Designing marine protected area networks to address the impacts of climate change

Abstract

Principles for designing marine protected area (MPA) networks that address social, economic, and biological criteria are well established in the scientific literature. Climate change represents a new and serious threat to marine ecosystems, but, to date, few studies have specifically considered how to design MPA networks to be resilient to this emerging threat. Here, we compile the best available information on MPA network design and supplement it with specific recommendations for building resilience into these networks. We provide guidance on size, spacing, shape, risk spreading (representation and replication), critical areas, connectivity, and maintaining ecosystem function to help MPA planners and managers design MPA networks that are more robust in the face of climate‐change impacts.

From measuring outcomes to providing inputs: Governance, management, and local development for more effective marine protected areas

“…For example, coral reef MPAs might be more resilient to the impacts of climate change when combined with the reduction of sedimentation and nutrient loading and land-based and marine sources of pollution [34]. Networks can improve dispersal and connectivity between MPAs as well as spreading risks through replication of habitats and ecosystems [194,195]. Horigue et al [136] also notes that "scaling up MPAs to form networks is a means to improve management of individual MPAs, and coordinate MPA establishment through collective action and sharing of information and experiences".…”

Scotland's Marine Protected Area network: Reviewing progress towards achieving commitments for marine conservation

“…Whilst there is a growing body of scientific literature on designing climate change resilient MPA networks (McLeod et al 2009, Brock et al 2012, Green et al 2014, Magris et al 2014, Andrello et al 2015, designing the network at a policy level is at odds with practical and successful implementation if the policy fails to address some of these scientific recommendations. With climate change ever present in the consciousness of conservation planners, how the proposed Scottish MPA network will perform under changing conditions is a key question.…”

Ten things to get right for marine conservation planning in the Coral Triangle

“…Other contexts might require legal reform, to ensure that plans consider existing laws and regulations at different scales 65 . Later revisions of Indonesia's decentralization framework, for example, sought to clarify jurisdictional roles by emphasizing relationships between national and district governments, rather than local autonomy 35 .…”