Climate Crisis – Hope Karachi

A game-changing green lung in the center of Karachi

Urban Forest Park was initiated after Karachi witnessed its first “official” heat wave, where more than 2000 people perished.

Major culprit for this heat wave was the ‘Urban Heat Island’-effect due to the concrete build-up and not enough green cover. In our quest to find a solution, we came across the Miyawaki Method which promised fast & sustainable forests within 3 years without pesticides and chemicals. In December 2015, after seeing the results, we planted our first pilot forest based on Dr. Akira Miyawaki’s methodology and decided to expand the project to the whole park. SUGi aims to create evergreen, sustainable forests to restore Karachi’s degraded environment. ‘Clifton Urban Forest’ was re-designed to address several challenges facing modern-metro lifestyles.

“Our goal is to plant 50,000 trees, which will serve as the “Air Purifier & Lungs” of the area. The mini forests will help bring the ambient temperature down once fully grown. Moreover, they will also hold thousands of gallons of runoff water after rain.” – Forest Maker Shahzad Qureshi

According To Report

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Trees

1

Square Meters

1

Native Species

Forest Report: 2 Years

Survival Rate: 80-85%

Tallest Tree: 365cm

Now over two years old, this pocket forest thrives in the heart of Karachi. At 488cm, the grey-leaved saucerberry (Cordia sinensis) is currently the tallest species.

This forest was an essential tool during the extreme flooding of the summer of 2022; it would take in the standing water both from within the forest and surrounding areas. This is a valuable takeaway & highlights the importance of these spaces in the future of urban planning globally.

Clifton Urban Forest is also an integral part of the community; daily it welcomes local people, who come to sit, take in the sights and sounds of nature, and have some moments of peace in their busy lives. Indeed, the forest also provides a cool space where people can spend time in the summer months.

Biodiversity Notes

This pocket is alive with insects, butterflies, and several species of bird, including the green bee-eater (Merops orientalis), collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), delicate prinia (Prinia lepida), common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Indian silverbill (Euodice malabarica), common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleuco) and white wagtail (Motacilla alba).

To join this initiative and help out, you can simply visit the website link and donate, or help work the forest, at your convenience!