The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan has praised the Balochistan government for designating Churna Island as Pakistan’s second marine protected area (MPA). The provincial cabinet approved this designation in a meeting on Wednesday.
Prior to this, the Balochistan government had established Astola Island as the first MPA in June 2017. Both Churna Island and Astola Island are among the few marine areas in Pakistan with coral habitats and are considered biodiversity hotspots, according to WWF’s statement.
Churna Island, located near Karachi, is currently popular for scuba diving, snorkeling, cliff jumping, and jet skiing, as well as being a key fishing ground for fishermen from Sindh and Balochistan. However, the marine ecosystem and wildlife of Churna Island face significant threats from various human activities, including power plant development, single-point mooring, an oil refinery nearby, and recreational activities.
WWF-Pakistan views this declaration as a crucial step in protecting the island’s fragile ecosystem. The organization commended the provincial government’s efforts and specifically acknowledged Secretary of the Forest and Wildlife Department Dostain Jamaldini and Chief Conservator Wildlife Sharifuddin Baloch for their commitment to this achievement.
As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Pakistan is committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which mandates that 30% of ocean areas be protected by 2030 (known as 30 x 30). The designation of Churna Island as an MPA is a significant move towards meeting this target.
Rab Nawaz, Senior Director of WWF-Pakistan’s Biodiversity Programmes, urged both federal and Sindh governments to follow Balochistan’s lead and establish additional MPAs to reach the 30 x 30 goal. Nawaz emphasized that poorly planned development and climate change are causing severe losses to marine resources, and this initiative will help reverse the damage and safeguard marine life for future generations.
WWF-Pakistan Technical Adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan highlighted that Churna Island is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 50 coral species, 250 fish species, as well as various invertebrates and vertebrates. The new MPA designation will address biodiversity loss and protect the threatened species found in the area.
