果冻影院

Research by 果冻影院鈥檚 Marine Protected Area Governance project听informed UN Environment guidance published in听2019听on ensuring the effective and equitable management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).听

MPAs听offer one of the best options for maintaining or restoring the health of ocean and coastal ecosystems, particularly as part of a wider management system.听

The听guidance听focuses听on听achieving conservation objectives while fairly sharing the costs and benefits through participative approaches that respect local traditions, customs and cultures.听

鈥淯ltimately, governing the oceans in a sustainable way could see Marine Protected Areas as a driver of 鈥� not a limit to 鈥� the vital economic and social benefits that we derive from the global ocean,鈥� explains Dr Peter Jones (果冻影院 Geography), who is leading the project.听

The guidance draws on 34 case studies from 15 countries听across the world, each facing different challenges. In Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines, illegal fishing听is targeting听endangered or threatened species that have a high commercial value in illegal trade. The area also faces听the threat of energy exploration in the Sulu Sea, resulting from听the听rising costs of imported fossil fuel, while water pollution is increasing due to solid waste materials, brought in from various origins through tidal currents and wind.听

鈥�鈥淲e need to balance the need for conservation with recognition听that we have to work with the local communities to听fairly听share the costs and benefits of human use of the areas.鈥澨�

In contrast, it is the rapidly rising level of mass tourism that is having the greatest impact at Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Belize. Visitors diving and snorkelling are听damaging听coral reefs,听while liquid waste and pollution from the ships is likely to be influencing the levels of nutrients听in the waters,听also affecting reefs.听

The Wash European Marine Site听in the听UK听faces different challenges,听including听disturbance听from听low-flying military aircraft,听and听the over-harvesting of natural mussel beds听that听is contributing to the decline in the condition of mudflats and sand flats.听

鈥淚n听each case, we need to balance the need for conservation with a recognition听that听we听have听to work with the local communities to听fairly听share the costs and benefits of human use of the areas,鈥� adds Dr Jones.听鈥淩ather than assuming that MPAs are set aside from use, the guidance recognises that MPAs should be seen more as vehicles for promoting their integrated and sustainable use.听