Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast

The third Nature Series documentary, Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast, was launched in August 2019 and it focuses on the mangroves of Pakistan which are spread across the coastal line of Pakistan, covering an area of about 600,000 hectares. They have a unique ecosystem as they are a sanctuary to numerous indigenous and migratory birds, terrestrial, and marine life. They also protect and stabilize our shores with their dense water-absorbent root system from tsunamis, floods, and other eroding factors.

The economic importance of mangroves in Pakistan comes from the fi­shery resource they harbour, as an estimated 80 percent of the ­fish caught in coastal waters spend at least part of their life cycle in the mangrove creeks or depend on the mangroves for their food. They provide an important breeding ground for commercially important marine life including ­fish, shrimps, lobsters, and crabs, which help the national economy earn approximately US $100 million annually from exports, and provide employment and livelihood to more than 100,000 people associated with the fi­shing industry.

For viewing this documentary in another local language, please click on the links below.

Objectives

The objectives of Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast are:

  • To raise and spread awareness about the natural ecosystems, habitats, and biomes surrounding mangrove forests in Pakistan.
  • To spark conversation and drive action for climate change and the sustainable protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of the natural systems of mangrove forests in Pakistan.
  • Highlight environmental degradation.
  • Highlight that the mangrove forests are essential in protecting the coastal belt of Pakistan from high tides and flooding.
  • Gauge the impact of AV pedagogical support in the educational system.
  • Understand the ecosystem of the mangroves, the flora and the fauna that exist in this biome.
  • Understand the challenges faced by the communities living near the mangroves, the threats to their livelihood.
  • Introduce the beauty of Pakistan’s hidden national treasures to the masses.
  • Create awareness of the correlation between environment and human intrusion.
  • Contribution of mangroves to the sustainability of the fi­shing industry in Pakistan.

 

Dissemination Drive

A dissemination drive was carried out where the documentary was screened in various public and private educational institutions across Pakistan, free of cost.

A truck with an HD projector, sound system, and TDF representatives travelled across each province visiting schools to screen the documentary. Mobile cinemas were also stationed at communal gatherings and community halls that engaged a general audience for edutainment.

Float Activity

 

Karachi Screenings

 

Reinforcement of Ideas

Along with the dissemination drive and float activities, the Nature Series team provided schools with resources to reinforce learnings from the documentary in both English and Urdu. These included:

  • Two picture books namely, “The Wild Indus” and “The Wild North”.
  • USBs and DVDs with a copy of the documentary so schools and students could continue viewings on their own when they desired.
  • Worksheets were provided to primary and pre-primary schools.
  • All resources were provided in English and Urdu.

 

Media Coverage

 

TDF Team Screenings

TDF approached multiple educational institutions to screen Nature Series as a visual case study.

 

Major Schools/Colleges and Offices covered in Karachi

  1. TCF Schools (19 campuses)
  2. Beaconhouse—PECHS Campus
  3. Beaconhouse—Johar Campus
  4. Beaconhouse—Gulshan Campus
  5. APWA School (3 campuses)
  6. The Smart School (2 campuses)
  7. Lyceum School
  8. Cedar College
  9. Karachi Grammar School—Middle School
  10. Karachi Grammar School—Junior School
  11. Mama Parsi School
  12. Lady Marium Adamjee School
  13. Khatoon E Pakistan
  14. SZABIST
  15. Civilizations School
  16. Bay View High School
  17. Cordoba School (A-Levels)
  18. Alpha College
  19. Army Public School—Faisal
  20. Charter for compassion (5 campuses)
  21. Ayesha Bawany School (Inter)
  22. Ayesha Bawany School (O&A-Levels)
  23. Karachi American School (Middle Section)
  24. Marium Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design (MDSVAD)
  25. Origins School
  26. Dawood Public School
  27. Nielsen Pakistan
  28. Artistic Milliners
  29. Nafeesa Institute—Kiran Foundation

 

Major Collaborations with Schools in Karachi

  • TDF partnered with the Catholic Board of Education in Karachi and conducted guidance sessions for teachers to conduct the documentary viewing session on TDF’s behalf.
  • Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast was screened at different campuses of the Beaconhouse School System across Sindh.
  • TDF collaborated with The Citizens Foundation (TCF) to discuss the importance of mangroves and screen Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast across the province.

 

Public Events and Exhibitions

  • Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast was screened at Pursukoon Karachi, extending its reach to approximately 800 students in two days.

Bloggers Meetup

TDF Nature Series team invited bloggers from different social media platforms to officially launch TDF Nature Series campaign and spread the word.

 

Making a Difference

  • Schools in Punjab and Sindh are taking initiatives such as tree plantation and cleaning drives.
  • In collaboration with Engro, TDF is planning to arrange free mangrove plantation drives.
  • TDF distributed plants and conducted a plantation drive with students in Daharki.
  • Schools are taking more interest in environmental issues.
  • Schools have approached TDF to conduct more documentary viewing sessions.
  • TDF Nature Series was featured in the Karachi Biennale.

 

After watching Mangroves—Custodians of the Coast, which was screened at Beaconhouse school in Karachi, three girls came up to a TDF representative and expressed their interest in making a difference to help conserve nature.

They were inspired by the images in the documentaries that revealed the importance of the mangroves.

This also led to the first-ever internship program of TDF’s Nature Series, where volunteers, including the three girls, helped TDF at different festivals to raise awareness about Pakistan’s ecosystem and its natural habitats.