Respira Visit (Port Qasim)

A team of Respira, A UK-based company specializing in carbon market investments, visited the DBC-1 project area from 7th to 8th March 2023. The team included Ms. Anna Haurie, the Founder and CEO of Respira, and Christopher Villier, the Head of Portfolio Development at Respira.

The purpose of the visit was to hold discussions with the different stakeholders involved in DBC-1 project areas and quantify the impact of the project interventions in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation, bringing about positive impacts in the socio-economic conditions of local communities particularly marginalized groups like women and poor, as well as marine and coastal biodiversity conservation.

• The team started its visit by visiting the office of Dr. Badar Jamil (Secretary Forest and Wildlife Department Government of Sindh). Other participants in the meeting included:

Mr. Riaz Ahmed Wagan (Chief Conservator of Forest, Mangroves, and Rangeland)

Mr. Arif Ali Khokhar (Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Management Circle Karachi),

Mr. Sain Bux Sheikh (Divisional Forest Officer – Sujawal) and

Mr. Shehzad Sadiq Gill (Divisional Forest Officer – Karachi)

Mr. Alamgir Khan Gandapur (Caelum Environmental Solution) and

Mr. John Ambler (Pollination Group)

also participated in the meeting. The secretary apprised the team about the steps the government of Sindh has taken and intends to take to ensure the environmental integrity of the carbon credits and also that a major portion of the carbon revenue that has accrued to the Government of Sindh is invested in the Project zone so that maximum benefits go to the participating communities. He also appreciated and praised the devotion and hard work of the chief conservator of Forests and his other team members. He further said that Sindh Govt will provide any Letter of support that voluntary carbon market participants may ask for from the department.

• The team then went to the Port Qasim area and saw the existing and planted mangrove forests to see how the mangrove ecosystem develops over time. The team was impressed by the biomass growth put on by the planted mangroves with the passage of time. Their observed growth provides the basis for mangrove growth modeling in the Indus Delta Area.

• From the Port Qasim area the team went to the Forest Complex in the Model Colony Area. Here the team was briefed about the mangrove restoration plan and strategy being implemented for undertaking restoration work. This among others included site selection for planting work, propagules collection, choice of species, planting protocol, and the after-care and maintenance of planted areas and ANR through the mechanism of the mangrove stewardship agreement.

• From the Forest Complex, the team came to the project headquarters at Khayaban-e-Ittehad DHA Phase-6. Here the team was introduced to the various staff members of IDC and the role they play in project implementation. The team also had a discussion with respect to various due diligence elements with Alamgir Khan Gandapur, CTO of Delta Blue Carbon Project.