10th NCB Meeting, MFF Pakistan

Mangroves for the Future Programme contributing to address coastal resources management issues in Pakistan

Karachi: August 24, 2013

Tenth meeting of the National Coordinating Body (NCB) of Mangroves for the Future Programme (MFF) was held on 21 August 2013 at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi under the Chairmanship of Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General Forest, Climate Change Division, Islamabad.The National Coordination Body (NCB) is representative forum consisting of federal, provincial, civil society, private sector and academic organizations working in coastal areas of Pakistan.

The National Coordination Body (NCB) reviewed the progress made of implementation of MFF Programme in coastal areas Pakistan through its small, medium and regional projects.

Speaking on behalf of NCB Chair, Syed Mahmood Nasir applauded the contribution of NCB members and MFF Programme to the sustainable management of coastal resources in Pakistanand reiterated commitment and continued support of the Climate Change Division to its successful implementation in Pakistan. He praised that the programme has gradually enhanced its scale to the implementation of regional projects project with MFF countries. He appraised the forum that United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will soon start implementation of a two-year regional project jointly in Pakistan and Thailand to address coastal issues related to sea level rise and coastal erosion. Climate Change Division and IUCN Pakistan  are the National Partner Institutions for the implementation of project activities in Pakistan. 

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan appreciated the support and contribution of NCB members to the sustainable management of coastal resources. He praised the efforts of Sindh Forest Department in setting the Guinness World Record on 22 July 2013 by planting 8,47,257 saplings with the team of 300 coastal community volunteers, breaking an earlier record set by India.IUCN collaborated with the department to ensure wide coverage of the event through national and international print and electronic media.  He also apprised that both IUCN and Sindh Forest Department will soon initiate implementation of a collaborative project on mangrove plantation in the Indus Delta to check sea intrusion in coastal areas of Sindh.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Nizamani, Additional Secretary, Sindh Forest Department stressed upon NCB to focus on critical macro level issues to address threats facing coastal ecosystems and livelihoods of local communities. 

Highlighting the progress of MFF implementation in Pakistan, Mr. Ghulam Qadir Shah, MFF National Coordinator informed that MFF programme has made significant contribution to building capacities by supporting participation of officials from government and civil society organizations in international and national training programmes. He informed that efforts were being made to initiate a regional project jointly in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on conservation of marine turtles under the MFF Programme.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Mr. Khudai Raheem Ejbani, Secretary Forest Department, Balochistan, Mr. Noor Ahmad Samoo, Additional Secretary Fisheries, Balochistan and representatives from other government department of Sindh and Balochistan provinces, representative of FAO, UNDP and civil society organizations.