Designing Networks of Marine Protected Areas to be Resilient to Climate Change:

A Case Study From Kimbe Bay, PNG

Alison Green, The Nature Conservancy

Photo: David Wachenfeld

Rising sea temperatures

Sea level rise

Changing ocean chemistry

Increasing severity and frequency major storms

Changes in precipitation, droughts & land run-off

Changing ocean currents

Climate ChangeMajor Threats

Resilience Principles for MPA Network Deign

•Spreading risk through representation and replication•Identifying and protecting critical areas, particularly those

more likely to survive•Understanding and incorporating patterns of connectivity •Ensuring reefs are as healthy as possible

Habitats Most Likely to SurviveTopography

Habitats Most Likely to SurviveAdjacent Land Use

Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

World’s First Scientific Design of a Resilient MPA Network Design

Areas of Interest

Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Resilient MPA Network Design Training

Questions?

Resilience PrinciplesRisk spreading (representation & replication)

Resilience PrinciplesAddressing other threats

overfishingdestructive fishing practices

forestry large scale agriculture

Global bleaching reports to 1998 (ReefBase)

Global bleaching reports to 2003 (ReefBase)

Wide variety of marine habitats in close proximity Shallow water (coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves)Deepwater habitats (oceanic waters, seamounts etc)

• Most in good to excellent condition, high conservation value:• Coral Triangle (global center of marine biodiversity)

• Globally significant oceanic waters (toothed whales & pelagic fish)

Large, well defined bay (140 x 70 kms)Natural seascape for MPA network design

Dramatic bathymetry: coastal shelf (to 200m), most deep (600 to >2000m)

Kimbe Bay

Climate Change is Here!

Profound impacts on coral reefs and associated ecosystems

Resilience PrinciplesUnderstanding and incorporating

patterns of connectivity

©Australian Coral Reef Society

Australian Coral Reef Society

Resilience PrinciplesUnderstanding and incorporating

patterns of connectivity