to reach 4th or 5th soon, thanks to successful restoration programs gaining international recognition.