Marine Protected Areas: A Literature Review of Their Conservation Effectiveness in Safeguarding Marine Biodiversity

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are crucial for maintaining marine biological diversity because they safeguarded ecosystems, protected endangered or threatened species, and supported livelihoods, while social and economic security could be achieved by managing marine resources sustainably. This literature review aimed to synthesize related and relevant studies on the effectiveness of MPAs in safeguarding marine biodiversity. The study synthesized twenty (20) published peer-reviewed research articles and reports to scrutinize and provide answers to the questions surrounding the effectiveness, benefits, and challenges in enforcing this global conservation target. The outcomes of the reviewed and assessed papers revealed that well-managed MPAs significantly contributed to habitat restoration, species population recovery, and ecosystem resilience. However, issues such as weak enforcement, stakeholder conflicts, and climate change jeopardized their full potential. This review highlighted the contradictory position of this extensively used management tool at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and emphasized the necessity of adaptive management techniques to enhance MPA design, community involvement, and stronger policy enforcement.