KARACHI: Several key stakeholders finalised the marine protected area (MPA) management plan for Astola Island at a workshop held at a local hotel.

The workshop, organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-Pakistan, was attended by the stakeholders including the climate change ministry, the Balochistan forest and wildlife department, local communities, law enforcement agencies and civil society organisations.

In his welcome remarks, IUCN Pakistan’s country representative Mahmood Akhtar Cheema said that the organisation’s coastal conservation efforts through the Mangroves for the Future Programme and the formation of the National Coordinating Body (NCB) led to the historic designation of Astola Island as Pakistan’s first-ever marine protected area in 2017.

He pointed out that the organisation, under its recent project — Building Resilience of Coastal, Ecological, and Social Systems of Pakistan — initiated the drafting of the Astola Island management plan.

“The plan will serve as a model for future MPA designations, especially for the Indus Creek, Miani Hor, and Kalmat Khor. The IUCN-Pakistan and NCB are currently conducting feasibility studies to support the 30x30 target,” he said, referring to the plan to conserve 30 per cent of Earth’s land and sea by 2030.

In his speech, Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Secretary Dostain Khan Jamaldini highlighted the federal-provincial collaboration and IUCN’s contribution in protecting marine ecosystems.

He assured the support of his department in implementing the management plan and prioritising the agreed terms.

Dr Donald Macintosh, a renowned marine conservationist, outlined the workshop’s objectives, stressing the need for an enforceable management plan.

“This workshop represents the culmination of extensive consultations, and today we have the opportunity to finalise a plan that secures Astola Island’s ecological integrity,” he said.

He later presented a detailed summary of the management plan and its expected outcomes, adding, “Finalising this plan is the first step towards ensuring that Astola Island remains a sanctuary for biodiversity and a cornerstone of Pakistan’s marine conservation strategy.”

Participants also addressed key issues such as staffing for enforcing the plan, illegal fishing, and the enforcement of regulations regarding camping and visitor activities.

Small group sessions further discussed topics such as sustainable ecotourism, waste management and habitat restoration.

Speaking on the progress, Naeem Ashraf Raja, director of biodiversity at the ministry of climate change and environmental coordination, emphasised that the collaborative efforts being made today reflected the commitment of all stakeholders towards safeguarding Pakistan’s marine biodiversity.

Major General Jawad Riaz, the director general of the Pakistan Coast Guards, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to marine and biodiversity conservation initiatives.

He said that protecting Pakistan’s natural resources was not just a duty but a shared responsibility of all stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2024