scholarly journals Towards reducing misrepresentation of national achievements in marine protected area targets

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
patrick Smallhorn-West ◽  
Hugh Govan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Area Coverage ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
International Database ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Pacific Island Nations

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted 20 targets, known as the Aichi Targets, to benchmark progress towards protecting biodiversity. These targets include Target 11 relating to Marine Protected Area coverage and the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is the accepted international database for tracking national commitments to this target. However, measuring national progress towards conservation targets relies on sound data. This paper highlights the large-scale misrepresentation, by up to two orders of magnitude, of national marine protected area coverage from two Pacific Island nations in multiple online databases and subsequent reports, including conclusions regarding achievements of Aichi 11 commitments. It recommends that for the target driven approach to have value, users of the WDPA data should carefully consider its caveats before using their raw data and that countries should strive for a greater degree of accountability. Lastly it also concludes that protected area coverage may not be the best approach to environmental sustainability and that the remaining 19 targets should be considered to a greater extent.

scholarly journals Spain and Marine Protected Areas: Recent Developments

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 847-855
Author(s):  
Mariano J. Aznar
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Barcelona Convention ◽  
Specially Protected Areas

Abstract Spain has just declared a new marine protected area in the Mediterranean. This follows a protective trend taken by Spanish authorities during the last decades and has permitted Spain to honour its international compromises under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It contributes to a framework of protected areas established under conventional regimes such as OSPAR, RAMSAR or EU Natura 2000. The new area protects a ‘cetacean corridor’ and will be inscribed in the list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance under the Barcelona Convention regional framework.

The nature and extent of terrestrial protected area coverage on the UK's Overseas Territories

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-404
Author(s):  
NICHOLAS I. WILKINSON ◽  
JONATHAN G. HALL ◽  
JULIET A. VICKERY ◽  
GRAEME M. BUCHANAN
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Area Coverage ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Effective Protection ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Overseas Territories ◽  
The Uk

SUMMARYSignatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed to the effective protection of at least 17% of the terrestrial environment by 2020 (Aichi Target 11). Here, we assess the coverage of terrestrial protected areas (land protected by legislation) on the UK's Overseas Territories. These 14 Territories are under the sovereignty of the UK, a signatory of the CBD, and are particularly biodiverse. Eight Territories have protected areas covering 17% or more of their land, but the extent of protection across these Territories as a whole is low, with only 4.8% of this land designated as protected. This protection covered 51% of sites already identified as of conservation importance (Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas), although only 8% of the area of these sites was protected. The expansion of effective protection to meet the 17% target provides an opportunity to capture the most important sites for conservation. Locally led designation will require an improvement in knowledge of the distribution and density of species. This, together with measures to ensure that the protection is enforced and effective, will require provision of resources. This should be seen as an investment in the UK meeting its obligations to Aichi Target 11.

scholarly journals An adaptable toolkit to assess commercial fishery costs and benefits related to marine protected area network design

F1000Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rémi M. Daigle ◽  
Cristián J. Monaco ◽  
Ashley K. Elgin
Keyword(s):  
Network Design ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Mpa Network

Around the world, governments are establishing Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks to meet their commitments to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. MPAs are often used in an effort to conserve biodiversity and manage fisheries stocks. However, their efficacy and effect on fisheries yields remain unclear. We conducted a case-study on the economic impact of different MPA network design strategies on the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fisheries in Canada. The open-source R toolbox that we developed to analyze this case study can be customized to conduct similar analyses for other systems. We used a spatially-explicit individual-based model of population growth and dispersal coupled with a fisheries management and harvesting component. We found that MPA networks that both protect the target species’ habitat (particularly the spawning grounds), and were spatially optimized to improve population connectivity had the highest net present value (i.e., were most profitable for the fishing industry). These higher profits were achieved primarily by reducing the distance travelled for fishing and reducing the probability of a moratorium event. These findings add to a growing body of knowledge demonstrating the importance of incorporating population connectivity in the MPA planning process, as well as the ability of this R toolbox to explore ecological and economic consequences of alternative MPA network designs.

scholarly journals Where now for protected areas? Setting the stage for the 2014 World Parks Congress

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 496-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Dudley ◽  
Craig Groves ◽  
Kent H. Redford ◽  
Sue Stolton
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The Social ◽  
Transboundary Protected Areas

AbstractProtected areas are regarded as the most important tool in the conservation toolbox. They cover > 12% of the Earth's terrestrial area, with over half of this designated since 1970, and are thus a unique example of governments and other stakeholders consciously changing management of land and water at a significant scale. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has a global programme to complete ecologically-representative protected area networks, and this is driving the creation of large numbers of new protected areas. But there is also growing criticism of protected areas because of the social costs of protection and doubts about their effectiveness. We acknowledge this criticism but believe that it is over-stated and applied to a protected area model that has already been replaced by newer thinking. As protected areas are becoming more complex in concept and more complicated in management, we review the six most important changes affecting them over the last 2 decades: (1) a new protected area definition with more emphasis on nature conservation; (2) a plurality of management and governance models; (3) acknowledgement of wider protected area benefits beyond nature conservation; (4) greater social safeguards for protected areas; (5) evidence that protected areas are effective conservation tools; and (6) a new emphasis on larger protected areas, transboundary protected areas, connectivity conservation and landscape approaches. We conclude by considering fresh challenges as a result of policy changes and the global criminal wildlife trade, and consider the potential of the forthcoming 2014 IUCN World Parks Congress.

