Assessments of expected MPA outcomes can inform and improve biodiversity conservation: Case studies using The MPA Guide

Global, regional, and national targets have been set to protect and conserve at least 30 % of the ocean by 2030, in recognition of the important benefits of healthy ocean ecosystems, including for human well-being. Many of these targets recognize the importance of the quality, not just quantity, of areas that are included in the 30 %, such as marine protected areas (MPAs). For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3 calls for areas to be effectively conserved and managed, ecologically representative, well-connected, and equitably governed. Protecting a percent area is not the sole goal – protection must be effective and equitable. To better understand the quality of biodiversity conservation afforded, in addition to the quantity of area protected, we looked at MPAs across 13 studies that used The MPA Guide and related tools to track Stage of Establishment and Level of Protection as measures of expected biodiversity conservation outcomes across diverse locations, scales, and cultural, political, and conservation contexts. We show that standardized assessments of MPA quality can help to (1) evaluate and improve existing MPAs; (2) plan new MPAs; (3) compare the quality of MPA protection across various scales; (4) track MPA quality, including progress towards coverage targets; (5) enable clear communication and collaboration, and (6) inform actions needed to achieve policy targets and their underlying environmental and social goals, among others. We share common opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for tracking MPA quality at various scales, and using these quality assessments to measure progress towards global targets.

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Publication Details

Journal
Marine Policy
Published
2024-08-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106364
Citations
15
Primary Topic
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.88

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article

Assessments of expected MPA outcomes can inform and improve biodiversity conservation: Case studies using The MPA Guide

Alexandra Barron, Bárbara Horta e Costa, Kirsten Grorud‐Colvert, Sylvaine Giakoumi et al.
15 citations
Marine Policy
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
6.88
article

Assessments of expected MPA outcomes can inform and improve biodiversity conservation: Case studies using The MPA Guide

Alexandra Barron, Bárbara Horta e Costa, Kirsten Grorud‐Colvert, Sylvaine Giakoumi, Guilherme Maricato, Enric Sala, ESTRADIVARI ESTRADIVARI, Joachim Claudet, Dominic A. Andradi‐Brown, Laurel C. Field, Gabby N. Ahmadia, Jessica MacCarthy, Jenna Sullivan‐Stack, Jean M. Harris, Emanuel J. Gonçalves, Elizabeth P. Pike, Katharine B. Nalven, Emily S. Nocito, S. Johnson, Rodrigo Hipolito Tardin Oliveira, Sabine Jessen, Angelo Villagomez, Lance Morgan, Cassandra M. Brooks, Natalie Groulx, Kendyl Wright
article en
15 citations

Abstract

Global, regional, and national targets have been set to protect and conserve at least 30 % of the ocean by 2030, in recognition of the important benefits of healthy ocean ecosystems, including for human well-being. Many of these targets recognize the importance of the quality, not just quantity, of areas that are included in the 30 %, such as marine protected areas (MPAs). For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3 calls for areas to be effectively conserved and managed, ecologically representative, well-connected, and equitably governed. Protecting a percent area is not the sole goal – protection must be effective and equitable. To better understand the quality of biodiversity conservation afforded, in addition to the quantity of area protected, we looked at MPAs across 13 studies that used The MPA Guide and related tools to track Stage of Establishment and Level of Protection as measures of expected biodiversity conservation outcomes across diverse locations, scales, and cultural, political, and conservation contexts. We show that standardized assessments of MPA quality can help to (1) evaluate and improve existing MPAs; (2) plan new MPAs; (3) compare the quality of MPA protection across various scales; (4) track MPA quality, including progress towards coverage targets; (5) enable clear communication and collaboration, and (6) inform actions needed to achieve policy targets and their underlying environmental and social goals, among others. We share common opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for tracking MPA quality at various scales, and using these quality assessments to measure progress towards global targets.

Marine PolicyVol. 170
Florida State University (US), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CA), Oregon State University (US), Center for American Progress (US), École Pratique des Hautes Études (FR), University of Colorado Boulder (US), Cornell University (US), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (FR), Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (DE), Marine Conservation Institute (US), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (IT), World Wildlife Fund (US), ISPA - Instituto Universitário (PT), National Geographic Society (US), Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (US), Institut Océanographique (FR), University of Algarve (PT), Nelson Mandela University (ZA)
National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Pew Charitable Trusts, National Geographic Society, Biodiversa+, European Commission, Fondation de France, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
6.88
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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