Pakistan’s largest offshore island ‘Jazira Haft Talar’ better known as Astola has been declared as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) on June 15.
The process to notify Astola as an MPA has been initiated a few years ago under the auspices of Mangroves for the Future Programme—a regional grouping of South and South-east Asian countries of which Pakistan is currently the co-chair.
Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid had undertaken to spearhead the process of declaration of MPAs in 2016 after attending ‘the Oceans Conference’ in Washington at the invitation of outgoing US secretary of state John Kerry.
Subsequently, this declaration of Astola as an MPA had also been tabled as a national resolution at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii in 2016.
In April 2017, minister Zahid visited Astola along with Pakistan Navy Commander Coast Rear Admiral Abdul Aleem.
He also undertook a strong personal effort in requesting the chief minister and the government of Balochistan to expedite the declaration of Astola as an MPA.
This declaration has come about as a result of the concerted efforts led by federal minister Zahid and very active collaboration of the Balochistan government along with its Forest and Wildlife department.
Additional impetus and support have been provided by the Ministry of Defence, Pakistan Navy, IUCN, WWF-Pakistan and other members of Mangroves for the Future Programme, Pakistan.
The federal minister has expressed his appreciation for all the individuals associated with this landmark declaration, especially the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, and Balochistan Forest & Wildlife Department secretary, Commander Coast, Pakistan Navy, Ministry of Defence and IUCN.
He also said efforts are underway to declare the Indus Canyon—located where the Indus delta meets the continental shelf—and several other sites, including Churna Island and Miani Hor, as MPAs; thus meeting Pakistan’s target of nearly 27,000 km2 well before 2020.
The declaration of MPAs is an international obligation of the federal government under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Aichi Biodiversity (ABD) Target No.11.
Agreed in 2010, the ABDs call for member countries to declare at least 10 per cent of their coastal and marine areas as MPAs, especially the areas of biodiversity significance.
Astola Island is located approximately 25 km off the coast of Pasni, Balochistan province. Spanning 6.7 km2 it is Pakistan’s largest offshore island.
The island is ecologically important as its beaches provide a nesting ground for the endangered green turtle and hawksbill turtle, while also supporting a large variety of migratory birds.
The Astola saw-scaled viper is endemic to the island. While being treeless, due to the absence of a fresh water source, the island’s vegetation consists of scrubs and large bushes. The island’s marine ecology supports a variety of corals, creating a breeding ground fora vast range of marine species.
The Ministry of Climate Change will now be assisting in developing a management plan for the Astola MPA.
