challenges for marine protected areas - blue...

Challenges for Marine Protected Areas

Vilm Seminar „Biodiversity Conservation for Human Wellbeing“

4 August 2015

- and examples for addressing them

Agenda

Blue Solutions 13 August 2015

1. Threats to marine and coastal biodiversity

2. What are MPAs?

• Marine vs terrestrial ecosystems and management implications

• CBD strategic plan for biodiversity

3. Challenges in regard to…

• …identification

• …designation

• …management

4. Conclusion and recommendations

1. Threats to marine and coastal biodiversity


• Land use change and habitat loss

• Unsustainable fishing

• Eutrophication and pollution

• Climate change

MPAs as one tool to address these threats

Source: Reuters

© C Furlong/Getty Images

© M Potenski

© L Hislop


• IUCN: “A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and

managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-

term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and

cultural values”

• FAO: „any marine geographical area that is afforded greater protection

than the surrounding waters for biodiversity conservation or fisheries

management purposes will be considered an MPA“

2. What are MPAs?

© Rebecca Weeks | Marine Photobank


As of August 2014,

Source: UNEP-WCMC

Protected areas cover 3.41% of the oceans


• Aichi target 11: “By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland

water, and

Marine vs terrestrial ecosystems

Source: Secretariat of the CBD (2014),

Global Biodiversity Outlook 4,


Multi-dimensionality and connectivity

• Third dimension: changes in species distribution in

water column

• Very large scale over which marine connectivity occurs

Currents and tides

• Surrounding /„up-current“ influences from tides & currents

• More “open” systems: more exchange, influence by e.g.

up-stream pollution

Uncertainty

• More complex: wider diversity of niches and greater

number of trophic levels

• Logistical problems of observing and studying marine

environments; high costs


© J Ziegler

callmeoverfished.wordpress.com

speakupforblue.com


Property rights

• Less distinct boundaries; poorly defined rights of access and use

• Marine activities largely regulated on sectoral basis, i.e. different

authorities

Enforcement and management

• Multiple access points

• „Innocent passage“ afforded to all vessels (UNCLOS)

• Detection of illegal/ unregulated activities and their impacts



• Aichi target 11: “By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland

water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of

particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are

conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically

representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other

effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the

wider landscapes and seascapes.”

Upcoming:

• Sustainable Development Goal 14: „Conserve and sustainably use the

oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”

CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020


Biodiversity Hotspots


“…especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem

services…”

• Not only focus on biodiversity hotspots but also ecosystem services

hotspots

• Data on marine ecosystems and ecosystem services and how well

current MPAs protect these

Need for selection criteria

• Data collection is expensive and time consuming

Precautionary approach

3.1. Identification of MPAs

risksense.org


• Developed & maintained by students of the University of Pernambuco

• Objectives:

• Improve access to information

• Collect sound information for MPA management plan

• Identify knowledge gaps

• Connect researchers based at geographically distant institutions

• Impacts:

• Up-scaling: new online libraries in/for other MPAs in Brazil

• Reserve known across the region and beyond

https://sites.google.com/site/bibliotecavirtualdaresex/

http://www.panorama.solutions/content/line-library-marine-extractive-reserve-brazilian-northeast-0

Online library of the Acaú-Goiana Extractive Reserve , Brazil




















Objectives of an MPA as defined by IUCN per category


• Conserve outstanding ecosystems, species and/or geodiversity features

• Protect long-term ecological integrity of natural areas

• Protect natural biodiversity, underlying ecological structure and support

environmental processes, promote education and recreation

• Protect specific outstanding natural features and associated biodiversity

and habitats

• Maintain, conserve and restore species and habitats

• Protect and sustain important seascapes, associated nature

conservation and other values created by interactions with humans

through traditional management practices

• Protect natural ecosystems and use natural resources sustainably


• Setting the goals – What is the primary objective of the MPA?

Determine optimum size, number and location of MPAs

„… ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and

other area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider

landscapes and seascapes.“

• MPA networks

A group of individual sites is not yet a network!

Systems or networks of MPAs over large regions or

between nations

3.2. Designation of MPAs

R Abesamis

Lauru Ridges to Reefs Protected Area Network


• First locally-managed marine area network in Melanesia

• Established in a community-led process and based on

master conservation plan; full ownership by local

communities

• Impacts:

• Stocks of commercial species noticeably recovered

• Alternative livelihood options (ecotourism) generated revenues

• Conservation priorities improve stakeholders bargaining power

when negotiating with mining companies and national

government

• Better knowledge of natural and cultural resources

http://www.panorama.solutions/content/lauru-ridges-reefs-

protected-area-network-lauru-pan

© James Hardcastle

© Jimmy Kereseka

http://www.panorama.solutions/content/lauru-ridges-reefs-protected-area-network-lauru-pan

















• Setting the goals – What is the primary objective of the MPA?

