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WCC 2016 Res 052 - Activity Report

Submitted by ShahidSayeed.KHAN on Thu, 01/03/2019 - 11:23
General Information
Declaration of Astola Island as a Marine Protected Area
IUCN Constituent: 
Indus Earth Trust
IUCN Constituent type: 
IUCN Member
Period covered: 
2019
Geographic scope: 
South and East Asia
Country/Territory: 
Pakistan
In implementing this Resolution your organization has worked/consulted with...
IUCN Members: 
World Wide Fund - Pakistan ( WWF ) / Pakistan
IUCN Commissions: 
F317E09E-5094-E611-97F4-005056BA6623
IUCN Secretariat: 
Yes
Other non-IUCN related organisations: 
none
Implementation
Indicate and briefly describe any actions that have been carried out to implement this Resolution: 
ActionDescriptionStatus
Scientific/technical activitiesEcological Baseline and resource use profile of Astola Island. First Marine Protected area in Pakistan. By the WAITT Foundation and Mangroves for the Future. Survey was carried out on 16-18 December 2017 and 15-17 February 2018 by a team consisting of twenty six Doctorates Scholars and professionals including: phycologists, and phycochemists, plant ecologists, marine ecologists, herpetologists, ornithologists,marine fisheries, coral and scuba diving experts and sociologists. The purpose of this ecological base line survey was to collect primary and secondary information on important biodiversity resources of Astola, to obtain updated information on terrestrial and acquatic resiurces in offshore and onshore waters of Astola Island including flora phytoplankton, microalgae, seaweeds, herbs, shrubs and small trees and fauna-reptiles, birds, coral reef, marine fish diversity, cetaceans, small mammals and benthic organisms, as well as, the physical parameters. It also covered identification and mapping of sites of critical ecological importance. Resource use survey covered social aspects pertaining to extractive uses, existing fishing practices and livelihood dependencies associated with the islands resources.Completed
What challenges have you encountered in implementing this Resolution and what measures have you taken to overcome them?: 
Getting the Government of Pakistan accepting Astola Island to be made a Marine protected Area. Great help was provided by the Secretary of Climate Change in achieving this goal. It is also anticipated that the local fishing communities will find it difficult to accept their major fishing zone out of bounds. Alternative livelihood schemes will have to be made available to affected communities.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions are planned for the implementation of this Resolution: 
Future ActionDescription
Capacity-buildingCapacity building of existing local NGOs will be necessary in their role in explaining the long term benefits of an MPA.
Convene stakeholders/NetworkingIt is anticipated that 2019 will be when a Stake Holders meeting will be convened and a long term awareness programme will be instigated. Extra care to be taken in explaining to communities of the benefits of a Marine Protected Area as their livelihoods will be affected for many years before some major benefits will become apparent.
FundraisingThis will be a major task as not only Local donor funds will be needed but also Internationally.
Additional Information
External link(s): 
indusearthtrust