Karachi: The 20th meeting of the National Coordinating Body (NCB) of Mangroves emphasized conducting a workshop of relevant stakeholders to develop a roadmap for designating Churna island as a ‘marine-protected area’, a news source reported. The participants further stressed on the formation of more marine protected areas according to the international obligation, a news source reported.
Naheed Durrani chaired the meeting on Thursday and mentioned the joint efforts of various stakeholders in protecting such areas. National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lieutenant (retired) General Nadeem Ahmed was a special guest on the occasion.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – representative in Pakistan Mahmood Akhtar Cheema welcomed the NCB members and informed the participants that his organization was making efforts to maintain the NCB platform as it was beneficial in maintaining coordination and collaboration among organisations and agencies working on coastal projects.
A
participant informed the meeting regarding the threats to mangroves, including
silt deposits, shortage of required freshwater, urbanisation, industrial and
municipal pollution, and cut of mangroves for fodder and fuel.
