An introduction to ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ under Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity: Origin, interpretation and emerging ocean issues (original) (raw)
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The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Target 11 states that, " by 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes ". There has been rapid progress to meet the quantitative goal (the 10% target). However, the qualitative aspects of Aichi target 11 are less well described. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 to " conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development " reaffirms the quantitative element of Aichi target 11, and, through the described sub-targets, places further emphasis on the economic and social context of global development. The complexity of the language from Aichi target 11 is not mirrored in SDG 14, leading to a potential scenario where the knowledge and progress towards Aichi Target 11 will be diluted as the focus shifts to the SDGs. This paper presents current knowledge and implementation of the qualitative elements of Aichi Target 11 and highlights gaps in knowledge. We conclude that the progress made so far on describing and implementing the qualitative goals of Aichi Target 11 should be integrated into SDG 14 in order to strengthen global efforts for marine biodiversity conservation and support the broader vision for sustainable development that will " transform our world " .
Marine Policy
This article explores the concept of "other effective area-based conservation measures" (OECMs) in the context of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 on marine protected areas and OECMs and its linkages to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It argues that mainstreaming biodiversity through CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets' implementation into the SDGs can contribute to a more systemic and comprehensive implementation of SDG 14.5 on conservation of at least 10% of marine and coastal areas. It argues that OECMs can complement MPAs and contribute to ecologically representative and effectively managed marine protected areas systems integrated into broader governance systems such as marine spatial planning. Selected global and local sectoral conservation measures are therefore highlighted in this analysis as potential forms of OECMs. At the local level, a case study of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas managed as locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) in Mozambique is discussed. This case study explores how multipleuse LMMAs, which respond to short-term fisher's needs and targeted biodiversity conservation, could contribute to the achievement of specific SDGs on food security, poverty elimination and resilient ecosystems if properly supported by long-term investments, strong institutions and integrated oceans management.
The MPA Guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean
Science
BACKGROUND: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are places in the ocean that receive protection to safeguard biodiversity from abatable threats. Confusion exists about the definition of "protection" and likely MPA outcomes. This is because not all MPAs are the same. They range from full to minimal protection; some exist only on paper, not in practice. The resulting, understandably divergent outcomes can lead to controversies about effectiveness, undermine confidence in MPAs, and jeopardize conservation goals, including those of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Agenda. We integrated decades of research to clarify these issues.
Global ocean protection: present status and future possibilities
2010
Small island cultures, like ours in Micronesia, have been shaped by our surrounding oceans. Indeed, we would not know who we are, or what will become of us, without sustenance from our marine resources. Today, more than ever, greater and more innovative effort must be made to protect and maintain our biodiversity and ecosystem structure, functions and processes, as anthropogenic and natural threats continue to escalate. Equally important is increased and more effective effort to ensure that the benefits derived from these resources are equitably distributed among all users. With climate change currently identified as the greatest threat to biodiversity, there may be an inclination to neglect community-based marine protected areas, as more focus shifts towards a global system of protected areas, and while we certainly need to do this, we also cannot afford to forget or abandon the small-scale marine protected areas, because they are the foundation and starting point of any larger marine protected areas. Without effective protected areas at the village or community level, there can never be a successful global protected areas system. Therefore, much effort and attention is still required at the local level, not only to provide assistance towards their success, but to also receive valuable lessons from them towards a successful global system of protected areas. For example, customary marine tenure, which has been practiced over centuries, tried and tested by islanders, must hold some of the answers and 'innovative' solutions we seek today towards our vision of a global system of protected areas. The use of protected areas to facilitate the maintenance and recovery of biological resources has been practiced by Pacific island communities for centuries in accordance with customary practices and spiritual beliefs. Such concepts of ecosystem approach, adaptive management and marine protected areas are generally perceived to be relatively recent developments of Western origin, when in fact, they have been in practice in our small islands in Micronesia, as well as the rest of the Pacific Island countries, for over a millennium. Due to colonization, western influence and globalization, we have adopted new ways of using our marine protected areas (MPAs), exploring various forms of management and collaboration at the local level, the national level and even at the regional level. At present, we have a wide range of MPA systems throughout the Pacific Islands, including those managed by communities, by local and national governments, as well as various types of co-management in between. However, in the Federated States of Micronesia, our traditional marine management system, based on our customs via our traditional chiefs, cultural beliefs and values remains one of our best marine management tools simply because it has proven to work and continues to be culturally appropriate for us. Without a doubt, in my country, in other Micronesian countries, and even many island nations across the globe, customary marine tenure and community-based management systems remain one of our most important approaches we use to protect our biodiversity, our livelihood and our future. Micronesia has implemented efforts to establish nationwide protected areas networks (PANs) and has initiated a regional collaborative effort, the Micronesia Challenge initiative, to further drive our individual and collective efforts in marine biodiversity conservation. The Micronesia Challenge (MC) is fully described in this publication and we are proud to be seen as a leader and innovator in marine protection. This publication provides a much needed and timely tool to assist us in our collective effort to find new and better solutions to address the various threats to our marine biological diversity and productivity. It provides evidence-based recommendations on improving and accelerating actions on delivering ocean protection and management through marine protected areas and facilitates the sharing of experiences and lessons learned.
Marine Policy, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENT List of figures ................................................................................................................................... 3 List of tables ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Acronyms and abbreviations ............................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Historical background on OECMs 7 Structure of the document 8 Notes for the experts 9 1. Rationale for producing guidance for OECMs in the marine fishery sector ............................. 10 1.1 Objectives of OECMs in fisheries 11 1.2 Possible incentives for establishing OECMs 12 1.3 General concerns about the identification of OECMs in the marine fishery sector 12 1.4 Why further guidan...
Global conservation outcomes depend on marine protectd areas with five key features
In line with global targets agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) is increasing rapidly, yet socio-economic benefits generated by MPAs remain difficult to predict and under debate1,2.MPAs often fail to reach their full potential as a consequence of factors such as illegal harvesting, regulations that legally allow detrimental harvesting, or emigration of animals outside boundaries because of continuous habitat or inadequate size of reserve3–5. Here we show that the conservation benefits of 87 MPAs investigated worldwide increase exponentially with the accumulation of five key features: no take, well enforced, old (>10 years), large (>100km2), and isolated by deep water or sand. Using effective MPAs with four or five key features as an unfished standard, comparisons of underwater survey data from effective MPAs with predictions based on survey data from fished coasts indicate that total fish biomass has declined about two-thirds from historical baselines as a result of fishing. Effective MPAs also had twice as many large (>250mmtotal length) fish species per transect, five times more large fish biomass, and fourteen times more shark biomass than fished areas. Most (59%) of the MPAs studied had only one or two key features and were not ecologically distinguishable from fished sites. Our results show that global conservation targets based on area alone will not optimize protection of marine biodiversity. More emphasis is needed on better MPA design, durable management and compliance to ensure that MPAs achieve their desired conservation value.
Marine Policy, 2019
This paper draws on the published literature on marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine protected areas targets to argue that the MPA target (14.5) will dominate in the pursuit, measurement, and evaluation of the much broader 'oceans' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG14) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2015. MPAs are a 'privileged solution' in marine conservation, in part because their expansion is relatively easy to measure and there is opportunity for further expansion in the mostly unprotected global ocean. However, the evolution of MPA targets over time in organizations like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) illustrates the importance of other means for achieving conservation and of elements other than area coverage, including the need to ensure MPAs are effectively and equitably managed. By excluding these important, but contested, complex, and difficult to measure components, Target 14.5 is likely to be met. However, the meaning of this success will be limited without concerted efforts get beyond area coverage.