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

• Published in: Marine policy Vol. 170; p. 106364
• Main Authors: Sullivan-Stack, Jenna, Ahmadia, Gabby N., Andradi-Brown, Dominic A., Barron, Alexandra, Brooks, Cassandra M., Claudet, Joachim, Horta e Costa, Barbara, Estradivari, Field, Laurel C., Giakoumi, Sylvaine, Gonçalves, Emanuel, Groulx, Natalie, Harris, Jean, Jessen, Sabine, Johnson, Steven Mana'oakamai, MacCarthy, Jessica M.C., Maricato, Guilherme, Morgan, Lance, Nalven, Katharine Bear, Nocito, Emily S., Pike, Elizabeth P., Sala, Enric, Tardin, Rodrigo, Villagomez, Angelo, Wright, Kendyl, Grorud-Colvert, Kirsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodiversity and Ecology; Biodiversity conservation; Environmental Sciences; Global biodiversity framework target 3; Level of protection; Marine protected area quality; MPA assessment; MPA effectiveness; MPA assessment; Biodiversity conservation; Level of protection; Global biodiversity framework target 3; Marine protected area quality; MPA effectiveness; global biodiversity framework target 3; marine protected area quality; biodiversity conservation; level of protection
• ISSN: 0308-597X; 1872-9460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106364

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.