The CAR approach in the marine environment: an

overviewHelene Marsh

School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography

James Cook University

What is CAR?• Comprehensive

– incorporating the full range of biodiversity (ecosystem, habitat, species, population, genetic) recognised at an appropriate scale within and across each bioregion

• Adequate– the level of reservation (size, configuration, replication, level of

protection) required to ensure the ecological viability and integrity of populations, populations and communities

• Representative– the marine areas that are selected for inclusion in an MPA should

reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the marine ecosystems from which they derive

Representative AreasProtecting representative examples of broadscale habitats and the ecological processes upon which species depend

International Expert OpinionUS National Research Council Committee (11 US + 2

international experts) on the evaluation design and monitoring of marine reserves 2000 recommends

For MPAs to protect biodiversity • set aside representative areas of each different habitat in each

bioregion• establish systems of marine reserves which are large and

interconnected enough to be self sustaining (adequate)• include each habitat type in multiple reserves to provide buffers

against changing environmental and societal forces (adequate and comprehensive)

Thus international expert opinion endorses the CAR approach

Australia’s commitment to the CAR approach for MPAs

National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas - NRSMPA– established especially for the conservation of biodiversity– can be classified into one of more of the 6 IUCN protected

area categories with significant proportion in Highly Protected Areas- IUCN categories 1 and 11

– must have secure status which can only be revoked by parliamentary process

– must contribute to the representativeness, comprehensiveness or adequacy of the national system

International context for NRSMPAs

• International responsibilities and obligations as signatory to Convention of Biological Diversity

• Major component of Jakarta Mandate under that Convention

• Also means of meeting obligations under:– Bonn Convention – JAMBA and CAMBA– IUCN protected areas program for global representative

system of MPAs

National context for NRSMPAs• Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment 1992• National Strategy for ESD 1992• National Strategy for Conservation of Australia’sBiological Diversity 1996• Oceans Policy 1998

– broad principles and management approaches to achieve ESD of Australia’s Oceans

– move to ecosystem based planning and management delivered through ecosystem based planning via Regional Marine Plans based on large marine ecosystems (based on advice from Australian Marine Sciences Association)

• ANZECC 1999 Strategic Plan of Action for NRSMPAs (developed by expert group of 22 scientists + MPA experts)

• GBRWHA Strategic Plan (ENGO and Science input)

Primary goal of NRSMPAs

• To establish and manage a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of MPAs to contribute to the long-term ecological viability of of marine and estuarine systems, to maintain ecological processes and systems and to protect Australia’s biodiversity at all levels

GBRWHA is much more than just coral reefs ….

GBRWHA also includes:

• mangroves

• sandy & coral cays

• continental islands

• seagrass beds (shallow & deepwater)

• algal & sponge ‘gardens’

• sandy and muddy bottom communities

• deep ocean troughs.

78 bioregions:advice of 60+ reef

and non-reef experts and 40+

availabledata sets

including data on geodiversity &

biodiversityat scale of 10-100s

km

Why does the application of the CAR system have the potential to succeed in protecting the biodiversity of the GBRWHA?•in contrast to a terrestrial environment all parts of the area are potentially available as highly protected areas - no private ownership•area is is huge - lots of choice•implemented within an ecosystem scale MPA framework with varying and variable controls throughout the entire region•biophysical principles have priority in process to select candidate areas •other values taken in to account - including prior zoning, special unique places and social and economic values

How does GBRMP RAP conform to secondary goals of

NRSMPA?• promote development of MPAs within framework of ecosystem

management • provide management framework within broad spectrum of human

activities• provide scientific reference sites • provide for special needs of rare, depleted or threatened species and

communities • provide for the conservation of special groups of organisms including

migratory species • protect areas of high conservation value • provide for the recreational, aesthetic and cultural needs of indigenous

and non-indigenous Australians

International Expert OpinionUS National Research Council Committee on the

evaluation design and monitoring of marine reserves 2000 recommends

For MPAs to protect biodiversity • set aside representative areas of each different habitat in

each bioregion• establish systems of marine reserves which are large

enough and interconnected to be self sustaining• include each habitat type in multiple reserves to provide

buffers against changing environmental and societal forces

Most international experts on MPA design regard the GBRMPA

Representative Area Program as THE MODEL TO WHICH THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULD ASPIRE

GBRWHA is:• Large marine

ecosystem• > 2000 km long• up to 250 km

wide It includes:• over 3000 reefs• over 900 islands• GBRMP world’s

biggest MPA

Why doesn’t GBRMP comply with NRSMPA’s

primary goal? • ~ 4.5% of GBR that is highly protected (i.e. ‘no take’) is

not spread across all bioregions; some bioregions (espec. non-reef bioregions) clearly currently have little or no protection

• Does not conform to CAR principles which have been adopted as national policy

• Does not protect full range of biodiversity of GBRWHA

% ProtectedBioregion type

No protection <1 – 5 % 5 – 15% 15 – 25% >25%

Reef 2 7 9 3 9Non Reef 8 10 7 5 4Unclassified 4 2 1 0 1

Totals 14 19 17 8 14