Determine optimum size, number and location of MPAs

„… ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and

other area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider

landscapes and seascapes.“

• Three designs most commonly used: small single area, large single area or

network of areas

• MPA networks

A group of individual sites is not yet a network!

Systems or networks of MPAs over large regions or between nations

• Who pays? – Sustainable, long-term financing is essential

3.2. Designation of MPAs

Conservation Trust Fund for Sustainable

Financing of MPAs


• Public-private partnership between CONANP and the

Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN)

which supports basic operation of MPA with the revenue

from the trust

• Impacts:

• Close collaboration for 17 years in this PPP that is considered highly

successful

• Collaboration is expanding to the fisheries sector

http://www.panorama.solutions/content/conservation-trust-fund-sustainable-financing-mpas

© FMCN















• Different categories based on primary management objective which

should apply to min 75% of the area:

• Ia Strict Nature Reserve

Categories

© K Kiefer

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

(HIMI) Marine Reserve





• Ib Wilderness Area

Wilderness.net

Aleutian Islands Wilderness

Categories






• II National Park

Bonaire National Marine Park

(BNMP)

Categories







• III Natural Monument or Feature

Papahānaumokuākea Marine

National Monument

© papahanaumokuakea.gov

Categories








• IV Habitat/Species Management Area


Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary

© IUCN

Categories








• IV Habitat/Species Management Area

• V Protected Landscape/Seascape


© parks.it

Area naturale Baia di Ieranto

Categories


• Different categories based on primary

management objective which should

apply to min 75% of the area:





• IV Habitat/Species Management

Area

• V Protected Landscape/Seascape

• VI Protected Area with sustainable

use of natural resources


gbrmpa.gov.au

Categories


„… effectively and equitably managed…“

Management Plan - Avoid another paper park

• Primary objective of MPA

• Regulations: quotas, equipment restrictions, licenses & permits, …

• Enforcement

• Monitoring

• Governance

• …

3.3. Management of MPAs


Governance

• Use of marine resources governed by different laws and regulations

• MPAs overlap multiple jurisdictions and involve multiple management

partners with different responsibilities

• Need to

• Effectively coordinate multiple jurisdictions

• Establish a more coordinated program of

management, assistance, and

information-sharing

• Public engagement in MPA planning is vital to

achieving conservation goals

3.4. Management of MPAs

Management Committees for participatory MPA

management


• Participative processes for establishment and zoning of an MPA,

involving local fishermen in its creation and categorization

• Impacts

• Fishermen are active partner for current

management through the Management

Committee

• Fishermen themselves contribute to control

and surveillance

• Reduced conflicts at the local level

• More sustainable use of marine resources

http://www.panorama.solutions/content/management-committees-participatory-mpa-management













Excursion: Protecting biodiversity of the High Sea


• Government representatives agreed to launch a formal preparatory process

for a global and legally-binding instrument for the conservation and

sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction

under UNCLOS

• Formal preparatory committee starts in early 2016

Designation of a global system of MPAs

Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into the governance of high seas

fisheries, shipping and seabed mining

Providing for more effective access to marine genetic resources

Excursion: EBSAs


• CBD process to identify most ecologically and biologically important ocean

areas

• Identification based on 7 scientific criteria

• Encouragement of CBD to cooperate to identify and adopt appropriate

measures for conservation and sustainable use (e.g. establishing MPA

networks)

Excursion: EBSAs


= Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas

• CBD process to identify most ecologically and biologically important ocean

areas

• Identification based on 7 scientific criteria

• Encouragement of CBD to cooperate to identify and adopt appropriate

measures for conservation and sustainable use (e.g. establishing MPA

networks)

Source: CBD


• CBD provides an international framework

• But…

even if 10% are protected, 90% are not

“How inappropriate to call this planet

Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.”

Arthur C. Clarke



• Five factors for effective protection (Edgar et al., 2014):

1) Full protection

2) Enforcement of protection

3) Age greater than 10 years

4) Size more than 100km2

5) Isolation


Edgar et al. 2014



• Increase area covered fully protected

• Ensure management effectiveness of all MPAs

• Increase number of MPA networks

• Integrate MPAs into broader seascape and landscape

• Target protection of both biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Recognise MPAs as solutions for climate change adaptation, mitigation

and DRR, and include them in relevant international conventions and

strategies

• Detect and prevent IUU with focus on MPAs

© L Hislop

© L Hislop


• Use new technology, social media and learning networks

• Develop innovative partnerships

• Secure new long-term funding

• Harness business and private sector

• Share data

• Integrate MPAs as a conservation measure into broader area

management plans

Marine Spatial Planning


Thank you for your attention!

Janina Korting| Blue Solutions

[email protected]

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