Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Field activities
Fundraising
Scientific/technical activities
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
• IUCN under its Mangroves for the Future Programme (MFF) initiated advocacy on designation of MPAs in Pakistan. In 2015, the National Coordinating Body (NCB) of MFF Pakistan headed by the Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan constituted a Working Group for identification of potential sites for MPA designation in Pakistan. The Working Group recommended four potential sites, including Astola Island, Churna Island, Miani Hor, and Gwatar Bay for designation as MPAs. MFF also facilitated the consultative process to build stakeholders consensus, organised field visits of NCB members and other relevant stakeholders to Astola Island with support from Pakistan Navy and supported in preparation of a map delineating boundaries of Astola Island MPA. As a result Astola was notified as the first MPA of Pakistan on 15 January 2017 by the Balochistan Forest & Wildlife Department.
• A voluntary commitment titled Designation of the First Ever Marine Protected Area in Pakistan was registered on The Ocean Conference website to support the implementation of SDG 14.
• Stories on Astola Island MPA were published on IUCN website and in the Newsletter of MFF Programme.
• IUCN with support from MFF is currently in process of developing communication materials related to Astola Island MPA. This includes preparation of a short video documentary and publishing of an awareness brochure on MPA.
• In late 2017, IUCN secured a small funding from Waitt Foundation for establishment/updating of Ecological baseline of Astola Island. The project is co-funded by MFF Pakistan. Under the project, the first round of survey was carried out during December 2017 and the second round of survey has been carried out during February 2018.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
• Building stakeholders’ consensus was the main challenge faced during implementation of resolution; however, it was resolved through continuous dialogues process and engagement with relevant stakeholders through the platform of National Coordinating Body of MFF Pakistan which is led by the Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
• IUCN is has planned a MPA management planning workshop to be held in Karachi in April 2018 which will be attended by IUCN regional MPA experts and relevant local stakeholders to support the process of formulation of management plan of Astola Island MPA.
• A proposal for inclusion of Astola Island MPA in IUCN’s Incubator Finance for Nature Conservation has been submitted and is currently under review and finalisation in consultation with IUCN global office.
Are these actions planned for yet:
