In a significant move towards environmental conservation, the Government of Balochistan has officially designated Churna Island as Pakistan’s second Marine Protected Area (MPA).
This decision, approved by the Balochistan cabinet on September 4, 2024, follows the 2017 declaration of Astola Island as the country’s first MPA.
Churna Island: A Biodiversity hotspot under threat
Churna Island, located near Karachi, is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, much like Astola Island. It is home to diverse marine life, including over 50 species of corals and 250 species of fish, along with various invertebrates and vertebrates. However, this unique ecosystem has been increasingly threatened by human activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, cliff jumping, jet skiing, and industrial developments like power plants and oil refineries.
WWF praises initiative, calls for broader conservation efforts
WWF-Pakistan has lauded this new designation, emphasizing its importance in preserving the island’s fragile marine ecosystem. The organization highlighted the urgent need to protect Churna Island from further environmental degradation caused by poorly planned development and climate change.
Rab Nawaz, Senior Director of Biodiversity Programmes at WWF-Pakistan, urged the federal and Sindh governments to follow Balochistan’s lead in expanding marine protected areas across the country. “This initiative will help reverse the damage caused to marine ecosystems and would protect marine life for future generations,” Nawaz stated, adding that poorly planned development activities and climate change are leading to the loss of our marine resources.
Major step toward future conservation initiatives
The declaration of Churna Island as a Marine Protected Area also aligns with Pakistan’s commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which requires states to protect 30% of their ocean area by 2030. As a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Pakistan’s move to protect Churna Island marks a critical step towards meeting this target.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor at WWF-Pakistan, underscored the significance of this decision for biodiversity conservation. The declaration of Churna Island as a MPA will address the challenge of biodiversity loss and help protect the threatened species reported from this area, Khan said.
This designation of Churna Island as a Marine Protected Area represents a major advancement in Pakistan’s environmental conservation efforts. It safeguards a vital marine habitat and sets a precedent for future conservation initiatives.