Reflections on the Implications of Environmental Norms for Fishing: The Link between the Regulation of Fishing and the Protection of Marine Biological Diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 389-409
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Fishing Rights ◽  
Marine Biological ◽  
Marine Environmental Protection ◽  
Environmental Norms ◽  
Environmental Considerations ◽  
Marine Environmental

Abstract The aim of this article is to examine the implications of environmental norms for fishing by analysing the South China Sea and Chagos Marine Protected Area cases. In so doing, the article considers the link between the regulation of fishing and the protection of marine biological diversity. Specifically, three issues are to be examined: (1) the implications of Articles 192 and 194(5) of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea for the regulation of environmentally harmful fishing, (2) the implications of Article 194 of the Convention for the fishing rights of a state, and (3) balance between environmental considerations and the fishing rights of a state. In this connection, the article argues that environmentally harmful fishing can be regarded as a key concept when considering the regulation of fishing from the viewpoints of marine environmental protection.

Residency and reproductive status of yellowfin tuna in a proposed large-scale pelagic marine protected area

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1308-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Richardson ◽  
Katie J. Downes ◽  
Emma T. Nolan ◽  
Paul Brickle ◽  
Judith Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Yellowfin Tuna ◽  
Reproductive Status

scholarly journals Global correlates of terrestrial and marine coverage by protected areas on islands

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mouillot ◽  
Laure Velez ◽  
Eva Maire ◽  
Alizée Masson ◽  
Christina C. Hicks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Area Coverage ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspots ◽  
Human Footprint ◽  
Cultural Connections ◽  
Resource Capacity

Abstract Many islands are biodiversity hotspots but also extinction epicenters. In addition to strong cultural connections to nature, islanders derive a significant part of their economy and broader wellbeing from this biodiversity. Islands are thus considered as the socio-ecosystems most vulnerable to species and habitat loss. Yet, the extent and key correlates of protected area coverage on islands is still unknown. Here we assess the relative influence of climate, geography, habitat diversity, culture, resource capacity, and human footprint on terrestrial and marine protected area coverage across 2323 inhabited islands globally. We show that, on average, 22% of terrestrial and 13% of marine island areas are under protection status, but that half of all islands have no protected areas. Climate, diversity of languages, human population density and development are strongly associated with differences observed in protected area coverage among islands. Our study suggests that economic development and population growth may critically limit the amount of protection on islands.

A large-scale marine protected area for the sea of Rapa Nui: From ocean grabbing to legitimacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 198 ◽  
pp. 105327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime A. Aburto ◽  
Carlos F. Gaymer ◽  
Hugh Govan
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Rapa Nui

scholarly journals The conservation costs and economic benefits of using biodiversity offsets to meet international targets for protected area expansion

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Falko T. Buschke ◽  
Susie Brownlie ◽  
Jeff Manuel
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Offsets ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Conservation Costs ◽  
Area Expansion

AbstractAichi Biodiversity Target 11 under the Convention on Biological Diversity sets out to conserve at least 17% of terrestrial area by 2020. However, few countries are on track to meet this target and it is uncertain whether developing countries have allocated sufficient resources to expand their protected areas. Biodiversity offsets could resolve this conservation shortfall if developers who affect biodiversity negatively at one locality are made responsible for its protection elsewhere. Here we simulate the use of biodiversity offsetting to expand protected area coverage in South Africa's grassland biome. South Africa's biodiversity offsets policy has been designed specifically to compensate for the residual loss of biodiversity caused by development, by establishing and managing protected areas within the same ecosystem type. We show that it is possible to meet protected area targets using only offsets, while facilitating economic development. However, doing so could slash the current extent of intact habitat by half. These losses could be reduced considerably should the gains in protected areas through offsetting supplement rather than supplant existing government commitments to protected area expansion. Moreover, supplementing existing government commitments would result in comparatively small reductions in potential economic gains, because the marginal economic benefit of transforming habitat decreases as more intact habitat is lost. Therefore, the intended role of biodiversity offsetting in achieving a country's protected area target should be made explicit to fully understand the associated trade-offs between conservation and economic development.

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