Balochistan declares Miani Hor in Lasbela Pakistan’s third marine protected area

KARACHI: The Government of Balochistan has declared Miani Hor in Lasbela district as Pakistan’s third marine protected area (MPA), marking a significant step towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s target of conserving 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030.

The notification was issued by the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department with the concurrence of the National Coordinating Body (NCB) for Marine Protected Areas.

With this declaration, Miani Hor joins Astola Island and Indus Canyon as part of Pakistan’s protected marine network. Officials said the move reinforces the country’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) while safeguarding ecosystems critical for mangroves, migratory birds, fisheries, and coastal livelihoods.

According to the notification, the Miani Hor MPA will be managed under the Balochistan Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2014. The objectives include conserving and restoring species, habitats and ecological processes; preventing biodiversity loss; protecting representative ecosystems; and ensuring sustainable use in line with the precautionary principle. Strict conditions have been imposed to regulate activities in the area. Eco-tourism and education will be permitted under prescribed restrictions, while traditional fishing rights may continue subject to departmental oversight. However, destructive practices such as the use of explosives, poisons, chemicals, spear guns, mangrove cutting, and harmful fishing gear have been prohibited.

The notification also bans land-use changes without prior approval, construction of permanent structures, unregulated scuba diving or water sports, and any activity that could disturb the feeding or breeding grounds of marine and terrestrial species. Carrying firearms, except for law enforcement, and residing in the area without official permission are also barred. By designating Miani Hor as a Marine Protected Area, the Government of Balochistan has underscored its resolve to balance ecological protection with sustainable coastal development, ensuring biodiversity and community livelihoods are safeguarded for future generations.

Earlier this year, Astola Island, designated in June 2017 as Pakistan’s first MPA, received its officially endorsed management plan from the Balochistan government, strengthening long-term conservation of the site also known as Jezira Haft Talar (Island of the Seven Hills).

Pakistan, as a signatory to the CBD since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, has repeatedly committed to global biodiversity goals. Its first National Biodiversity Action Plan was developed in 1999, with targets initially set for 2010. However, the Global Biodiversity Outlook 3 (GBO3) confirmed that the 2010 goals were not met worldwide.

In response, the CBD’s 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) in Japan adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, which introduced the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Despite progress, those targets were also not fully achieved by 2020.

At COP15 in 2022, governments adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), envisioning a world where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used. Its four long-term goals and 23 global targets include Target 3, which calls for conserving at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, marine and coastal areas by 2030.

As a party to the CBD, Pakistan is obliged to deliver on this commitment. While the Federal Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Protection oversees international commitments, the management of protected areas rests with provincial governments. With the notification of MPAs and the implementation of their management plans, Pakistan is contributing to the 2030 global target. Several additional MPA sites in Balochistan and Sindh have already been identified for future protection.