Challenges for Marine Protected Areas...Lauru Ridges to Reefs Protected Area Network 20 August 2015...

Challenges for Marine Protected Areas

Vilm Seminar „Biodiversity Conservation for Human Wellbeing“4 August 2015

Challenges for Marine Protected Areas

Vilm Seminar „Biodiversity Conservation for Human Wellbeing“4 August 2015

- and examples for addressing them

Agenda

Blue Solutions20 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


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


“…especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services…”

• Not only focus on biodiversity hotspots but also ecosystem services hotspots

3.1. Identification of MPAs


Biodiversity Hotspots




• Data on marine ecosystems and ecosystem services and how well current MPAs protect these

Need for selection criteria





• 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



• 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


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

3.2. Designation of MPAs

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



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


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

protected-area-network-lauru-pan

© James Hardcastle

© Jimmy Kereseka




„… 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


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


• Different categories based on primary management objective which should apply to min 75% of the area:

• Ia Strict Nature Reserve

• Ib Wilderness Area

• II National Park

• III Natural Monument or Feature

• IV Habitat/Species Management Area

• V Protected Landscape/Seascape

• VI Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources

© papahanaumokuakea.gov

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



Governance



• Need to

• Effectively coordinate multiple jurisdictions

• Establish a more coordinated program of management, assistance, and information-sharing



Governance



• 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


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 oceanareas

• Identification based on 7 scientific criteria

• Encouragement of CBD to cooperate to identify and adopt appropriatemeasures for conservation and sustainable use (e.g. establishing MPA networks)


• 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




• 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


• 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]

Challenges for Marine Protected Areas...Lauru Ridges to Reefs Protected Area Network 20 August 2015...

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