This story was written in the light of learning from the two separate programmes on Climate Change held in Karachi, quite recently which include
(1) IUCN Regional Steering Committee meeting with the theme for the year 2012: Coastal Resilience in the wake of Climate Change through Private Sector Engagements
(2) Seminar on ‘Climate change: Impact on Livelihood, Marine and Coastal Resources’
The speakers while discussing the climate change and depleting resources and the role of local communities focused how to cope with disasters before they happen. For this they emphasized the need to enhance the capacity of communities with provision of incentives and alternative sources of income to them.
In the IUCN programme representatives of the eight MFF member countries, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam attended and shared the progress and experiences in coastal management efforts in their respective countries.
(1) MFF Coordinator, Dr. Steen Christensen
(2) Aban Marker Kabraji, IUCN Regional Director Asia
(3) Regional adviser-environment of the UNDP, Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, Joseph D’Cruz
(4) Javed Jabbar former Vice President IUCN and Regional Councillor
Highlights of the IUCN Regional Steering Committee meeting
(1) Coastal ecosystems, particularly in developing countries, are facing climate change challenges
(2) Nearly half the global population lives in coastal areas and about 70% in east Asia depend on coastal resources for their livelihoods
(3) Collective efforts from all possible sectors are must to mitigate these effects and ensure protection, food security and adequate livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities
(4) They lauded the Government of Pakistan for taking commendable measures in good governance for coastal ecosystem management since becoming a MFF member country in 2010
(5) Human activities are contributing to the vulnerability of coastal systems and communities to the effects of climate change
(6) Thailand for example, cleared more than 70% of mangrove areas for economic activities
(7) Coastal community resilience will be a major focus of the MFF initiative
Seminar on ‘Climate change: Impact on Livelihood, Marine and Coastal Resources
Pakistan Fisherfolk’s Forum (PFF), Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and National Council for Environment Journalists (NCEJ) jointly organized this seminar, which attracted a large number of community people, hailing from coastal villages in Karachi. The community people were brought to share their experiences. The event was the part of activities related to a Week of Action for Climate Justice.
Speakers
(1) Saeed Baloch, General Secretary of the PFF
(2) Nadia Bajwa of the WWF-Pakistan, focal person on climate change adaptation programme
(3) Majeed Motani, a community elder belonging to coastal locality Ibrahim Hyderi, Karachi
(4) Zulfiqar Shah, Joint Director, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)
(5) Amar Guriro, President National Council for Environment Journalists (NCEJ)
Highlights
(1) The speakers focused on the overall situation of the depleting natural resources and vulnerabilities of indigenous communities living in coastal areas of Pakistan.
(2) WWF-Pakistan is conducting ‘coastal community vulnerability assessment’.
(3) WWF claims to have initiated a programme to initiate community level adaptation
(4) WWF put mangroves plantation on priority because of their role in storing carbon gases
(5) Fishermen shared how they are vulnerable to face cyclones, fears of tsunamis and sea intrusion
(6) Mangroves are depleting because of receding fresh water by the River Indus
(7) Mangroves are breeding grounds of commercial fish, like shrimps. Now fish catch is declining fast
(8) Stop cleaning mangroves for development of commercial centers
(9) The speakers demand the release of 30 million acre feet water to the Indus Delta
