Churna Island Declared Second Marine Protected Area in Pakistan
The Balochistan government has officially designated Churna Island as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), making it the second of its kind in Pakistan. Located in the Arabian Sea, Churna Island is a biodiversity hotspot known for its coral habitats and diverse marine wildlife.
The World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan (WWF-P) commended the government’s efforts in securing this designation and highlighted the need to protect the fragile ecosystem of the area. With activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, and fishing posing threats to the marine ecosystem, the declaration of Churna Island as an MPA is a crucial step towards conservation.
As a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Pakistan is required to declare 30% of its ocean area as protected by 2030. The declaration of Churna Island as an MPA sets a positive example for other regions to follow suit in safeguarding marine biodiversity.
WWF-P urges federal and provincial governments to take decisive actions to achieve biodiversity conservation goals and protect marine life for future generations. By declaring additional Marine Protected Areas, Pakistan can address the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change impact on marine resources.
